San Francisco Trolley Race

I finished with the “business” part of my business trip at 2pm. My client dropped me off at SFO airport, and I began to wonder what I would do with the six hours I had left before my flight’s departure. Sure, I could search for an earlier flight, but I was in San Francisco! And... didn’t BART connect SFO to downtown and Oakland?

I knew that area pretty well. Four years ago I stayed at a hotel near the corner of Powell and Market, chosen for its proximity to a BART station and the end of a trolley line. My mission was clear.

I hopped the BART, rode to Powell, grabbed a round-trip trolley ticket and got in line. The last time I rode the trolley I took a seat, but my general state of consciousness has evolved since then. I’ve learned to let go of fear, to keep that which I cannot control out of mind. I stood at the front of the car, hanging off the side, my backpack against my belly, and we were off.

The Powell-Market line has the most dramatic hills on the trolley line, and leads you through some diverse, scenic areas. It’s familiar to anyone who’s ridden before... it’s the one that ends at Ghirardelli Square.

So... BART to trolley... trolley to bay... bay walk to Fisherman’s Wharf... quick photo op with the seals... quick walk back through the pier... crab cake sandwich... brisk walk back to Ghirardelli Square... trolley to Market... BART to SFO... SFO to PDX... MAX to Hollywood.

Plenty of time, plenty of pics. Got my San Fran fix and life is good. Now that’s a quality business trip.