Urban Hiking

Dick and I had a very nice urban hike today: we walked from our house all the way to The Conservatory of Flowers in Golden Gate Park. It was quite a good hike - I'm guessing 5 miles or so. We had a late dinner last night with Mike, Bunny, Reeves, Paula, and Omar at The House of Prime Rib to celebrate Mike's bday, and new job. It was a wonderful meal, but I'm afraid we all ate too much! Dick and I both woke up this morning feeling the need for a little bit of exercise! ;)

I really enjoy a good urban hike. It gives us a chance to walk through so many neighborhoods that we wouldn't otherwise see very often. We walked from our house in the Castro, up 17th street, through Upper Terrace, Cole Valley, and the Haight. I especially like walking through neighborhoods on Sunday afternoons, because it gives us a chance to peek into some open houses!

Golden Gate Park is great to walk through on Sundays - some of the main streets are closed off to autos, and the park is swarming with interesting people. While we were at the park, we discovered the carousel, and the Lawn Bowling green! Very cool. I was just talking with my Mom, and she remembers going to both areas when she was a little girl.

We also made our way to the National AIDS Memorial Grove, which I think is one of the most special areas of the entire park; it's so beautiful, and such a wonderful tribute to all whose lives have been touched by AIDS. I've been to a couple of memorial services in the grove, and I can't imagine a better place to pay tribute to our friends who we have lost to the AIDS pandemic.