The Bushman at "work"

Acting as a interim tour guide for a visiting friend, we decided to trek through half of San Francisco. This walking excursion brought us through the Yerba Buena Gardens, Metreon, Union Square, Chinatown, Northbeach, view of the Transmerica Pyramid, Coit Tower, Lombard St, and finally Fisherman's Wharf. Amazingly this walk actually didn't take quite as long as was expected and I was able to view these tourist points from a different perspective compared to merely driving by.

As we were strolling along the Fisherman's Wharf - Pier 39 area, I briefly mentioned a myth that I had heard in the past of a leaf-shaking boogeyman who makes his living scaring the daylights out of tourists. Supposedly he sits motionless on a makeshift stool behind a couple of freshly chopped eucalyptus limbs and jumps out from behind this camouflage and screams "Ugga-bugga!" to scare unsuspecting tourists and obtains donations from amused onlookers.

Lo and behold, to my surprise, the myth is actually a reality as I was able to witness the Bushman at "work" on Jefferson St. I did a bit of research online and discovered that he was acquitted in March of 2004 for misdemeanor charges stemming from complaints of public nuisance lodged against him. Examples of this nuisance include making a little girl cry, making a mess from the leaves that fall off his branches, and a woman twisting her ankle. Personally, I believe you should pay attention when you walk.... come on now... a lone bush on the sidewalk along a pier with tons of onlookers standing around, gimme a break.. you deserve it if you get scared!