Day 2

Day 2: Finding a way around 580.
Being woken up by people running near the beach is no better feeling (and with the sun rising on the Golden Gate Bridge and Alcatraz). Wow. These individuals were up at the crack of dawn and already being active. The cool temperature and the cool breeze all night made me very lazy when the sun rose and heated me back up. My sleeping bag did an amazing job keeping me warm though. As soon as I was coming to, somebody asked me where I was headed. He said that he was on his way to Boston!! How great is that!? I think his website is firstjohn.org. But I could have dreamt this I guess. Either way, he was a very nice guy. With all of my gear packed I was off. From the night previous, I knew the location of a few restaurants for breakfast. After a quick cinnamon roll, I blazed through the city. I stopped at pier 39 to see the sea lions,because a specific person told me to see them ;). What a gorgeous area and town. Leaving the city behind me by ferry, I picked up my running in Oakland. Because of the size of the two cities and their highways, this is the area that I was most skeptical about. How could I travel to Yosemite without using any of the busy freeways?? Especially the dreaded 580. My maps told me that their were, but with no Wi-fi...no detailed maps.Numerous times I pulled out my old fashioned road atlas to try to spot where I was. One time, a gentleman gave me great directions that did not include the 580. However 10 miles out, the road that the guy told me to be on dead ended. After circling Oakland airport a couple times, I decided to ask directions that didn't include freeways. Every one that I asked said that there were no such thing ( um... No offense to any females, but everyone that I asked were of that sex). Finally, someone told me that I could go through downtown Oakland to get where I am going. His exact words were "head for those hills". Oh goodie. So here I am, running in downtown with my short shorts and a stroller over these monster hills. BUT!! It only took me to the exact entrance of 580. I do not want to attempt running on this. So Again,asking around with no luck until a male says I can take a road right next to the freeway...YES!! I followed this road for miles and miles, hoping to reach the town of Tracy or Oakdale. Total running mileage- between 35 to 40 miles.