Cliff House to Golden Gate Bridge to Vista point and back on the bridge (Hike 5 )

Step 1 : Cliff House We started at the Cliff House. One of my favorite spots since 2005. It would be interesting if I could find pictures from way back then, but that would require a lot of digging.  I took off from the Mid-West and visited the West Coast every chance I had. Cliff house has lots of waves, lots of slope, lots of great scenic views, lots of good food and lots of breeze. 

Step 2: Lands End Trail  We first hiked over the Lands End trail. You can see Golden Gate from afar. This orange vermillion bridge is the most photographed bridge in the world.

Step 3: Sutra Baths At the Sutra Baths is bar and bistro and a dining area.From there we went on to do the El Camino Del Mar Loop. You can see dark cypress trees in the back. Golden Gate got closer. 

 

Step 4 : El Camino Del Mar Loop Here is the El Camino Del Mar loop. This exotic cactus in the picture below is part of the upscale Sea Cliff houses and gardens. We walked past the Presidio.

Step 5: Bakers Beach  El Camino Del Mar Loop took us down to the Coastal trail. Baker Beach was a good spot for lunch. Family picnics and kids flying kites filled up the beach. In the picture is an Airplane kite and an orange bird with a beak kite ! My everything bagel was delicious. Yes, I am finally getting used to the San Fran bagels, but not the pizza ! Never getting used to the pizza here !

                                                           

Step 6: Coastal Trail Got back on the Coastal trail and after many wooden steps, we got even closer to the bridge. It's like a sand ladder, except not so steep at all. The bridge got closer.

  

Step 7: Batteries to Bluff Trail  Batteries to Bluffs Trail can be used in combination with the Coastal Trail.The Golden Gate Strait in view in this picture, is the entry or a gate-way to the San Francisco Bay from the Pacific Ocean. It is three miles by one mile in area. The bridge now got even closer so I kept marching.

Step 8 : Golden Gate Bridge Finally, I was on the bridge! Even though there was no plan to walk the bridge, we decided to walk over it and take the bus back. It took me three years in NYC before I even thought of walking the Brooklyn Bridge. On the other side of the Brooklyn Bridge bridge, I had New York pizza and ice cream.( I wish I could find my Brooklyn Bridge snaps.)I'm ecstatic I walked the 1.7 mile long Golden Gate without waiting for years.

 On the bridge, there were these signs posted (pic to the right and bottom). At first I thought, they were cute, but then a friend told me some horror stories and the idea of kids slipping through those rails freaked me out.

 

   There were also signs that read, "There is hope", Emergency Call. I wondered what that was and someone told me, they saw a middle aged man once on the other side of the railing, trying to commit suicide. This bridge is the suicide harbor of the world.The man was saved because people held on to him and would not let him go. The police came and took the man away. Apparently this happens often and thus this phone is planted there. I do not remember hearing any stories about the Brooklyn bridge when I was walking there in the bright summer day. It was a foggy day on the Golden Gate. Dont ask me what Silas from the Da Vinci code is doing beside this phone. ( In picture above.)

Step 9 : Marin County Vista Point Despite the grave stories, we walked carefully, dodging the various bicyclists and bearing the wind and the deep blue sea on one end and fast cars on the other end. I made it to Vista point which is at the end of the bridge. Also, now I can say I walked from San Francisco to Marin County ! 

Step 10 : Back on the bridge  When we got to vista point we realized buses were not running that day. So we walked back 1. 7 miles on the orange vermillion colored suspension bridge. Though, walking back, it rained. I had my thermals on but no raincoat. Yet, the walk was very enjoyable and I am glad I have finally walked here. The last two pictures are from the way back on the bridge, in the shizzle drizzle.

 

Total Walk - 9 Miles. 

Time- 4.30 hours (Noon to 4.30)

Weather- Mostly overcast with occasional sun