Biking the Golden Gate Bridge

The girls are sleeping after a successful first morning at Disneyland. We'll be headed back when they wake up and you can count on a post about our experience.

But for now, I've got to tell you guys about our bike ride across the Golden Gate Bridge.

You totally need to do it.

Big thanks to Jill, whose recent pictures inspired me to look into the whole thing.

I started my research with trip advisor and all their info was solid.

We rented a trailer for Ruby

and a tag-along for Maia.

The girls don't ride bikes yet (not even with training wheels, I know, we're the most terrible parents ever, but listen, they've got scooters and our driveway/neighborhood is not a really great place to practice riding a bike because there are no sidewalks, but don't get me started on all the things I can't stand about where we live. {breath} Anyway, we'll probably be getting them some bikes soon) so we weren't sure how she'd do.

Listen, these things are amazing.

Ruby even tried it and while her legs aren't long enough to make a full rotation, she loved moving the pedals up and down and felt like such a big girl.

Maia let me double braid her hair that day and wore jeans (which she NEVER does) and I could not get enough of those little pigtails peeping out from under her helmet.

They said the route was beginner/intermediate and about 8 miles and I thought "perfect!" since Aleks and I work out and had just gone on a 13 mile bike ride the week before.

We made it halfway up the first hill and then had to walk, huffing and puffing as if we eat donuts while strolling on the treadmill 4 times a week, instead of biking and swimming and running.

There is a lot of uphill until you cross the middle of the bridge.

Granted, I was pulling 60 extra pounds and those bikes aren't the best, so if you're going without having to worry about kids, chances are you'll have an easier time.

When it was Ruby's turn to ride the tag-along, Maia was VERY upset. She didn't want people thinking she was a baby so I let her take some pictures with my phone. Here are two of her masterpieces.

I call this one "Road."

The bridge kept getting closer...

and closer...

until it was right there!

We made it across the bridge and once on the other side the guides told us "you'll have a nice laid-back ride down to Sausalito."

Apparently by "laid-back" they meant 25 mile an hour decent on a really narrow road.

It was exciting.

And then we come into that cute little town and the bay was glittering on our right under clear blue skies and it was like I was in Italy.

It was one of the most breathtaking moments I've experienced in a long time.

We had lunch and then took the ferry back to Pier 39.

It was the girls' first time on a ferry and I think they're hooked.

Maia just sat and stared and was quiet for quite awhile, which is pretty uncharacteristic for my little busy body.

And a trip to SF isn't complete without ice cream from Ghirardelli Square, so of course we had to visit.

The girls almost walked the entire day, but they ended up on our shoulders halfway back to the garage.

They're such good little walkers.

Ruby started throwing an epic fit in the car because she wanted to buckle herself, but the buckle was all twisted and there was a car waiting to take our parking spot so Aleks just did it for her. And then she was sliding down in her chair and being unsafe, but mostly just a pain as she was screaming at the top of her lungs and finally I said "Ruby, do we need to take you to the police? If you're not going to be safe, then maybe we should let the police handle it. I can ask these guys up here (the parking lot attendants) and they can take you."

Well, we drove up to the attendant and just before we reached him little Ruby volunteered "Mommy, I'm calm now."

Worst mother of the year? Possibly. Probably.

Especially since Aleks and I have been laughing about that incident for a couple of days.

Seriously, this day was an epic adventure.

I'd recommend it for anyone who wants to enjoy the climate and best views the Bay Area has to offer.