Stairways are Heaven
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Random Stairway Hunt

9/6/2013

2 Comments

 
The Sausalito and Larkspur ferries (behind the Ferry Building: Golden Gate Ferry) take Clipper Cards now (the Blue & Gold Fleet doesn't). This was a long overdue visit to Sausalito, the last maybe 38 years ago. Back then I'd walked across the GG Bridge and through a vehicles-only tunnel, intending to browse Sausalito's annual art show. Did take the ferry back. 

First pic: Sausalito ahead, resembling one of those European hill-towns. 

Turns out I was much more interested in the city's winding streets and stairways then, as now, but don't recall which stairways back then nor did I take pix. So this first recent trek was to be a random hike, as in whatever stairways I might find. 

The only street name remembered was the main shopping street, Bridgeway, where some start up from here. The first climbed this time was El Monte Lane, 120 steps up to Bulkley, (pic 2, 3). Down 29 more to Santa Rosa (pic 4).

… A short double stairway down to Glen with a chair at the top (fifth pic: 19 steps)

… House at Girard & Turney (pic 6). Same general area: pics 7, 8, 9. 

… A house on Bonita (pic 10)

Back up to Bulkley on steep San Carlos and onto Harrison. Noticed a stairway called Excelsior Lane going up and down from Harrison (pics 11, 12), so naturally had to count all the steps from the top: Miller & San Carlos. Part of Excelsior is a walkway and one lower part a narrow vehicle street just before a double stairway continues it down to Bridgeway (pics 13, 14, 15, 16), about 178 steps.

Next to this was another stairway rising from Bridgeway called Reade Ln. with 55 steps and a walkway up to Bulkley. So back up again (pics 17, 18).


Someone's written a book about Sausalito's stairways. If I ever see it will get it, but will continue to explore to see what I might discover on my own. 


Having seriously fallen in love with this city, am also jealous because San Francisco could have had more winding streets that look like theirs had we not fallen victim to so many unimaginative developers of lookalike houses and condoboxes in our higher-up 'hoods (like Twin Peaks/Midtown Terrace, Diamond Heights, etc.) 


Sausalito's streets, as one climbs higher up the mountain, are narrow and curving, sometimes with no sidewalks at all (others have one or two sidewalks). Steps lead up to houses on one side of the street and down to them on the other side.

The several stairways I had the pleasure of meeting this trip are all very old, including wood railings and old stone steps. There are some "Not a Through Street" signs, but experienced one dead-end where I walked right up to the end of the street with no sign and no way to go but to retrace my steps. All in a day's hike: no problema. 


And the houses. P;enty of contemporary homes but they're also quite attractive. Many were very old, smaller, and my-type-cuuuute. And the trees. So many beautiful trees all over (last pic: Glen & Turney, a treehugger's heaven) … white picket fences … Bay 'n boats below. 


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1. Coming in to Sausalito.
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2. El Monte Ln. up from Bridgeway
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3. View from El Monte steps
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4. Down to Santa Rosa
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5. Down to Glen, a double. Look at those trees in the distance!
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6. Girard & Turney
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7. Girard & Turney area
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8. Around Girard & Turney
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9. This house has a Name
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10. Bonita St.
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11. Excelsior Lane, up or down from Harrison
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12. Excelsior Lane
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13. Excelsior's steps start up again
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14. Excelsior Lane's last block down to Bridgeway
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15. Excelsior Lane
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16. Foot of Excelsior Ln. at Bridgeway
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17. Reade Ln. up from Bridgeway
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18. Top of Reade Ln. at Bulkley
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19. Glen & Turney. Treehugger's Delight
2 Comments
Julian Michelucci link
9/6/2013 04:22:52 am

Very nice! Congrats for mixing up the walk and going to Marin County. My visit is long overdue as well. I believe you can get a copy of the stairs and paths from Doug, I do have a copy. The book is not as organized as Adah's though, it has the stairs listed without actually looped routes. I have seen the Excelsior Lane when I was in town at the beginning of the year with friends and family. Sausalito is very beautiful indeed. Fortunately, it's not far from San Francisco.

Reply
Tony
9/6/2013 05:10:30 am

Since I'm a nondriver and it was a hassle carrying cash and I have no credit card, now that they take Clipper Card, which I use all the time for transportation in SF, this means I can go here now too without a lot of trouble. Love the place. Going back soon and another post on it coming probably later today. Gotta do it a little at a time since it's a lot of climbing and I don't wanna miss anything.

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    I like meandering around on San Francisco's park trails and public stairways, sometimes taking photos, and enjoying nature and the outdoors.

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