The journey into and through the City was surreal. I decided to stay up on the freeway as long as possible, pretty much taking the route I would've in a car.
The damage from the fire had spread to South of Market and was raging off to my left in the Mission. I would imagine that the firefighters can't stop it without trucks and without power. I had to pass over a part of the freeway that was burnt.
At the end of the freeway, I headed up the long hill up towards Golden Gate Park. Much of the area at the base of the hill was in rubble. Many buildings had collapsed into the street so progress was slow. The area to the North was still burning too.
Once I got near the park, there were people everywhere. Probably the displaced folks from the fire and other people looking for answers. Looked a bit like a third world country. I was attracting a lot of attention with my bike-train set up. Some of it was pleasant, but others, desperate for help or needing to get somewhere were getting too insistent for comfort. I went up two blocks from the park and continued to the west. My wife's friend lives way out in the Avenues, but I made quick work of the 45 blocks. I was exhausted when I arrived.
They aren't here.
[September 13] Further afield
My wife has only one friend that still lives in the City. I think she would have mentioned that she was going there, but I'm out of other options. My neighbor offered to ride with me to find them, but I suggested he stay with his own family. At night you can hear people wandering the streets, presumably looking for trouble. Besides, having him along won't make it any easier for me.
I've attached my daughter's trailerbike to mine, and then our bike trailer to the back of that in a rather ridiculous-looking train. My hope is that if they are there, we can all ride back together. I just hope I don't attract too much attention to myself.
As I write, it's about noon and I'm sitting on the Bay Bridge near Treasure Island taking a break after a brutal ride up the incline.
I've attached my daughter's trailerbike to mine, and then our bike trailer to the back of that in a rather ridiculous-looking train. My hope is that if they are there, we can all ride back together. I just hope I don't attract too much attention to myself.
As I write, it's about noon and I'm sitting on the Bay Bridge near Treasure Island taking a break after a brutal ride up the incline.
[September 12]
Spent the better part of the last two days searching for my wife and kids. Rode everywhere I could think that they might be. The school, all of our friends who live further away, stores. Nothing. Things are getting dicey out there. Power's still out.
I'm beginning to worry that she might have drove into the City for some reason. The fires there look like they're nearly out, but who knows what's going down there now. Where could they be?
I'm beginning to worry that she might have drove into the City for some reason. The fires there look like they're nearly out, but who knows what's going down there now. Where could they be?
[September 9] AM
Sleep was like death. Woke up stiff and sore. I slept longer than I wanted to...need to find my family.
I know my wife wasn't home when the power went out. Her car isn't at home. Besides, she would've left a note. If she were running errands nearby when it happened, she probably would've made it home by now, even with the kids in tow.
Where could she be?
There is no reason she would be at my daughter's school since it was a holiday and there was no school. But maybe there was some special function or something. By bike I could get there in 45 minutes. It's worth a shot.
I know my wife wasn't home when the power went out. Her car isn't at home. Besides, she would've left a note. If she were running errands nearby when it happened, she probably would've made it home by now, even with the kids in tow.
Where could she be?
There is no reason she would be at my daughter's school since it was a holiday and there was no school. But maybe there was some special function or something. By bike I could get there in 45 minutes. It's worth a shot.
[September 8] late
I walked down Columbus towards the Bay Bridge. Met a guy name Matt who was headed to Oakland. He told me that he heard the fire was caused by a plane crash...a passenger jet.
We reached the 1st St. entrance to the bridge in the early afternoon (2pm?) but there were two police officers preventing anyone from walking on the bridge. We could see people up on the upper deck so Matt and I snuck around the police. We were turned back by another officer (on a horse!) about halfway across the first span.
As we were returning we were met by dozens of people heading onto the bridge towards the East Bay. They said the cop had let them through so we joined up with them...strength in numbers. We didn't run into the cop on the horse again.
As we crossed we noticed a small fire in the port of Oakland and another one, maybe a house, further off. The bridge seems a lot longer when you're walking...took us most of the afternoon to get across.
At the Maze I parted ways w/ Matt. I decided to stay on the access road that runs along the Bay. I eventually found myself walking and talking with a group of about 8 people headed in the same direction.
After the sun set, we were awed by the site of San Francisco from across the Bay. The fires were still burning/spreading. Most of the group headed up to Berkeley along University. A few of us straggled into Albany fairly late...maybe 10pm.
It was probably around midnight when I arrived at my house. My wife and kids aren't here. None of the neighbors I know are home either. Where could they be?
Can't search for them tonight. Too tired and there's no light anyway except the flame from this candle.
