If it makes you feel any better, oh she who has yet to make it to the Cannery...I've never eaten an Inn and Out burger.
I know.
Wrong.
If it also makes you feel any better, outside of Ghiradelli (which is so NOT what is used to be in terms of tours etc), and the awesome chowders at the Blue Mermaid...you aren't missing much at the cannery itself in my opinion.
PLEASE do tell me you at least made it into the Buena Vista for an Irish coffee though.
So...here we go. The ride of a lifetime.
We had seen the route of where we would be riding NOT ONCE, but TWICE. We had helmets, bikes and bottled water. We had actual MAPS. AND-
we had ME. Since the first MOMENT everyone agreed a trip to SF was in our future, I was ON IT. I knew that no matter what else we did, we would be biking over the Golden Gate Bridge. Why? Because when Disney had done one of their ABD's here, or tried to, a ride over the bridge was a part of it. And I just thought, WOW- we have GOT to do that! Coolest thing EVER!
So, in typical Ellen-over-the-top-uber-planner fashion, I researched the crap out of it- read every review of every bike company, every Blog from every SF traveler, every forum entry over there on Trip Advisor. And review on Yelp.
Yea, I know. I'm a little obsessed. Anyone need an over-the-top-uber-planner
travel agent? I am TOTALLY your gal.
And what did I learn over the course of nearly 2 years of research?
The bike path goes next to the BEACH. Other than one big hill (that was ONE- as in singular. UNO. Less than 10 and various assorted other numbers. ONE.), and a hill up to the bridge itself, AND of course, the ride DOWN after the bridge into sausalito, the ride was basically FLAT. As in casual. Even though it is close to 10 miles. FLAT. Above all else, I read, AND WAS TOLD TWICE THAT DAY BY TWO DIFFERENT BIKE COMPANIES, make sure that you ride along the waterfront. It will take you along the beach, is gorgeous, and quiet, and before you go up to the bridge it will take you to an awesome spot for a family photo.
We began. I am sure you have caught on by now that a ride along the beach is NOT what we had.
I am DYING here!
Now, I should mention that Pods wanted to ride along the road when we got down to where we would hop on the bikes and begin our ride- but I explained that NO, the path was DOWN THERE, go THIS WAY.
And that was the very LAST time he or anyone else listened to me.
So, we biked away from the pier- and immediately you hit that BIG hill I knew about in Fort Mason. Which would be VERY VERY VERY good to build up some momentum for.
OR, you can do what we did, which is come to a full freakin STOP at the bottom and start with NOTHING.
For the record, i did not stop. The others in front of me did, so I had no choice.
For obvious reasons, I do NOT recommend or endorse this method of hill biking.
Except for you Cynthia. You would probably totally rock it.
Too funny. And no, I would not rock it from a full stop. BLEH. I think you have a very (incorrectly) inflated sense of both my fitness level and abilities. LOL! Jeff might but he's a freak of nature at times.
you mean this hill?
We ran up that thing when we were there in Sept. Twice as we had to turn around and go back and both of us got turned around in different ways and ran too far. Me, I "had" to stop and take a picture...it was too pretty not to. Not that I need a walk break of course.
I have to say though...you have to take the description of "flat" with a serious grain of salt. I have done that ride, several years ago. On a tandem no less. I need to dig up the pictures.
No matter what, you have to get through the Fort and there is a hill. The beach part is a bit misleading I think as basically you have a little bit of beach right after Fishermans Wharf, go over the fort, back down to the beach and then back up to get over the bridge and if you ask me the climb to get up to the bridge counts as a hill. So yes, there is a beach but it's actually possibly not the most direct way, or fastest and that hill is still there. It is the Kodak moment spot though. Either way though, despite much of it being flat what you will remember is the hills.
Of course if you are nuts like us instead of heading straight into Sausalito after checking out the vista point...instead you turn left and go up the hill to get a better view via Conzleman Road.
