This was Red Letter day for me! I started riding from Mill Valley, over the San Francisco Bay Bridge towards Half Moon Bay. The weather was perfect and I saw more cyclists riding across the Golden Gate Bridge then I have seen the entire ride from Vancouver BC.

However the ride proved to be by far the most treacherous of the ride for me. The route that I chose took me through the Presidio, Golden Gate Park and onto The Great Highway, otherwise known as Highway 1.

The Great Highway has a flaw. The road pavement has a space about an inch wide, and deep separating the road surface from the bicycle shoulder. A situation, found out later, that is well known to San Francisco cyclists.

To make a long story short I was cruising down The Great Highway at about 17 miles per hour. Perfect day, scenery, road surface. One minor flaw in the system. I swerved out into the road to avoid a speed bump and my rear wheel dropped into the space between the road and shoulder.

Yours truly went flying on to the shoulder with my helmut, and head, hitting the cement curb with a rather loud thump. My right lower leg, elbow and shoulder took the brunt of the hit. The cement won and some of my skin ended up on the road.

The helmet and derailer on my bicycle had to be replaced. Fortunately my hide and body did not. It was a great learning experience for me. I saw the space between the road and the shoulder but did not “see” the consequences of that space.

Fortunately the injuries to me were minor. The bicycle has been repaired and my level of awareness of road conditions has improved immensely. My attention to detail has improved!

I returned to the Holiday Inn Express in Mill Valley, feeling a little worn and beat up and Mary Ann came to my rescue. She offered me a discount on room and provided me with bandages, and other essentials. The Florence Nightingale (sp) of the Holiday Inn Express organization.

Miles for day: 51

Total Miles: 1201

Update Location: Golden Gate Bridge - Map this location

Good Samaritan of the Day: Mary Ann - Thank you!!

Approach to the Golden Gate Bridge


Mary Ann