Day 14: San Francisco (4)

The trip has to end with a laugh, and oh boy does it ever. Today was kind of a wild card for Mary and I since we had already done nearly all the big name things to do in the city. Granted, there are ENDLESS activities, but by today we had pretty much had our fill of running around. We started our day by getting breakfast at Dottie's True Blue Cafe, which even at 1030 on a Monday morning had a line out the door - you know it has to be good. After waiting for 40 minutes we had a life-changing breakfast involving freshly baked coffee cake, lamb sausage, and an egg scramble with Avacado and a hint of Jalapeno. To die for.

Since she got here, Mary had the idea to rent bikes and ride them around Golden Gate Park. In words it sounded like a simple and relaxing way to spend an afternoon and check off yet another item on our list... oh no. Our 40 minute bus ride to an obscure neighborhood housing the bike shop made it very clear very quickly that this was not what we had bargained for; and it didn't stop there. When we actually got the bikes I realized that the last time I was seriously on a bike, my parents were living in Pembroke and I was still in boy scouts. As I heaved myself onto the seat like some drunken college student trying to escape the cops, we noticed that not only were our surroundings that of burnt grass and dying trees, we were only supposed to be riding on designated paved roads- where they were, we had no idea. We finally veered onto some main traffic road through the park and zoomed past man-made concrete-lined lakes and more dead foliage. It didn't take us long to decide this was a very bad idea. After a pathetic span of pedaling intermingled with walking our bikes up small hills and general failing, we found ourselves again at the entrance to the park only this time instead of being at 6th street, we were at 46th. Somehow we had traveled forty blocks in a matter of 10 minutes - downhill, of course. We decided we were done and now had to ride the forty blocks back...uphill. Before we embarked, I got off to remove a pebble from my shoe only to discover it was not a pebble, but an enormous piece of broken glass that had lodged itself into the bottom of my sneaker and was now poking up through the sole. After a group effort of removing the glass with a key, we left, deciding to follow the main road just outside of the park so as not to get completely disoriented and have to ride the bikes for any longer than we absolutely had to.

As I clamored my way down the main street, I got off my bike to walk a bit as I was getting winded. As I got back on in my less than elegant fashion, I realized I was now on a main road being watched by countless passerbys. Surely one of them would see me in my pathetic struggle to mount a bicycle, whip out their camera phone, record it, bring it home and share it with their families. The laughter would bring the family closer together and in no time the video would be on youtube, labeled "Big Gay Man Gets On Bike", with 2.3 million hits and a guest spot on the Today show.

After I got over myself, we worked our way back to the bike shop, reminiscing our doomed choice and laughing at ourselves. We returned to the bike shop less than an hour after we left - one can only imagine what the shop keeper was thinking. We then proceeded to burst into hysterical laughter that would last well into the evening and treated ourselves to a cheap dinner at In-n-Out burger with dessert at Ghirardelli. Yum yum yum.

At this point I have one word: done. I am in love with San Francisco. I love being with Mary. I loved being with Michaela. I loved my trip. But I have been a nomad now for 14 days, always with the move in the back of my head. I am now ready to complete my journey and get settled into life in Los Angeles.

Tomorrow morning I leave at 6am for LA. It is possible I will not have internet access for a few days, but rest assured I will continue postings once I do. Thanks for your continued reading! And be sure to keep your eyes open when on youtube...