The San Andreas fault line is visible for much of the day as we cycle along the edge of the inlet to Point Reyes Station, the epicentre of the destructive Sam Francisco quake of 1906.
Most of the day we are amongst a strung out group of 38 American cyclists from Colorado, on a supported cycling "vacation".
The view of San Francisco, the island of Alcatraz, and the North Bay is truly awesome, stopping us in our tracks as we cycle along the front at Sausalito. We cannot believe our luck as our hosts' house has the best view in town, high up in a gorgeous garden, looking right across the bay to the the eastern road bridge. The sunrise, with a pink sky over the cityscape and Diablo Mountain, is unforgettable.
Winnie and Bruce help with advice on reaching the Golden Gate Bridge. We join the thousands of people who are collecting at vantage points all around the bay to watch as The Endeavour space shuttle, piggybacked on a jumbo jet, does a farewell flypast low over the bridge.
We take in iconic views of trams, and handsome old houses as we cycle past the historic piers to catch the ferry across the Bay to Oakland. It is an industrial area of busy concrete roads, but we are then soon up through the hills to Pleasanton. This little town lives up to its name, an oasis of boulevards and parks.
Tour miles to date: 1,714
Location:Bodega Bay to Pleasanton
