talk 574

Our Bay-to-Breakers run is fast approaching. Understandably, many local Lighters are apprehensive about having to push me in my wheelchair up the Hayes Street hill. Some suggested enrolling my sons in the event. Which I did, but for different reasons. To be fair to all concerned, I needed to find out how much help I might need on the dreadful Hayes Street hill.

Last Saturday, the evening weather was mild. We parked on Hayes Street just before the hill. The first two blocks are just a warning. There are many interesting antique shops, lovely little eateries and grocery stores along the way. I rolled through each of these blocks non-stop. The third block is really tough for wheelchairs. I leaned forward a lot to avoid tilting over backwards. Zigzagging and with frequent rest stops, I managed to roll through this block as well. The fourth block is a real will-breaker. It is so steep that I literally had to double up leaning forward. Michael was staying real close behind me, just in case. The average grade in this block is severe; any steeper, my manual wheelchair simply cannot venture. Worse than that, the sidewalk has many driveways where the gradient has many local maximum spots that my wheelchair must avoid or else it will tilt over. On race day, hopefully I can roll on the center crown of the street where such localized hazards will not be. With even more rest stops than the previous block, I still managed to roll unassisted. The fifth and the last hilly block eases off a lot, but is still steeper than the first two. It is next to a park, so there are no driveway complications. The summit was at hand, I knew then that I could go up this infamous Hayes Street hill unassisted.

The view at the top is magnificent. Looking back and within walking distance, are the Painted Ladies, a San Francisco famous landmark of five consecutive Victorian style houses, all similar if not identical and with pointed roofs. They have appeared in many movies and TV series such as “The Streets of San Francisco”. The Coit Tower is on top of an adjacent hill; the TransAmerica Pyramid, in the midst of the concrete jungle skyline.

I regret I haven’t made known that I am acutely aware of our Lighters’ over-sixty -frail bodies. In fact, I have on many occasions refused fellow Lighters’ push just because of that. Ask Jai Yee, and he will attest to my concerns. You see, all our local Lighters’ worry is overdone. I am stronger than you think and have totally recovered from my last August’s hospitalization. See you then.