Fort Mason to North Beach

To North Beach

Sunday, 25 April 2010

It was 60 degrees and sunny, so off we went on the next segment. We drove to Fort Mason, and set out north towards Fisherman’s Wharf and then up to Coit Tower. We ended up in North Beach at Washington Square.

There were route deviations from the 49 mile drive. Not a lot, but we’ll cover them as we go.

We also found out that our not spotting the seagull signs very often is because the People in Charge of the 49 mile drive think there in one way to go, and we are going the other way.

Here is what the 49 mile drive seagull looks like.

Our walk started by going up hill, through Fort Mason. The area contains some military housing and a large park with a fine view.

Here is the view a little farther on as we walk towards a gate at Van Ness and Bay.

We walked north on Van Ness towards the Bay. The drive hangs a right at Beach Street, and then a left, to get down to Jefferson. Pedestrians don’t need to make the detour.

Here’s a nice view of Alcatraz. Yes, those are swimmers. They belong to the Dolphin Swimming and Boating Club.

Some of the buildings making up the San Francisco Maritime National Historic Park are undergoing restoration, but most of things to see are open. The park has a wonderful collection of old ships, and the museum is worth a visit. We’ll come back another time, once we’re done with the long walk. Information about the ships and the history of shipping in San Francisco are all at the link above.

This photo shows a sailing ship built in Scotland, a tug and one of the Southern Pacific’s passenger ferries. 

Pressing on, we start to walk faster, as we are approaching Fisherman’s Wharf and Pier 39. Why do the tourists come here?

Anyway, to be faithful, here are photographs of the area.

There are different types of vehicles used by tourists, including ducks (they go in the Bay and operate on streets), fake cable cars and little yellow things that have a loudspeaker telling the passengers what they are seeing. We also saw an old Model A sort of car, but big, and an old fire engine carrying passengers.

Here are a few of the street scenes down at the wharf. 

There are people working in the fishing trade at the wharf. Here’s a crab barker in the dark shirt.

Having run through the wharf area, and before reaching Pier 39, we turned right onto Powell Street (same as the drive) and worked our way up to Lombard, and then up Telegraph Hill to Coit Tower. Here is what this section of Powell Street looks like.

Half way up Lombard, a look back shows Russian Hill and the crooked street.

We had read about the trees up at Coit Tower needing trimming. Here is the view.

Trimming is definitely needed. Here is the view if you can find a tall spot to stand on.

Inside of Coit Tower are fine murals of San Francisco scenes painted in 1934. Here are two.

Here’s the view to the south. Quite a few houses have outdoor decks.

The drive is on Union and Grant, but we walked on nearby Greenwich and Stockton. Here’s a typical street scene near the tower. This is Greenwich St.

Back down from Telegraph Hill we had lunch and then walked across Washington Square to see inside Sts Peter and Paul Church. It was the middle of a service, so we’ll have to come back another day.

While we waited for the #30 trolley to take us back to Fort Mason, another tourist vehicle went by.

Back at Fort Mason, we went out to the end of one of the piers to look at the boats. Here is a view of Sausalito in Marin County. Mt Tamalpais is in the back ground.

Today’s walk covered 2.8 miles. So far, we’ve covered 15 miles.

The weather forecast was for a sunny and warm day, so off we went to Fort Mason for the next segment, up to Coit Tower. 

Next, Chinatown and Russian Hill.