Running the Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco

 

#Running_Golden_Gate

Here we are in San Francisco with my goal to run the famous Golden Gate Bridge (2.7kms or 1.7 miles)
The day i head out for this challenge it was typical weather for the City by the Bay, as in damp, foggy & windy.
 What i did not realize was how much care was needed once on the span; as with the crosswinds plus the wet surface & tourists (who cut you off as they only see the picture they want to take & not you) so easily you could get knocked over the 1 meter/3 foot high railings
With all of those factors you really needed to run with focus plus heavy feet ( so to speak 😄) & plant your runners into the decking for balance as its a long way down to the water. (75 meters/245 feet) 

 KeyTip; If you do not want to walk or run the Golden Gate you can rent a bicycle at the Fishermans Wharf & cycle over the bridge to the ferry pier in Sausalito then take the boat back or cycle the roundtrip at a cost of around $20 US for a hybrid bike 

There are rules to cross the span;
 A) All pedestrians are only allowed on the east sidewalk (the side facing the city)
 B) Cyclists must yield to pedestrians; this is especially important around the towers because of the limited space
 C) There is a 15mph limit for bicycles 
 D) Finally eBikes have the same rules to follow as pedal bikes

There is new construction at nights for a Suicide Deterrent System ( netting)
 as unfortunately the bridge (remember i mentioned the short railings on the Golden Gate) has averaged 30 deaths per year for the last twenty years 😞 

Some Fun Facts on the Golden Gate;

A) The color of the bridge (International Orange) was widely used in the aerospace industry (lighter than what you would see on an astronauts suits)
 It is formulated to be rust resistant because of the ocean spray plus the color makes the bridge more visible in the thick fog that is too common in San Francisco
B) When the one billionth vehicle crossed the bridge (1985) the driver was gifted a case of champagne & a hardhat, now that number has surpassed two billion crossings
C) During the 50th anniversary & celebration of the Golden Gate there were 300,000 people that crowed onto the bridge which temporarily flattened the curved arch by 2.1 meters / 7 feet
 D) The Golden Gate was hit by an earthquake in 1935 but withstood it because of the parallel wire construction
 E) The only other bridge in the world painted in International Orange is in Portugal (Abril Bridge)
F) The Golden Gate is the most photographed bridge in the world plus has been featured in films like James Bond (A View To A Kill) & The Rise of the Planet of the Apes 

Things to do once your in Sausalito;

A) Stroll along the Bridgeway which is the street that runs along the waterfront
 B) Go to the Visitors Centre at Historic Ice House to start your self guided tour
 C) Around 3 miles from the ferry are the famous floating homes (houseboats) of Sausalito that has been part of the waterfront scene since the 1880s. 
 D) There is a old schooner ship (Freda B) that offers cruises
E) In the same area as the houseboats there is a 1.5acre 3D model (that was built for the army in 1957) of the San Francisco Bay.
It was to test the impact of suggested changes of the waterways nearby & now is an interactive exhibit for all us visitors which is free to view 
 F) Seaplane Tours that you would see Baker Beach, Pt. Bonita Lighthouse, Alcatraz, Angel Island, AT&T Park & Golden Gate Bridge
 G) Gallery 111 Art Studios with the works of around 85 local jewelry makers, photographers, painters, sculptors & weavers