Practice Walk #3

This third hike, taken last Friday, was also just about a 17-mile day.  I haven't yet managed to plan a longer walk that works well with transport home at the end of the day.  But I think that 3-4 more miles would be do-able at this point.  Friday's route was to Green Gulch Farm on Highway 1 in Marin County, a Zen Buddhist community where I lived for some years.  The hike included some trails over the hills in Marin and the weather was great - not too hot.

I am using and appreciating the walking poles acquired on the previously mentioned Spanish pilgrimage.  For next year's 'long walk', the plan has been to utilize some sort of push/pull cart, since carrying all gear on my back, including water, will not be possible.  As I walk with the poles it seems clear that this cart will have to work either way (pushed or pulled).  I have been looking without much success for something workable so if anyone has an idea (or knows of a local machinist who could fabricate something) it would be great!

A pretty crowded day on the GG Bridge

Surfers off of Fort Point

Miwok Trail 

US Route 6 Walker

An east coast friend introduced me to this website:  http://route6walk.com.  It's about a retired newspaper man, Joe Hurley, who walked US Route 6, a highway that stretches all the way from Cape Cod in Massachusetts, to Long Beach, California.  (Who knew there was a single route across the entire U.S., and a walkable one at that.)  Mr. Hurley traveled from east to west, and had a photographer with him.  I am copying a couple of the photos below.  We have exchanged a few e-mails and Mr. Hurley has been generous with his offer of advice/contacts and so forth.

(Mr. Hurley has a book for sale through is website.  Photos are by Travis Lindhorst.)

Practice Walk #2

Although I cannot be as precise about the distance covered in yesterday's San Francisco loop walk,  I think it compares adequately with Practice Walk #1.  (It's on my agenda to acquire a pedometer that measures distance as well as steps...)

The route from my address described the 'northern SF perimeter', first over 17th Street to the Castro, and down to the Ferry Building via Market Street, and then along the waterfront from SF Bay around to Ocean Beach.  Most of this was along city streets, but there were trails in the Presidio and Land's End Parks.  Asphalt and packed earth are both so much more 'forgiving' than concrete, so I try (wherever it is safe to do so) to walk on the roads, in bike lanes, and on asphalt paths.  The return home was through Golden Gate Park.  I believe this amounted to 15 - 16 miles distance.  

It does not escape me that I have some gorgeous and panoramic scenery to enjoy while I'm working on strength and stamina.  Also, that I have a shower and a comfortable bed and the end of a day's work-out!  

Lotta's Fountain on Market Street

View from Ft. Mason

View from Land's End, with lots of pretty red poison oak in the foreground!

 Mile Rock and Pt. Bonita in the distance.

Ocean Beach from the Cliff House.