San Francisco Fun: The Golden Gate Bridge and Karl the Fog!

Seeing the Golden Gate Bridge was one of the things I was looking forward to the most about San Francisco! I've always loved this bridge! I couldn't wait to see it for the very first time! My husband is also a civil engineer and has told me so many times how this bridge is an engineering marvel! Of course I wanted to be able to run across the bridge but with 5 kids in tow I knew that wouldn't happen. So I was settling for walking across it. I couldn't wait!

So after our picnic in Alamo Square Park we jumped back into the car and made our way to the Golden Gate Bridge!

We got close and Stephanie kept saying..."You should be able to see it by now!" But...we couldn't see it. It was soooo foggy! Remember I told you that the famous fog in San Francisco had its own name? Yes...its name is Karl! Karl the Fog is on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram and is HILARIOUS!

But that day...I wasn't fond of Karl the Fog! I wanted to see the beloved Golden Gate Bridge! We found a parking spot and got out anyway. I had hope that maybe the fog would disappear any moment! Not only was it extremely foggy....it was FREEZING! The 70 degree weather we enjoyed during our picnic had turned into 50 degree windy weather at the Golden Gate Bridge! All thanks to Karl the Fog!

Of course we had on shorts and short sleeve shirts and conveniently left our jackets at Stephanie's house...an hour away! But I was still going to try to walk across that bridge!

We made our way and stopped at a spot where you were supposed to be able to get a good view of the bridge. You can kind of see a little bit of it in the middle part of my picture.

I made my boys stop and take a picture with me anyway. So at least I could say I was there...and saw a sliver of the bridge. Can you tell that my boys were freezing???

I knew right then and there that there was no way we were going to be able to walk across the bridge that day. It was just too cold for the kids. Stephanie offered to let me walk it on my own and she would drive to the other end with the kids and meet me. But I didn't want to do that.

The kids wanted to visit the gift shop so that's where we headed. And it felt nice to get inside where it was warm! I ended up buying a souvenir shirt that said, "I crossed the Golden Gate Bridge." I thought it was pretty cute...touristy but hey that's what I was! And yes I had to try it on since I wasn't sure of my size since I'm losing weight. I had to buy an Extra Small!!! :-)

The gift shop was pretty neat! The kids found so many things that they liked lol! They also had on display a replica of the test tower from when the bridge was built. Pretty cool reading about how it was built!

We also talked to one of the employees in the gift shop. We asked her about the crazy fog. She said that when it was really hot further inland (like where Stephanie lived...it was 101 degrees that day) that the warmer air coming across the cool Pacific Ocean caused the fog. She said summer time in San Francisco was usually foggy and cold.

To say I was disappointed is an understatement. I was devastated! I had traveled all the way across the US and I just wanted to see the Golden Gate Bridge! The employee told us to go out to the flag pole and see if it was a little clearer. She also said you could see more of the bridge on the opposite side.

So we ventured back outside into the cold and headed towards the flag pole. We stopped for a few pictures along the way.

But the view from the flag pole wasn't much better. We could see a little part of the bridge but not enough to be able to tell it was the Golden Gate Bridge.

I decided I wanted to at least step foot on the Golden Gate Bridge. So that's what I did!

We then walked a cold walk back to our warm car. And then it was time to drive over the Golden Gate Bridge! It was amazing driving over it!

Once we got to the second tower the fog started to clear a bit!!! Yay!!!

We made it across and immediately pulled off onto Vista Point! I was so happy because you could see some of the bridge!!!! We got lucky with a parking spot and jumped out! It was beautiful! We couldn't see the entire bridge but at least we could see some of it!

We walked over to see another beautiful view of the Pacific Ocean! The water is so pretty there! And even though I was mad at Karl the Fog for ruining my view of the bridge...it really was amazing and beautiful seeing the fog roll in like that.

The kids also wanted a picture with this statue dedicated to the Coast Guard.

So that was my first experience with the Golden Gate Bridge! For those of you who are wondering...yes I did get to see the Golden Gate Bridge with no fog! But that's another post! ;-)

QOTD: Have you ever been to or seen the Golden Gate Bridge?

Farewell Run!

Saturday morning's long run was the last group run that my friend Katrina would run with us. She is moving this week. It wasn't a goodbye run...because we already have plans to run a race in her new town. But it was bittersweet knowing it would be her last run with us here.

