FoundSF

Historical Essay

A pleasant one-day tour of which few wheelmen know lies close at hand for the city bicyclers. Trains and ferry-boats are not necessary to this outing, and 50 cents is the actual outlay. Go down Eighth street to Folsom and out the latter to Twenty-fourth, then cross to Mission and go out the latter over the grade past St. Mary’s College to the county line. The lower road is preferable to the upper, which goes by way of the Gum Tree tracts and the House of Correction. The Mission road has been much improved in the last few months and is now in splendid shape. The county line is passed at the top of the grade and then begins a smooth down grade of two miles to Colma, passing Union Coursing Park about midway between. The road is shaded to Colma, where a turn is made to the right in a southwesterly direction. Here the road is slightly rolling, but hard and smooth, though up to a short time ago it was so sandy as to be almost impassable for wheelmen. Two miles farther on an imposing stone gateway marks the new cemetery of the Chinese Six Companies. The road continues upward through a pleasant canyon to Salt Lake flat, so called because of the two lakes of salt water which lie upon either side of the road. This point is at an altitude of about 1000 feet. A little farther on, where the road makes a direct turn oceanward, an excellent view is obtained of the Pacific and of miles upon miles of the coast line. Then comes a steep down grade of nearly two miles, which can be ridden easily and with safety by any cautious rider. There is a level stretch of a mile through a little valley and then the road runs over a knoll into another valley of about the same dimensions and passes within 200 yards of the breakers for some distance, then swinging further inland, crosses another slight rise into San Pedro Valley. The roads in this vicinity are sandy in places, but as they are usually packed hard, they make excellent riding. Another stretch of beach is then encountered, as smooth and as white as the famous beach at Bolinas Bay, and affording equally good bathing. At this point is the famous Tobin adobe house, which was used for a Spanish mission a century ago. For some years it has been used as a hotel, but is now closed, a new hotel a mile above being now the only place where meals and other accommodations can be obtained. This hotel is located on the banks of a stream, where a lake has been formed and fresh water bathing and boating made possible.

After luncheon here, the return trip is made over a portion of the same route as far as Salt Lake flat. Here turn to the right and walk a half mile, when a splendid stretch of road is found, as smooth and as hard as a billiard table, and slightly down grade for miles. Jersey Farm is passed at the end of the first mile and then the route runs to the San Jose road near Baden, along the bay shore past Sierra point, over Six-mile hill and into the city again by way of the San Bruno road and Folsom street.

San Francisco Chronicle, July 31, 1898