40 years to late
The last time I was in San Francisco I stayed in the city which was ok but now I had transport, I decided to stay outside the city. Coming south on 101 just before you go over the Golden Gate Bridge there is a turn off for Sausalito, a left before you get there and the road goes to Marin Point. This was my destination, only trouble was, I came in on Pacific 1 so the directions I had, didn’t quite match. I ended up coming into Sausalito from the wrong end and getting hopelessly lost, no matter I always get there in the end, on this occasion heading north on 101 for a while, doing a huge huee, coming back and following my original plan. Ah! So this is why you make plans, take the second exit not the first, I was on track. This was good, I was on the coast, in the middle of rolling hills, with an old timber building set amongst the trees, I hadn’t booked but was very lucky to get the last bed, it was getting dark and I really didn’t want to go into town.
Sausalito I discovered was a very trendy little town and just added to the great vibe of the San Fran area. Bars, restaurants, galleries, marinas and of course tourists, a ride over the bridge takes you right into the heart of the city and all San Fran has to offer. My first stop this time around was Haight Ashbury, I missed it in the 60s and early 70s, I missed it when I was here before, I wasn’t going to miss it this time. This is the area around the university and Golden Gate Park, which was the Mecca for all the Hippies and the beginning of the flower power movement. They all lived here Janis, Jimi, Grateful Dead and many more; in my youth I dreamt of coming here and here I am, albeit 40 years too late. On a walk along Height Street I discover Tie Dye is still fashionable, the muso’s hang around the park strumming guitars, beating drums, and peace, love, dope lives on. There are antique shops with memorabilia and book shops with all the great books of the time, I’d been looking for a particular book since Tahoe after beginning to read it down there. Every time I was in a city since then, I’d go to the biggest book shop I could find but could never find it, they could all get it in but I’m on the move, with a very vague itinerary. I walked into a small place in Haight Street, there it was, I kind of knew it would be somehow, John Steinbeck, Travels with Charlie, not one of his classics but very appropriate for me at this time. I’m not much of a one for tours but the other thing on the agenda this time around, was a trip to Alcatraz, I discovered on getting down to the wharf, it’s also on the agenda of every other visitor in San Fran and was booked up for four days, guess I’ll just have to watch the birdman again.
It was time to move on, I got back on 101, missed the turn off for Santa Cruz, opting to go straight to Monterey, the place of another time past, the Monterey Pop Festival, The Animals, The Who, Mamas and Papas, Janis, Jimi and many more, mostly though, made famous by another Steinbeck book. Born in Salinas and a favourite son of the area, this is Steinbeck country and the area along the waterfront was renamed in honour of man himself. The book was Cannery Row and told of the hard life of the cannery workers, after years of over fishing, the sardine industry collapsed in 1950. There is now a National Marine Sanctuary from San Fran to San Simian Bay, a distance of 350 miles, with an abundance of marine life. Nice to know we can learn from our mistakes!
I am…. THE LONESOME TRAVELLER….travelling east….BE HAPPY!