Date: Thursday, June 12, 2025
Distance covered: 236 km
Time riding: 5 hr 45 min
Route: Monterey, CA ➝ San Francisco, CA (via Twin Peaks, Lombard Street, Golden Gate Bridge, Fisherman’s Wharf, and Pier 39)
Vibes: Ocean breeze, city streets, postcard views
🌅 Breakfast by the Bay
The day started with a hearty breakfast at First Awakenings in Monterey — definitely lived up to its name. After fueling ourselves, it was time to fuel the bikes and hit the road.
🏍️ Twisting North Along the Coast
After a quick Chevron stop, we began the scenic ride up toward San Francisco, carving through the curves of the California coast. A few hours on the saddle and we were climbing up to one of the city’s highest points:
- Twin Peaks: The view was unreal — a full panoramic sweep of San Francisco.
❄️ But man, it was super cold and gusty up there. The wind was no joke. We layered up, snapped our photos, and didn’t hang around too long!
🌁 Cruising Through the City
From the heights of Twin Peaks, we wound our way down into the heart of San Francisco — and couldn’t skip one of the most iconic roads:
- Lombard Street: The “crookedest street in the world” lived up to the hype. Tight switchbacks, picture-perfect homes, and a quick drop that tested our clutch skills and braking balance.
🏨 Evening in the Bay
A few more key stops wrapped up the day:
- Checked into HI San Francisco Fisherman’s Wharf Hostel
- A recharge at Café Franco
- Golden Gate Bridge ride – iconic, foggy, unforgettable
- Walked Pier 39 and had dinner at Pier Market Seafood Restaurant — fresh seafood with waterfront vibes
🛏️ Back to Base
After dinner, we cruised back to the hostel and called it a night at 9:18 p.m. — sore wrists from city traffic but full hearts from a day that gave us a little bit of everything.
🌟 Highlights of the Day:
- 🥓 Breakfast at First Awakenings
- ❄️ Freezing, gusty wind at Twin Peaks — but unbeatable views
- 🌀 Tackled Lombard Street — one curve at a time
- 🌉 Crossed the Golden Gate
- 🦐 Pier 39 seafood and street vibes
💭 Final Thought:
“From twisting mountain roads to twisting city streets — San Francisco gave us curves, chills, and core memories.”