The route plot for this particular ride continues directly up Conzelman Road after crossing the bridge. This narrow road climb (open to fairly heavy traffic, especially over its first third or so) is the only serious climb of the ride and lasts for about two miles, though that includes an almost flat section in the middle. The steepest segment is a short part in the beginning averaging around 11% grade. The other part of the sustained climb (near the top) does not exceed 9% very much. This is not a challenging climb for anyone who has done any amount of climbing on a bike before.
Conzelman Road features a string of parking areas at which visitors can stop to take in the views, which are phenomenal. This whole road is essentially one big vista point. As the climb takes you higher and higher, the views get wider and wider. At the top of the climb, you'll reach the last parking area near Hawk Hill, which is also the turnaround point for most tourists driving up there
HA!
Not challenging my patootie...especially on a tandem. We are still speaking to each other though.
I do want to thank you for this update...I went searching for the dumb tandem picture and realized that a LOT of my older pictures were missing from PB. Either I broke the links (possible) when I reorganized it earlier this year or PB started deleting when the auto renew kept not going through due to an expired card that though I tried to fix a bazillion times, kept not "fixing". Between this and my last uppdate where I was looking for older pictures it was like HUH?
thank heavens for external drives.
see the big "bump" to the left of the far gate? Yeah...that's where we rode this crazy thing up to, aka Hawk Hill.
We did pass by the Palace of Fine Arts, an absolutely GORGEOUS building I would like to explore further one day...
It is so lovely to just walk around! Far prettier on the other (aka non main road) side. The Exploratorium used to be there but now that it isn't, less reason to go. Last year when we didn't rent a car and walked the entire city like crazy people (yes, there is a theme) we got to explore it at night after closing down the Disney Family museum. Magical!
Way more magical when our frozen patooties finally made it to the Buena Vista to warm up with Irish Coffee.
So, as we were swinging it on up there to the bridge, the OTHER path...the one that came up from Fort point, i believe? Where all the OTHER families had just taken a pic of themselves in front of the fogged in GGB? Yea- THAT was where I pointed to Pods- see? You guys have NO RESPECT. I planned this for 2 years. And you wouldn't listen. We were supposed to be down THERE. But we weren't. Thanks a LOT.
HMMPHHH.
Anyway, at some point, he realized his error, and he got together with the boys for a pic.
And we continued biking over the bridge. Which was VERY crowded with both pedestrians and bikers. Because for some reason I can't fathom, the other side is closed to pedestrians and bikers mid day, so everyone going both ways is on one side.
At this point I should mention the importance of using hand brakes. Because that's what these bikes have, is hand brakes. Now, I know, you are thinking, sure- my kid knows how to use hand brakes! He has had them on his bike ALONG WITH FOOT BRAKES for years.
Oh Timmy!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Oh that is SO something Evan would do. Oh wait, he DID do.
In Whistler. When we had the brilliant idea to go for a ride...along hilly gravel trails...with a kid in a CAST.
Kind of hard to use the hand brakes effectively when only one can grip.
Oops. Good thing I made him keep the cast on for that trip, they offered to take it off prior.
I am so not laughing, I am so empathizing...oh wait, I am laughing. You know what though, you will never ever forget this trip and it will be one of the funniest memories forever.
I really am empathizing... the SLOW ride down part in particular. At least he didn't get off and insist on walking it. Really, it could have been worse.
And sorry but four person linked? RUDE! Deserved to get yelled at at a minimum.
I can only hope you chose the ferry ride back...
Stellar update! And despite it all, some agood pictures, you fake fun well.
MEN! 
I'm sorry your bike riding memory will be a little besmirched, but at least you got a few beautiful pics in the end!
So, I feel your pain. At least you were rewarded with some spectacular views on the other side of the bridge. Just lovely. 
I don't even know what to say about the biking experience!!!! 
I guess every family vacation has to have an experience like that, but I am SO SORRY! No fun!!! 