I wasn't real happy with our start time of 5 AM. We were also running about 15 minutes away so that put my wake up time at 4:20 AM. Yikes! I am so not a morning person lol! And I do NOT like running in the dark during the summertime. I've seen way too many snakes and I want to be able to see where I'm running for that reason. But I also didn't want to miss out on Katrina's last group run with us. So I sucked it up and went! And I'm glad I did!

The run started out great. It was awesome to run a route that I hadn't run in a while. Around the first mile we saw something on the sidewalk...and it looked like a snake! I almost stepped on it! Ugh! Before I could warn the ladies behind me I heard their screams lol!

Our route was an out and back. We ran 3 miles, stopped for a quick water stop, and then ran 3 miles back to our car. The first 3 miles were great for me! The ladies I was running with were complaining about the heat but I think I'm pretty used to it since I normally run at a later time. Of course by the time we reached the water stop I was dripping with sweat and ready for water!

Some of our ladies coming in for water!

After water we began running back. I felt great the entire time! I just love long runs! The course was for 6 miles but I had already decided to make it a 10K. How can I not when I'm so close? ;-)

When we got to the spot where we saw the snake earlier I was on the lookout for it. Well...it turns out it was a piece of rope on the sidewalk lol! It wasn't a snake after all but in the dark it sure looked like one!

I finished the run strong! I love that feeling right after you finish a strong run!

After the run we said our goodbye's to Katrina. There were some tears. We were definitely going to miss her! She is the leader of our Sole2Soul Sisters. It is hard letting her go.

She has inspired so many women to get out there and run. She has inspired so many by her Christian faith. She is such a strong woman and I'm so glad she is my friend! I know this isn't goodbye forever. We will see each other again...most likely at a race! ;-)

QOTD: Have you ever had to say goodbye to a friend moving away?

San Francisco Fun: Alamo Square Park and the Painted Ladies!

One of our days in San Francisco included a picnic in Alamo Square Park and a visit to see the Painted Ladies! What are the Painted Ladies? They are those cute little houses that San Francisco is known for. And they were made famous by the television show Full House! My boys love that show (and so do I) and were so excited to see the houses!

But first....we had to drive into the city. My friend Stephanie lives about an hour outside of San Francisco. So we loaded our 5 kids up and ventured out...at a time when the traffic was supposed to be ok. You have to plan EVERYTHING around the traffic there lol!

The drive was beautiful! Lots of mountains (be sure to read this post to see all those pictures)! And then we made it to the Bay Bridge! This bridge is currently the world's widest bridge according to the Guinness Book Of World Records! It was a really cool bridge! The eastern span connects Oakland to Yerba Buena Island. Then you go through a tunnel. And then you are on the western span of the bridge that connects the island to downtown San Francisco!

Driving on the eastern span (you can see the older bridge on the side...this new one was opened in September 2013)!

After the tunnel, driving on the western span! And you can see downtown San Francisco as we approach it while on the bridge! And yes....I got a little carried away taking pictures but it was all so beautiful!!! ;-)

And then...there we were...in downtown San Francisco!!!

We used our handy GPS to lead us to Steiner Street...where the Painted Ladies were located!

We circled around Alamo Square Park and with luck we found a parking space (which I hear is quite the battle in SF)! Stephanie did an amazing job parallel parking! And I thought this street sign was neat (don't see that here in the Gulf Coast)!

We all climbed out of the car and were greeted with absolute perfect weather! It was in the 70's! We all had shorts and short sleeve shirts on so in the shade it was a little chilly. But it was perfection!

The views were amazing in Alamo Square Park! The houses were so pretty! RUNNERS...see those HILLS???!!!

We trekked up some major hills until we found the perfect spot to picnic....right in front of the Painted Ladies!!! They were so cute! I was a little disappointed that a few were being renovated though.

After some pictures we sat down and enjoyed a picnic lunch in Alamo Square Park! It was such a gorgeous day with the perfect picnic weather! I was loving it because where I live...perfect picnic weather does not occur very often! It's usually way too hot!

After our picnic we walked around Alamo Square Park and enjoyed the views! They had some really awesome trees there!

Since Alamo Square Park is on top of a hill the views of the city were amazing! But...you can also see that Karl the Fog (the name of the famous fog in SF) was there that day! See the fog in the background of this picture? So weird and beautiful at the same time!

After exploring Alamo Square Park we got back in the car and headed to the Golden Gate Bridge! But...that deserves its own post! So stay tuned!

QOTD: Are you a city, suburb, small town, or country person?