The first thing Fred had planned for Sunday, March 9^th was a complete surprise!

I had never heard of a driverless car—let alone ridden in a Waymo. In the beginning I was apprehensive and found it quite unnerving, especially when drivers or pedestrians around us would do ridiculous or unsafe things. But the cars had been well-tested and their multiple sensors made sure we were never in any danger so I soon relaxed and began to enjoy the ride. The best part was the look on other peoples’ faces when they realized the driver’s seat was empty! I finally know what it feels like to be a celebrity! Everywhere we went people were snapping photos or shouting questions at us. By the time I boarded my third Waymo, I was hooked!

Next up was walking the Golden Gate Bridge to Marin. It’s a fantastic way to experience the Bridge especially the views of the Bay and the various islands and boats in it. We were lucky in that the day was clear with a bright blue sky, plenty of sunshine, and a light breeze.

Karl the Fog was noticeably absent, though Fred and Sat Daya assured me that walking the bridge blanketed by him offers its own kind of unique memory. Why Karl? The fog’s name is rumored to have evolved from the misunderstood giant in Tim Burton’s wonderful movie Big Fish. The walk was bracing, but we all agreed that the continuous suicide warning signs set against a steady stream of noisy traffic made it a “once in a lifetime” outing that we could now cross off our lists!

From there we rehydrated with cold Cokes before boarding the ferry for Alcatraz. Surprisingly I had never been to this prison on any of my other visits to the City and, given the recent prison strikes all over NYS, I was interested in seeing the maximum-security Federal penitentiary in-person. A grim chapter in our country’s history for sure, but I can’t deny that I left the island feeling there were many facts and stories I’d like to learn more about.

Several things come to mind immediately. In 1969 the island was home to a group of Native Americans for more than 19 months. The first occupants were mostly from San Francisco, but were later joined by members of the American Indian Movement, a grassroots group, and other urban Native Americans from other parts of the country, all of whom were part of a wave of activists fighting for Native American rights by organizing public protests across the United States.

Another story was about how many of the prisoners would cultivate pastimes one wouldn’t imagine were typical of hardened criminals. For example, one man took up painting landscapes and another recalled learning crocheting from his grandmother and rekindled the hobby, along with teaching it to other incarcerated men.

Last but not least, the Great Escape of 1962, which has never been officially solved. But what I found most unusual about Alcatraz was what, almost everyone I talked to about it, came away with the strongest visceral impression of was the recorded stories about how the prisoners and guards would be able to see, and hear, the sounds of revelry in San Francisco on New Year’s Eve. For some reason the inmates’ wistful recollections, associated with those hours until the clock struck midnight, and the dawning comprehension of all they had given up and lost due to certain choices they’d made, seemed to move visitors deeply, even half a century after the last prisoner had left the penitentiary.

By now all this exercise had left us starving, bordering on hangry, so we headed toward Hillstone on Montgomery Street, a short walk away, to celebrate Fred’s birthday with a high-end dinner.

The first thing you notice when you enter the restaurant is the muted, but sophisticated, ambiance. Then there was the service, which was exemplary. But, let’s not forget the food!

For the main course I ordered a Hawaiian steak with pineapple-soy-ginger marinade which was delicious. It came with French fries which initially seemed like an odd choice but actually worked nicely. Fred got the Center-cut filet, and Sat Daya the grilled artichoke and Veggie burger.

Naturally, we had to end our evening with dessert (what’s a birthday without a sweet conclusion?) so the three of us split a piece of Key Lime pie which we unanimously agreed was as good as any from Key West. A thoroughly enjoyable meal and a fitting end to a wonderful day!

Hot transportation tip: The Clipper Card is a good buy if you’re planning to rely on the BART (heavy rail public transit) to get around town. If you’re looking for a more diverse transportation plan, try the Muni Pass which works for busses, streetcars, and Metro lines.

Final Thoughts

That day netted me a grand total of 27,832 steps-shattering my American record! New Zealand still takes the global prize with over 28,000 steps in a single day!

How do you navigate your world? In my opinion, as long as you keep moving its all good!