We reached the 1st St. entrance to the bridge in the early afternoon (2pm?) but there were two police officers preventing anyone from walking on the bridge. We could see people up on the upper deck so Matt and I snuck around the police. We were turned back by another officer (on a horse!) about halfway across the first span.
As we were returning we were met by dozens of people heading onto the bridge towards the East Bay. They said the cop had let them through so we joined up with them...strength in numbers. We didn't run into the cop on the horse again.
As we crossed we noticed a small fire in the port of Oakland and another one, maybe a house, further off. The bridge seems a lot longer when you're walking...took us most of the afternoon to get across.
At the Maze I parted ways w/ Matt. I decided to stay on the access road that runs along the Bay. I eventually found myself walking and talking with a group of about 8 people headed in the same direction.
After the sun set, we were awed by the site of San Francisco from across the Bay. The fires were still burning/spreading. Most of the group headed up to Berkeley along University. A few of us straggled into Albany fairly late...maybe 10pm.
It was probably around midnight when I arrived at my house. My wife and kids aren't here. None of the neighbors I know are home either. Where could they be?
Can't search for them tonight. Too tired and there's no light anyway except the flame from this candle.
[September 8]
Started for home. I work in the Marina district in the far Northwest of the City. The shortest route to the Bay Bridge would be to head down Van Ness through the center of the City, but that big fire worries me. I'm wondering if some kind of bomb went off. Would be best to avoid that area. Instead, I decided to cut across to Fisherman's Wharf and then cut down Columbus to the Financial District.
As I left my work I was struck by how utterly silent it was. No planes overhead, no distant hissing of freeways...nothing! Made my way across Union and turned towards the Wharf. Not too many people out, some folks on bikes. Reached the Wharf in a little over an hour. It was really eerie...abandoned cars everywhere along the way. Like something right out of those doomsday movies.
I kept my eye on the fire which seems to have gotten larger. It's definitely West of Van Ness...maybe Hayes Valley?
[September 8]
Power was still off when I woke up this morning. I don't remember sleeping but I must have. Scrounged up some food and filled the backpack. Could be in for a long walk.
It's light outside so I'm going to head out soon. My watch isn't working either...stopped at exactly 10:29.
Will they even let me walk across the Bay Bridge?
It's light outside so I'm going to head out soon. My watch isn't working either...stopped at exactly 10:29.
Will they even let me walk across the Bay Bridge?
[September 7] Labor Day
It's Labor Day and the power's gone out...completely out. Nothing seems to work.
It started out as a normal work day (except that it was a holiday). The lights went out around 10am. We sat around for an hour or so, half hoping we could get out of the day's work. No power, no computers, no work.
Then things started to get strange. The phones were down too. Not just the landlines, but ALLthe pho cell phones too. The weird thing was we couldn't even turn them on! We went outside thinking they might work there and that's when we saw the fire. A crowd had gathered outside to watch the huge column of smoke.
Something was burning somewhere near the middle of [the] City. A big fire!
Our supervisor sent us home...the day was a wash. But my car wouldn't start.I went back to the office to see if I could get a ride. NOBODY'S CAR WOULD START! We were all a bit freaked out by then. Nothing electronic works! How could something like this could happen. EMP? Solar flare?
We all felt a strong urge to get home. Without cars, that would be tough. Most of my office mates live in Marin...I am the only one from the East Bay. The guys decided to head for home even though it was after 3pm. They said they'd walk all night if necessary. I'm waitingto until morning since I'm on my own...maybe I'll luck out and the power will come back on again.
I'm staying inside since the air is hazy with smoke. There's no one else is at the office now and there's not much to do, figured I'll start filling this notebook. Sun has gone down already and I'm losing light. Doubt I'll get much sleep tonight. I hope my wife is keeping things together at home.
It started out as a normal work day (except that it was a holiday). The lights went out around 10am. We sat around for an hour or so, half hoping we could get out of the day's work. No power, no computers, no work.
Then things started to get strange. The phones were down too. Not just the landlines, but ALL
Something was burning somewhere near the middle of [the] City. A big fire!
Our supervisor sent us home...the day was a wash. But my car wouldn't start.
We all felt a strong urge to get home. Without cars, that would be tough. Most of my office mates live in Marin...I am the only one from the East Bay. The guys decided to head for home even though it was after 3pm. They said they'd walk all night if necessary. I'm waiting
I'm staying inside since the air is hazy with smoke. There's no one else is at the office now and there's not much to do, figured I'll start filling this notebook. Sun has gone down already and I'm losing light. Doubt I'll get much sleep tonight. I hope my wife is keeping things together at home.
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