Gear manufacturers have realised that lots of women like the outdoors and they're different shapes from men. Here's what's out there, and where you can buy it.
San Francisco
In San Francsico I met with a few people who are connected with organisations that run programs for girls and women. I've learnt a lot and found out the answers to some burning questions (and some not so burning ones, such as what happened to John Farnham's singing career). Here's a summary of what I've found out so far and a sneak preview of some profiles to come.
One of the unique features of San Francisco is the wonderful cable cars. I was amazed to find out that the cables are not in fact up in the air, but instead beneath the streets of the city! On one of our days in the city we got a public transport pass, which allowed us to explore much further with a lot less effort. The ticket included rides on the cable cars, which were by far my favourite.
I’m often quite embarrassed by my ignorance of all things historical, and I was more than a little embarrassed when Dave had to explain that Alcatraz wasn’t just a funny name for a dog enclosure but one of the most famous prisons in American history.
Bike riding the Golden Gate bridge is an outdoor adventure that you share with many of the people who visit San Francisco. Despite this, we decided that riding across the bridge would be a worthy adventure.
San Francisco...a city where sea lions have taken over the wharf, where you eat the bowl your soup comes in, where the public transport is hauled up the hills on cables, where you can find Jesus in the footpath, whole dried fish in the streets, bath salts in barrels and 6 postcards for $1 but stamps $1.25 each.
For those who don't know, GO! Girls Outdoors has been set up thanks to a scholarship provided by several organisations within the Queensland Government (view the 'Thanks' page here). This also involves a study/research/information gathering trip to the US and Canada, upon which my partner Dave and I are just about to embark!