Valhalla Island

The first thing I noticed about San Francisco was how cold it was. A San Francisco summer is about as cold than a Brisbane Winter. Next was the distinct lack of trees — it’s the city equivalent of a desert. It probably has more trees than New York but in New York the buildings are so tall they provide shade.

Souvenir style camera stores here have an ability to make elegant and expensive digital SLR cameras look like they’re prizes in a sideshow alley game.

This is the first real, dedicated hostel I’ve stayed in and it definitely has a unique vibe. There’s common rooms, kitchens, laundries, a cheap cafe and young people. I’m surprised how many older people are staying here though, there’s even some families, kids and all. I didn’t expect that.

It’s in a great area. On a hill, overlooking the bay. The worst part is trying to make a bed on a top bunk, it’s impossible. I’m loving the free and fast WiFi. They share WiFi the right way — a plain old unsecured connection.

When I got in yesterday I set off on a walk, I found the “crookedest” road in the world.

Then I slept for a long time.

Today I did a few things. I went into the city through Chinatown. It reminded me of Brisbane, nothing extraordinary, just high brand shops. I picked up a backpack, finally retiring my longtime, brilliant and falling apart Hurley backpack. I’m a backpack connoisseur, there’ll be a post about it.

I rode a cable car back to Fisherman’s wharf, that was fun. I was in what I consider the best position, hanging off the side.

I’d seen a lot of people with hired bikes heading towards the Golden Gate Bridge and I been given recommendations to ride across the bridge by roommates. I left the cable car and went to hire a bike from a place called Blazing Saddles, a great name.

It was being run by a quietly spoken English girl (it was her last day) and an extremely loud American. He kept on shouting. The bikes were good and I was on my way. It’s not a short ride to the Golden Gate Bridge but it’s beside the water and it’s pleasant.

There’s always fog in San Francisco, even on the bridge I couldn’t see the top of the tower. You don’t realise until you’re on it, each rope that it hangs from is about 25 metres apart. It doesn’t look very strong. It’s so windy up there that I thought I was going to get blown off. It was fun though.

Apart from visiting Alcatraz I feel like I’ve done just about all I can in SF. Not being able to drink didn’t bother me until I got here. Everyone but the old people and the kids leave at about 8 to hit the bars. Just about all the activities require you to be 21 too.

So I’m thinking about leaving two nights early and spending those two nights in Calgary before I move into residence. I have no idea why I booked such a long stay in San Francisco. It’ll cost $10 to change my Greyhound fare and with any luck transferring two nights to another hostel with the same name won’t be any trouble.