Back again...

**Brownbikerbabe** · 22nd March 2006, 12:00

Hi all,

Our trip to San Francisco was fabulous...what a beautiful state and the people were soooooo friendly it was almost unreal.

A girlfriend and I even ventured over to 16th street, where you are not to go after dark, it was day light but it was still scary. We passed a mexican restaurant and they had a live band inside, we decided to go in and it was like the movies when everything and everyone stops and stares at you. Here we are, an eastindian brown chick and a chinese chick in the worst part of San Fran hoping to be served some nice mexican food, I was shaking, I had no clue what to order, thank goodness they had pictures of the food, because no one spoke english in the restaurant. Needless to say we ate and got the heck out of there. But it was an adventure.

Saw lots of bikes, I have no idea how they get up and down those extra steep hills and they lane share and drive in between cars, how do you stop on a steep hill without rolling backwards all the time?

While I was trying to catch my breath and let the burning sensation in my thighs go away at the top of Lombard Street (the crookedest street) I saw a motorcyclist come up the hill and all of a sudden there was smoke coming out of his engine...not a good sign.

A cab driver told us that his car will last about 3 years there and then he has to get another one because of the hills.

Tons of windy, hairpin roads outside of San Fran. I drove them with a car when the girls and I went to Monteray and it was scary especially the coast, when the fog was rolling in, it was getting dark and not knowing the road, the Pacific ocean beneath the cliff on one side and a mountain on the other side of a two lane road with no exits for miles...Highway 3, fun, beautiful and scary in the dark.

After hubby joined me we went Alcatraz, the aquarium on Pier 39 had dinner at Bubba Gump Shrimp, then drove to Jackson and stayed with a friend and then to Sacramento, we found Old Sacramento by accident, it great too, found the local biker hang out there but there was a long line up to get in for dinner so we, hubby and I, left.

Will definitely go back again...

**Motu** · 22nd March 2006, 12:22

Did you go to Haight Ashbury? Like,man,it'd be really cool to go stand around down there.

**Brownbikerbabe** · 22nd March 2006, 12:29

Yup, went there too, lots of pot smoking hippy's around, nice clothing shops and went to the Art Institute as well because I am an artist and love art.

On my way to Nashville Tenessee in April, been to see "The King" in Memphis already 10 years ago. Can't wait to see Opry land.

**Swoop** · 22nd March 2006, 12:32

Sounds like an amazing trip Brownbabe!!!
Lots to see and do, will try to get there sometime but there are a few other places to visit first.

Did you get to visit any bikeshops there? How were prices compared to Canada?

**crashe** · 22nd March 2006, 12:48

and the pictures are where??????

Come on girl, we want to see pic's...

Oh and welcome back from your holiday.... it sounded fabulous.

**Brownbikerbabe** · 22nd March 2006, 12:50

Didn't see any bike shops in San Fran, not even in China Town! But leaving Jackson hubby and I did a turnaround and found a mom and pop bike shop. Excellent prices. Hubby picked up a khaki green leather jacket for a cool $119 US. It has a brown leather braided trim and is just gorgeous. Hubby wore it around for a few hours like a proud peacock and it looks great. Oh and they had my dream bike...a 1949 Indian Chief on display in the store window.

Shopping was great for both of us. Girls, the bling bling you can get for cheap!

Pics will be posted soon.

**Brownbikerbabe** · 22nd March 2006, 12:56

Ummmm....How do I post pics here anyway?

**Sniper** · 22nd March 2006, 13:52

Nice one Brownbabe, you should have just told the bar people that you were "El Mariachi" Might have got you some free food and a gun fight?

**Smorg** · 22nd March 2006, 15:15

Sounds fucken awesome! Im heading there in 2.5 months so looking forward to it hard out.

Anywhere in paticular you recommend?

**Brownbikerbabe** · 22nd March 2006, 15:24

For once, I have never been happier that my skin colour was brown, it may have been the saving grace of not getting mugged in a bad part of town. I think mexicans can tell that you are not one of them, so the El Mariachi thing would have been a bad idea all around.

**Brownbikerbabe** · 22nd March 2006, 15:29

Originally Posted by Smorgen

Sounds fucken awesome! Im heading there in 2.5 months so looking forward to it hard out.

Anywhere in paticular you recommend?

California is bigger than I thought and there is so much to see there, the Rocky mountains can be viewed from a few hundred miles away and are awesome to see even at a distance. But it doesn't matter where you go in California, my first impression of it was so great that I can't say anything bad about it. You will not be disappointed.

**Brownbikerbabe** · 22nd March 2006, 15:49

I am hoping this works, here are some pics of the trip. The panoramic view is taken from Altcatraz.

**Brownbikerbabe** · 22nd March 2006, 15:58

Some more pics, the one of me and the one of the rainbow is taken on the back deck of my friends house, who lives in Jackson, that is the view she has from her backyard. The seals are at Pier 39, they just hang out there all day long and the view of San Francisco behind is awesome.

**SDU** · 22nd March 2006, 16:32

Glad you enjoyed your trip & made it safely through the badlands. Good to see the pictures of your trip.
It is always interesting seeing where people get to travel & ride, would be good to see some pics off some off your local rides some day.

SDU