Thursday, October 1st

The gorgeous, clear and pleasantly cool morning evolved into and equally beautiful afternoon.

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After my usual routine I hit the street armed with my as yet virgin FastPass. I boarded the 22 at Texas and 18th, handily, just around the corner and I got off at Folsom and 16th to connect with the 12 Folsom. After about a 15 minute wait and still no bus in site I was beginning to think I should have just walked the few remaining blocks down to Harrison and 10th - the location of Capricorn Coffees. The bus finally arrived and this, my third attempt to get some coffee at CC, was successful.

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This place sells fresh ground coffee. No bags of pre-ground. You choose from the selections available and it is ground on the spot. There is coffee for the drinking while your order is being filled.

 

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There is a large glass window which looks into the bagging area, so I took a coupla shots. Shortly after this a guy came through the door behind the order counter and in a very confrontational way demanded to know "Why are you taking pictures?! We don't allow pictures here." And then something about private contractors which I did not understand. I should have told him to cover the window and/or place signage about the policy. But instead I tried to smooth his ruffled feathers by telling him I used to come here in the 60s and the place had sentimental value to me. This didn't phase him in the least and all the while he kept shooting glances at my camera and I half expected him to grab it from me and pull out the "film" like you see in the movies. He finally crawled back into his hole and I left, my one pound of house blend in hand.

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The menu at Capricorn Coffees.

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A rather poor shot of yet another huge mosaic.

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I headed over to 9th Street and up to Market Street, hoping I might find someplace to have some lunch. By now it was nearly 3:00 and I was getting hungry.

I passed the Potter Hotel. This is where Harry stays when he is town.

All the food offerings looked abysmal so I decided to hold off for something better.

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I thought of Martin and Jerry when I saw this so I snapped a quick shot. Soon I was on Market Street and I popped into a corner store for a bag of peanuts to keep me from fainting. Then it was over to the Civic Center area and Public Library where I stopped in for quick pee.

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On the way out I passed by the book sale area. If you are a Breiding this is always dangerous. Sure enough, I found several books I wanted, but I pushed back temptation and instead bought something useful. This book will be handy when I get over to the Marin Headlands and some of the other nearby hiking areas. It was in like new condition and $4.00.

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Here it is, the infamous Library bike rack from which my bicycle was liberated in October of 2007.

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Although not a matching set, I have no doubt this luggage set did the job.

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A statue of someone famous and some really nice buildings. Obviously my note taking is sloppy to non-existent.

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My next look.

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Still hungry I headed up into the Tenderloin hoping to find something tasty in " Little Saigon". I wandered up Larking and saw this sign at #738. Ahhh... nothing like a hot bath and a massage - by an oriental no less! The Tenderloin is full of these places and there are dozens of ads for them in the local rags. Tempting, but I decided to pass.

The Tenderloin is infamous for it druggies and prostitutes. And almost immediately I began to see Tranny Tarts trolling the area. There was one guy who I saw repeatedly as he worked his beat.
(Note the bike cop eyeballing the guy parking his scooter.)

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Yet another mural. This one was along Myrtle Alley on the back wall of the Hartland Hotel between Geary and 0' Farrell. It was pretty much unblemished.

The Hartland Hotel
909 Geary St
The Hartland hotel was acquired by THC through the SRO/Master Lease Program in September of 2000. The Hartland Hotel is a critical resource to serve the homeless population and provides 137 units of housing, 100 of which have private bathrooms. It’s corner location offers residents great city views and large rooms

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THC took over the Hartland after it had been vacant for two years due to a fire which displaced all residents. Prior to THC’s takeover, the hotel was entirely renovated. Additionally, a renovation project transformed a former commercial beauty salon and used the space to create a lobby and meeting rooms on the ground floor. THC continues to maintain and upgrade this hotel to ensure residents have an affordable and safe place to live.

Source: Tenderloin Housing Clinic

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Here and below are some detail shots of the mural.

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Weird Al, perhaps?

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Scary.

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Here it is!!! The Hotel California .

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Meet Shelagh.
I met her while we were both taking a look a the menu posted in the window of Olivo's at 1017 Larkin. She was unfamiliar with pupusas so I tried to explain what they were. She then wanted to know how I decided where to eat and what to order. I told I just went with what looked good and hoped for the best. I could see she was waffling about going in so I said: "Wanna try it? C'mon, lets give it a try." And, before I knew it we were ordering up some goodies.

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We each ordered two pupusas each. Shelagh had the bean and cheese and I had a bean and cheese and a cheese and pork. They were quite tasty as was the cole slaw and chips and salsa. The Negro Modelos certainly didn't hurt the meal either.

