Spring Climb (just a bit) with NOPA VELO on Sunday

What's better for a bright San Francisco morning than a spring spin to a few "Peaks of NOPA"? Don't worry that NOPA VELO's third monthly ride will be too much for your biking ability. Last weekend we tried the route and pared it to a very reasonable outing.

Power-up with coffee and sweets at Apollo Coffee at 9:30 Sunday and be ready to roll by 10 a.m. Alamo Square, we like your views. Buena Vista, so good to behold. And Parnassus, we're awe-struck. Glide back down into Golden Gate Park** and take the Panhandle Path to NOPA's own Divisadero Farmers' Market for all sorts of treats to enjoy at a few tables reserved just for us. (Thanks SF-Grill and Dmitrius of Farmers' Market!).

Costumes encouraged, sing-along biking very possible. All neighbors and friends welcome. Kids OK if with own bike and accompanied by adult guardian. Heavy rain cancels...but rain on Maria von Trapp's special day? We don't think so.

Sunday, March 28th

9:30 am -- meet at Apollo Coffee, Turk & Divisadero (say hello to Manaf, the owner)

10:00 am -- mountain climbing gear ready, we're taking off, grab your lederhosen

90 minute ride

11:30 am or so -- drinks and lunch at Farmers' Market, Grove & Divisadero

** We're dropping the stop at the de Young Museum tower; too much of a logistical challenge for us. But for the real "Climb Every Mountain" riders, an optional ride is Lone Mountain Campus just north of the Park. One of us will lead.

How popular is NOPA VELO? More than 75 cyclists have joined our Google Group. Don't be left out, join here. See you Sunday.

A Walk in the Park: Buena Vista's New Eastside Path

Those of us who live in NOPA get so accustomed to "the Park" or "our Park" being the Panhandle and the Golden Gate that we forget another green treasure just a few blocks up the hill. Buena Vista Park is a perfect outing for these November days with just enough sun to counter the chill in the air. Check out the new eastside path in Buena Vista Park, an ambitious undertaking to making the park more accessible to all neighbors.

Keep a little history in mind as you approach San Francisco's first park in the city's publicly owned park system. Known as "Hill Park" in the 1860s when the Committee on Outside Lands selected the nearly 600 foot high, 36 acre hill for public use.* By the way, those "Outer Lands" that civic-minded San Franciscans discussed is right where NOPA is situated today along with the rest of city blocks west of Van Ness Avenue.

Buena Vista Park rivals Golden Gate for its history and reputation: colorful certainly, controversial for its earlier thick-brush activities, and inspiring for the dedication of neighborhood organizations -- the Buena Vista Neighborhood Association and the Friends of Buena Vista -- the Recreation and Parks Department, and the Neighborhood Parks Council to protect and make this somewhat wild expanse more accessible.

Don't settle for an armchair visit, but North Panhandle resident Dale Danley provides a preview of what you'll see with the new eastside path at Buena Vista. Take a look at Dale's Scene here. What do you think of the path: a huge improvement or a bit overbuilt? Leave your comments on Dale's blog or here too.

* For more history of the park, see this summary provided by Jeanne Alexander of the Neighborhood Parks Council and for a cool 1948 overhead view of the BV area, see this other article written by Alexander. (Be sure to note the roadway the length of Panhandle Park in this shot).