The night before, Gary and Steve convinced me that I needed to see the view of the city from Twin Peaks. It’s just up the hill after all. So on Sunday, March 12th, I had a some free time and headed up there. Gary recommended that I take an umbrella. Cracking some wise-ass comment, I said, “I had a baseball cap and should be fine”.

This really was a day only a die hard Seattle-ite could like. It started drizzling about 1 block from the house. I meandered up from Gary and Steve’s house. On the way I chatted with my parents about my Dad being kicked out a local(to them) bank for verbally abusing the staff (he really needs a hobby now that he is retired). Here is where my problems started. I crossed Market meandered up via Corbett to Gardenside and then to Parkridge. I can now see the microwave towers by the lookout up there, but no road or path. Then I spy a trail (if you want to call it that) that follows a run-off channel. I figure it cannot be worse than just bush-whacking up the hill. I took these 2 pics as I went up the trail. See, it was drizzly, and a few of the townhomes on Parkridge and beyond.

I was pretty damn wet by the time I got to the top(I am still not sure if bush-whacking would have been easier or not). Right below the radar-beach lookout at the top I got this picture of Market Street heading off to downtown.

I got some pretty funny looks as I hooved it up to the lookup out and popped up right in front of everyone’s view. I chuckled and thought, “wooosies” as a group of teenage girls covered their heads and ran for their car when the rain started again. Got a picture of the Golden Gate. Can you see it?

As I was looking for a a better way down, I noticed that I was not actually on Twin Peaks, they were farther southwest. A few more minutes of walking and look there is a real trail with like markers and everything. A hop, skip and a jump later I am on the top of Peak A. I took this picture which I really love and the one at the top of this entry. At this point it had been drizzling for pretty much 20 minutes. I was pretty soaked. I cursed my wise-ass comment and wished I had the umbrella. I turned and looked west and noticed a small clearing. By the time I made it to Peak B it had stopped raining and was sunny. Yippeee! The views just kept getting better (but all the pictures came out crappy). It was pretty nice being in the middle of a major city and having no one up on the peaks with me. For about an hour, I heard no voices and only a few cars went past below me. It was great.

Now here is where this excursion got a little out of control. From Peak B I spied a better trail that seemed to go down in the right direction. It took me down Midcrest Way and then out to Portola (out by O’Shaughnessy). Hmmm, this is probably not good, so I figure I’ll go left. A little more walking and view admiring, and, in all honesty, no really paying attention. I find myself out on Diamond Heights. The view is nice, but not any closer to Steve and Gary’s.

Luckily(as it stopped me from wandering and made me pay attention to where I was) at this point Dylan called me. He wanted to meet in a hour for some drinks. Ok, now I have to get back to the Mission in an hour. Not a problem I think. Oh and by the way, I am actually pretty dry by now. Well there is no easy way down the side of Diamond Heights, in fact there are some condo developments which make it impossible. I back tracked to Portola, down Clipper and on to Grandview Ave.

If you ever get a chance to wander this area of San Francisco, I highly recommend hitting Grandview Ave. Well it is a grand view. I got this picture. This type of shot is one of the things I love about this city.

I know this entry is just dragging, but one more story. I get to 22nd and notice another ridge off in the distance and figure I have time. So I wander down 22nd past Douglass, Eureka. This is nice little area. At the intersection of Diamond and 22nd, a women in SUV almost runs be down. No contact but I was forced to use the hood of her car to catapult me out of the way. After profuse apologies(by her) I was on my way again. Up the staircase to Collingwood. Another nice view and some great houses up there. Here is where the gods punished me for no umbrella. It started to rain. Not Seattle, drizzly rain. Real, fill the gutters rain. Only 8 blocks back to Steve and Gary’s, but I was soaked. Gary had a nice, told you so, smirk on his face smirk as he said something like, “holy crap you are wet”.

(almost done): Not only was I wet, but I was pretty late. Had to meet Dylan at 20th and Valencia in 15minutes. I dried some clothes, got changed and ran out of the house to catch a cab. Was only 10 minutes late. It was really great to see Dylan. I miss not having our periodic nights of drinking/socializing since he moved. We had the best bloody marys we have ever had at Laszlo Bar that afternoon. Worth a visit.

All and all a great day in San Francisco and I did take an umbrella out when I went to meet Dylan.