Much to my surprise we ended up sitting there yakking for 5 hours and 2 Modelos and by now it was dark.
(I was facing the fully open door during our dinner and there was a steady procession of Trannys cruising by.)

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We paid up and Shelagh took the obligatory foodie photo for me.

Shelagh had notice a cluster of guys up the street eyeballing us and we both decided now was the time to beat a hasty retreat to the well lighted security of Van Ness Avenue. On the way up we passed another Trolling Tranny, someone I had not seen before.

At Van Ness we parted company - Shelagh to Polk Gulch and I to Market Street in search of a bus which would get me home.

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I am definitely going back to this place!

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This, the last shot of the day is a small story in it's self.

At Market and Van Ness I saw an underground where I could catch the N Judah which crossed the 22 line at Church. I knew this was not the quickest way, but I know it would get me home.

I got to the turnstiles and there was a guy blocking the way as he was talking to the attendant in the glass booth. A woman who wanted through said, rather disgustedly "Are going in or coming out?" The guy said, "The trains aren't running and I'm trying find out what's wrong. But, you can come in." And he stepped aside with a flourish.

Now it was my turn, I used my FastPass and then asked the attendant if the N was running. She said "Yes, but the are running slow. But they are running". Ok. Down to the platform.

The above photo was what I saw when I got to the platform stairway. Everyone was milling round, some resignedly others were more agitated. Some were looking at there watches and mumbling. This was not a good sign.

I went down to the platform and then realized just how bad it was. There was not one sound to be heard in any direction. It was very eery. And to me it meant there was absolutely no movement in the tunnels. You can here the trains for miles down here and now it was absolute quiet. Time to leave.

I stopped on my way out and asked the attendant what surface transport I could take which would cross the 22 line going to Potrero hill. She thought for a moment and said, "Take the number 9 and get off at Potrero and 16th." This intersection I knew well by now and so I thought I was on my way. But, when I got up to Market Street I could see no sign anywhere for a "9" Bus stop. I walked a complete circle around the busy intersection and could see nothing.

Now what!? I went back down into the station using the stairs on the other side of the street. Again, I asked the attendant (a different one) the same question. She gave me the same answer. But this time another MUNI worker told me the stop was up at the Bank of America. He said "When you get to the top of the escalator go right to the stop for the 9 San Bruno". Ok, now we are getting some where.

I did as instructed, and , guess what! I was right back where I started. Oh, brother... No sign of the 9 bus stop.

I noticed some people on the street car platform and decided to take a chance. I asked one of the ladies standing there where I could catch the number 9 and then the 22 and she said "On the other side of the Bank of America. It comes down Market and turns there." Ah ha!

I crossed the intersection again and walked past the escalator I had come out of and it was then I realized what had happened. The previous instructions to "go right" should have been " go straight to the first street, then go right. So, there I finally was, at the stop for the 9 San Bruno.

I had been waiting for about 5 minutes when I was surprised to see the woman from platform turn the corner and walk straight towards me. She came up to me and said "Oh, I see you found it. I just realized I didn't ask you what direction you wanted to go on the 22. I said "To Potrero Hill". And she said "You're Ok then". I thanked her sincerely for coming to check on me and I was quite amazed she did it. She could easily have missed her bus.

Now, to make a long story even longer. I boarded the San Bruno and confirmed where I needed to go with the driver. He said he would call out the stop when we got to. Groovy. I might get home yet. I sat down and we just sat there. The driver was having some king of long conversation with another MUNI employee. Finally she got off and bus driver said: "Sorry folks, Supervisor."

The driver yakked amiably with several of the passengers and then called out my stop for me. I waited about 5 minutes and boarded the 22 behind several people. When we all boarded the driver stayed put, and looked around at one of the passengers and said "Is that wadded up piece of paper you showed me actually a valid transfer?" His voice was dripping with sarcasm. The older gentleman he was talking two tottered up to the front of the bus mumbling "It should be valid..." He showed it to the driver who dismissed him with a wave of his hand. What a jerk.

Next stop - same thing. Someone got on and I guess he didn't stick his transfer in the drivers face so the drive stayed put and said "I didn't see that transfer". The guy ignored him - ear buds. The driver then got half way out of his seat and waved his arms and said the same thing. Guess this time the guy heard him. Satisfied, he finally pulled out of the bus stop. Brother...

Finally we got to my stop. It was nearly ten o'clock. I went upstairs and it was lights out in short order.
Interesting day.

FINIS

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