A Trip to Ocean Beach is Here Recounted

Photo by author

Went to Ocean Beach in San Francisco. I’ve been going once or twice a year for — I don’t know, a long time. Left the house at 8:48. Walked to the BART station. Caught the end of the morning commute so was lucky to get a seat, even luckier when I transferred at MacArthur Station. Stuck my nose in Lonesome Dove which I started re-reading a couple of days ago.

After transferring had to put the headphones on. I was sitting near a sniffer. Don’t know how people can sit there and sniff repeatedly in a public place. Annoying as hell. Some people don’t seem to mind. That’s weird to me too.

Got off at first SF station and went to MUNI Metro station which is in the same place as the BART station. Not a long wait for the N Judah that goes all the way to Ocean Beach. Not too crowded. Was enjoying the music so left headphones on.

Nose buried in book all the way to end of the line. Forgot to time how long the ride is. Half an hour or so. When I looked out the window I was seeing different sites than I do in Berkeley. I was seeing San Francisco. Great city. Not like it was in my youth but then what is?

SF in my youth was Herb Caen in an  entertaining San Francisco Chronicle that featured numerous columnists a really good sports section and a good comics page. Willie Mays and Willie McCovey on the Giants playing in wind swept Candlestick Park. KSFO radio was king although for rock there was KYA and KFRC and for soul KDIA. Disc jockeys were celebrities in those days. On your favorite stations you know who was on air when. There was Don Sherwood. Emperor Gene Nelson. Russ The Moose Syracuse, Jim Lange who also hosted The Dating Game. A lot of people walked around with transistor radios. Very few games were on TV so you listened to the Giants on the radio. 

There were traditional night clubs in San Francisco like the Fairmont. Tony Bennet, Count Basie, Ella Fitzgerald and other greats would perform in the city. There were also places like the Fillmore where the great rock bands — Joplin, Jefferson Airplane, The Who — played. There were always top acts in town. Many rock stars lived in SF.

The Haight Ashbury was where it was at. The cultural revolution on full display. Hippies galore. It was a wild scene and upsetting as hell for the straights.

People — hippies aside — dressed well. Men in ties. Women with permanents. Beauty salons were big.

The 49ers played in Kezar Stadium right there in Golden Gate Park not far from the Haight. I’d go to games with my dad and his friend who was a Berkeley cop (a very straight-laced, conservative racist one). We’d walk through the Haight, stopping at a bar in a bowling alley, then be in a whole other world among football fans at the stadium. Culture shocks. Plural.

Anyway, that was San Francisco in the Sixties. The city still has its charms, is still beautiful, but….

Off boarded at the last stop. Short walk from there to the Pacific Ocean. Rarity, I could see blue sky at the ocean in San Francisco. Almost never happens. Wasn’t warm by any stretch but pleasant enough. I’d been depressed but the negative ions of the ocean took a big bite out of that. Stood at water’s edge for a good spell. Was that the skyline of Tokyo I saw in the distance? Probably not, but I could see a ways. Went for a stroll along the tip of the tide careful to stay dry.

Dogs love the beach. So much to smell. So much room to run. Digging always an option. Yeah, a lot of happy dogs and contented dog owners. Some people fishing. Seems an odd place for it what with the waves and the tides and all but they’re there often so much be catching something. It is an ocean after all.

Was confused what I was supposed to be thinking about. Anything? Nothing? Should I just be in a meditative state? Clear the mind? I did notice my depression lifted.

Took photos. It’s de rigueur on such excursions. 

Always people about at Ocean Beach. But never a lot except the one time I went there during a heat wave. That’s the one time I saw people swimming. I did a bit of wading myself that day.

Finally said adieu to the beach and made my way to a place called the Fish Hook Co. Went there last visit to the Ocean. Ordered the fish and chips, haven’t had any since UK trip in May. Also bought an NA beer I’d never tried before. Beer and meal were excellent. The only seating was outdoors and initially the sun was in my face. I’d rather not eat with the sun beating down on me but I was saved by some clouds that rolled in and provided shade.

Crossed the street where there was a combo cafe and bookstore. They were heavy on the knickknacks and light on the books. I have more at home. Browsing took up less than a couple of minutes. As in one.

Walked back to catch the J. There was a man lying face down on the sidewalk. A passed out drunk? Homeless man sleeping? Dead? Sadly we’re accustomed to seeing unconscious people laying on our streets. It’s always someone else’s department. Guilty.

Uneventful ride home which is what you want on public transportation. On a BART car a man and a boy decided to put on a concert then pass the hat. I do not like this. When I listen to music I want it to be my choice, not inflicted on me. Headphones were a savior.

Walked home satisfied that I’d had nice outing. Because I had.