Wednesday, March 25, 2009

Wordful Wednesday: Twists and Turns

A friend at work was talking about teaching her daughter how to drive. That conversation brought back tons of memories...not all of them of the delightful variety. But I did start thinking about the day we "conquered" Lombard Street~the shortest distance ever with eight sharp switchbacks~in San Francisco.

The kids didn't even want to attempt the descent, so they left it up to Dear Ol' Mom. My Sis got out and took the photo. You can see one kiddo in the shot, but not the driver~probably because I was white-knuckling it all the way down!

"To climb steep hills requires slow pace at first."
William Shakespeare

I would say that about driving down Lombard Street, too! Playing along today with Angie and her Wordful Wednesday.

44 comments:

Susie said...

Wow!! That is quite a drive! I remember something similiar in the hills of South Dakota. Very scary!!

Lula! said...

OK, love your new bloggy look...just digging it so much.

Also...
I've been down Lombard street...but we did NOT attempt to drive it. Seriously, we were like country bumpkins come to town...hooting and hollaring all down Lombard Street. Good times.

Lesley said...

oh wow...I've seen pictures...but to actually try it....lots of guts....happy SITS day

Hootin Anni said...

I !KNEW! that was Lombard in S.F. as soon as I saw the photo.

My Wordful this week is all about the birds and bees...errrr, um....maybe birds and cats. Is it Superman in the sky? Come find out.

Susan Holt Simpson said...

Wow, I would hate this! Glad my sons don't have to practice driving down this hill!

Thanks for sharing your photo,

s

Screw Lucy said...

My grandmother taught me to drive when I was 18.

Lynda said...

I drove that street in a standard - don't think I have ever been so scared!

Heather said...

On a vacation to San Francisco we drove down that street, and I was nervous and my stomach was al tight. I wasn't even the one driving! I can't imagine having to learn how to drive on it!

April said...

I recognized that street immediately, though I've never been there. I would have been a nervous wreck, too! Happy Wordful Wednesday!

Brenda said...

This is just up the street from me, its a fun street.

Jill @ Sneaky Momma said...

Oh, Wow! I think it would be worth a trip to SF just to see that street! What were they thinking when they made that? I guess it was too steep to go straight down. Whatever it was, too cool!!!!

Marrdy said...

That is one amazing picture. and now you must get some kind of a reward for driving and surviving such a street. Chocolate anyone?

Muthering Heights said...

I would NOT want to drive on that road!

Carissa(GoodnCrazy) said...

the one place I have never been is SAN FRANCISCO. I am sooo putting this street on my list.. but I think I'll plan to WALK it!

Unknown said...

I loved driving down Lombard street when I was a kid. My Godfather was behind the wheel and it was so much fun. What a great memory.

Simply Sara said...

So cool.
I've never been there, though I'm sure I wouldn't attempt it. I can barely parallel park, so I'm pretty sure I'd be no good at eight sharp switchbacks :)

Anonymous said...

I would love to knock that off of my bucket list. It wasn't on there but it is now!

Amy @ Six Flower Mom said...

What a drive! A magical WW to you!

More Than Words said...

LOLOL! We have the same pictures from there too!!!!

Do you live in the Bay Area too?

Jennifer said...

That is an amasing photograph and indeed quite a drive!

Nina said...

That would be a white knuck drive. Yicks!!!

Jenni said...

Looks like an exciting drive! I wonder how often people miss one of those turns?

Unknown said...

Oh my gosh! That looks positively frightful! I guess it turned out ok though : )

Michelle said...

I would be terrified to drive Lombard street!

Anonymous said...

That is wild. I would freak on roads like that. I bet traffic is horrible.

Happy WW!

Jen said...

I have been a passenger on this road but never driven it and I don't think that I ever will.

Caitlin said...

Oh my gosh! That is SCARY!!! Makes my palms sweat just looking at it!

Live.Love.Eat said...

That's a very cool lookin' street! Never been!!!!

Stacy Uncorked said...

Great memories! I've been down Lombard street - but as a passenger, not the driver...had I been driving, I definitely would have been 'white knuckling' it all the way down! ;) Love the picture! :)

Amy said...

Thanks for coming by today. I saw that road when I went there. It is a crazy road.

K said...

I've done that drive, but I sure didn't think about taking a photo! Dang.
Good for you!

thanks for stopping by and saying hello!

Blessings!

Carey-Life in the Carpool Lane said...

That photo brings back memories. I remember my parents driving down Lombard Street when I was a kid...my brother & I laid down in the very back of our station wagon (this was before seat belt laws) hoping we would roll from one side to the other.

Thanks for stopping by my blog!

Jenners said...

I recognized this as soon as I saw it! I don't think I would even try to drive this ... I have problems getting out of my own garage! I remember walking to this -- it was so cool! And tell me you were in an automatic and not a manual? I couldn't even imagine!

Great photo! And thanks for the visit earlier today.

Virginia said...

You are sooooo brave! I would never attempt this! San Fran is crazy....well actually ALL major cities. Thanks for stopping by Frugalicious Mommy.

Cathy said...

Thanks for stopping by my place! I've seen that street in movies...it is just amazing that you can actually drive down it! Great shot!

Anonymous said...

I've always wanted to go to San Francisco! I think I'd let my husband do the driving though!

Kathleen W. said...

I've always wanted to go there! Not to drive, but just to see it and walk it.

ParentingPink said...

When hubby and I were in San Fran a few years ago, we drove this street. Yes, it's REALLY crazy! LOL Great pic!

Upstatemamma said...

I've been driving for along time and I don't think I would want to attempt that either. :)

Pam said...

I would not want to drive this road myself much less let my 16 year old beginning driver attempt it! : )

Michelle said...

Yikes! That is steep and scary. I don't know that I would have liked to drive it. Ski it maybe, but definitely not drive it!

Nicole said...

Cool picture! I would love to go visit there.

Lisa @ Crazy Adventures in Parenting said...

Wow, that's awesome! How much fun would that be on a skateboard? haha

Keri said...

Yah, more than likely, I'd have white knuckled it too! Sure would love to see this in person. Great photo!