The Thursday Dispatch - 20 August 2026
I just got home from California less than 36 hours from the time of writing this. I’m not as tired as yesterday, but I’m still a little bit sluggish. Enough that I couldn’t even push myself across the street to the Starbucks to do my writing, in which I’ve made a habit of writing these Thursday posts away from home as an excuse to get outside.
All of that said, I wouldn’t do anything differently this week. I slept on my brother’s couch, in which one of those days I really slept badly resulting in some pain between my shoulder blades. Even though I said I wouldn’t do it this time around, I walked over 12 miles across San Francisco. I couldn’t help myself as it allows me to inhale the city a bit and it helped me find some fine details. So yes, I’m a little sore, tired, and a little lighter in the wallet, but it was all worth it.
Monday was the day I looked forward to the most, as it was the day I planned on roaming San Francisco. I knew one thing I wanted to do was see the Pacific, so I did some research and found I could ride mass transit from the South Bay to Ocean Beach in San Francisco’s Outer Sunset District. So, I walked a mile to the light rail station, took that to a transfer to CalTrain in Mountain View, then rode that to San Francisco where it drops you off at about 4th and King near Oracle Park where the Giants play.
It was here that I deviated. I could have hopped on the Muni light rail across the street and ridden that to Ocean Beach, but instead I got a coffee and a small bite to eat, then headed over to Oracle Park to walk along McCovey Cove, past the marina, and then along the Embarcadero. It was a foggy morning, and I just wanted to take it all in. I looked at how the fog manipulated everything, from how it shrouded Oakland across the bay, hid the tip of the SalesForce Tower, and just set a calm and more subdued mood. I felt no reason to move fast, emphasized by the slow-moving inbound traffic on the Bay Bridge. I took in the scenery, stopped to take photos, and just tried to notice things more.
I meandered in and out of the accessible ferry terminal buildings, taking time to notice their architecture, which has stood the test of time for over a century. I admired the old-school flicker board inside the main Terminal Building. I wound my way off and on the different accessible docks and piers, anything to see a different angle of the skyline, the bridge, or the bay itself. Boats drifted by, seagulls and crows lingered to see if I had anything of interest, and life for once seemed to slow down for me.
I eventually made my way towards Fisherman’s Wharf, which is still very much a tourist trap. This is where you’ll find all the brand-name food chains. I did the same thing the last time I made this walk 14 years ago and ate at In-N-Out Burger, because I can’t get them back home. I ordered a cheeseburger combo with a Coke, in which I was actually pleased with their fries this time. Turns out a little salt helps. Then I decided I had done enough walking for now, so I hopped on the trolley to Embarcadero Station, hopped on the same Muni rail I could have taken earlier, and rode out to Ocean Beach.
When I tell you this casual walk along this pathway along the coastline was the highlight of my trip, I mean that. The ocean was calling me for a reason. I needed to hear the pink/brown noise of the wave action and wind there. The rest of the world didn’t exist at this point. I didn’t think about any of the anxieties I have at home. I wasn’t worried about work or what other people were doing. I was fully within myself.
That’s the thing about solo travel. It’s an opportunity to remove yourself from your everyday world. You’re time zones away, living out of a bag, and wandering aimlessly with little agenda at all. It’s at this point you’re your truest self. You’re not there to impress anyone. You’re only there for you and that’s all that matters. It’s the closest thing to freedom that I’ve felt in a while.
I want to bottle this feeling and recreate it at home. Through my therapy, I’ve been advised to be a tourist in my own city, so I’ve been trying to do so. My brother even admitted there are still things in the Bay Area he hasn’t checked out, and he’s lived there for almost 30 years now. But I think it’s important to check out every now and then and just be within yourself. I think I felt that when I went to the College World Series earlier this year. For three hours, the rest of life didn’t exist and that was a really good feeling.
So, no, I wouldn’t change anything. I hope I can do it again before three years go by again. Travel is good for the soul. I definitely feel like I’m in a different place now.
Weekly Photo
I came to the city looking to take this photo. I had few missions in San Francisco, but this was one of them. For reference, this is from the corner of Stockton and California, on top of a hill and the right on the trolley tracks. It was worth the climb. While I could have been more spectacular at sunrise, I’m happy with what I got.
This Past Week
- I Hate Flying
- Life With No Internet
- Boring by Design
- I’m Thankful for Your Posts
- Observations about San Francisco
Weekly Links
Songs in the Chaos
This is my weekly list of songs that either caught my attention or came to mind this past week. I post these throughout the week on a site called Crucial Tracks, where they’re also added to a playlist on Apple Music. Feel free to follow me on either space.
