Pudding Creek Trestle (MacKerricher Haul Road)

Another beautiful day on the coast - or maybe not!  I think everyone now thinks that rain is the 'new' beautiful.  Over breakfast this morning, someone said that the high that's sitting over our area causing these dry conditions is predicted to last until March.  Perhaps next week we should organize a rain dance at the end of our walk.  Anyone know how to do this?

Anyway, after all that talk of weather, we took my wife's car this morning which isn't equiped with an outside temperature sensor (these old cars - I don't know how she survives without these essentials of life), so will have to guess that it was about 40deg.

Ron arrived a bit late as he misunderstood where the walk would be this morning.  A discussion by the Fog Dodgers executive committee agreed that calling this walk MacKerricher is confusing, so have renamed it Pudding Creek Trestle(MacKerricer Haul Road).  That will probably now confuse everyone - except Ron of course!  In fact those observant ones may have noticed the new title for this blog.  Sorry Tom, while the cat's away.....

So present today were, Peter, Shari, John, Greg, Nancy B., Rick, Joe, Toni, Gerri, Kathy (a new face - good to see), Jim, Cindy, Gay, Mark - who brought daughter Sarah and grand-daughter Kira, Neil, Ron, Roger and Nancy T.  As always, forgive me if I missed people.

Photos are of this morning with one from John and one from Roger.

As this is the last blog of 2013, I'd like to wish all of you, your friends, loved ones and family a very happy and prosperous New Year.  I'd also like to thank you all for being such a great bunch of people.  Nancy and I consider ourselves very lucky to live here on the coast and to have found such a wonderfully friendly, eclectic and interesting group of people we're proud to call our friends.

Again - have a great week and see you all next year.

NEXT SUNDAY, 1/5/14 @ 8:00 A.M.: RUSSIAN GULCH STATE PARK - See our routes above.
 
And for the following Sunday:
1/12/14 @ 8:00 A.M., CASPAR LOGGING ROAD (parking area #3).  See "Our Routes" above.

EVERY TUESDAY @ 7:15 A.M.: RUSSIAN GULCH STATE PARK, beginning on Point Cabrillo Drive, 1/10 of a mile north of its south end.
EVERY THURSDAY @ 7:15 A.M.: VAN DAMME STATE PARK, beginning at the beach.

Big River

Merry Christmas!  J. Loomis

It was one of those mornings when everyone was chomping at the bit, wanting to get started, just a little bit early.  It was 45 degrees but with a stiff breeze that I'm sure brought brought the wind chill factor down to 20 or so!  Anyway, we did get going and it was great to find three new people joining our ranks.  Thanks to Fran, for bringing Kathy, to Suzanne and Henry for bringing Marlin, and to Ron LeValley for mentioning our group to Diane.  Hopefully, they all can come back often.

Also present today, and I apologize if I miss someone:  Dorothy, Nancy T., Roger, Linda, Tom T., Neil, Geri, Cheryl, Charlene,  Nancy B., Rick, John, Bob, Melissa, Nichole, Joel, Shari, Peter, Toni, Joe, Orah, Steve, Nancy and Tom (31).

Once we got up the road a bit, we were out of the breeze and it was a beautiful, but still very dry, winter morning.  This is, I believe, the driest year (at this point) in history.  It is strange to come home after each run with dusty shoes, rather than muddy ones.

Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays everybody!  We hope that 2014 brings you happiness, health and lots of fun.   I also hope that you return week after week, to join with the Fog Dodgers on our runs and walks.  It's a great way to start your day!  We really do have a wonderful and very diverse group of people.

For anyone wanting to join us for our Tuesday or Thursday run, please note that until the end of January, the start time has been moved to 7:15.


NEXT THREE SUNDAYS:

12/29 @ 8:00 A.M.:  MACKERRICHER STATE PARK.  

1/5/14 @8:00 A.M.,  RUSSIAN GULCH STATE PARK.

1/12/14 @ 8:00 A.M., CASPAR LOGGING ROAD 
(parking area #3).  For all three runs, see "Our Routes" above.  

J. Loomis

EVERY TUESDAY @ 7:15 A.M.: RUSSIAN GULCH STATE PARK, beginning on Point Cabrillo Drive, 1/10 of a mile north of its south end.

EVERY THURSDAY @ 7:15 A.M.: VAN DAMME STATE PARK, beginning at the beach.

Hare Creek, JSF Road 400

"Just as you write down other important appointments, you need to literally pencil in time for your run.  The process is empowering.  In the few seconds it takes to scribble "run" into a time slot, you make running a part of your life."-- Jeff Galloway

Mendocino Bay, J. Loomis

Gravel Pit Road, J. Loomis

 It was another brisk, 35 degree, but clear morning along the coast.  We ran and walked Jackson State Forest Road 400, where the sun probably doesn't shine ever in the winter and the road is covered with loose rock that I heard described as marbles.  What's not to like about that!

Actually, we all had fun and it was really neat because another new person, Donna, joined with us.  Thanks, Barbara, for bringing her along.  Also present this morning:  Cindy, Jim and grandson Benjamin, John (thank you for the photos!), Rod, Charlene, Ron, Geri, Fran, Dorothy, Nancy B., Rick, Toni, Joe, Faye, Zelda, Nancy T., Roger, Nancy and Tom (22).



As Roger said last week, about half the reason for getting up this morning, would be to eat breakfast.  Eat we did, just as at all of our Fog Dodger potlucks, we had plenty of delicious food and for a bonus, we had our annual cookie exchange.  It was a fun morning and now we must walk or run another mile to burn a few calories.
 

Mendocino Coast Botanical Gardens, J. Loomis

NEXT SUNDAY, Dec. 22nd @ 8:00 A.M.: BIG RIVER LOGGING ROAD (aka, The Ron Jahelka Trail), see "Our Routes" above.

EVERY TUESDAY @ 7:00 A.M.: RUSSIAN GULCH STATE PARK, beginning on Point Cabrillo Drive, 1/10 of a mile north of its south end.

EVERY THURSDAY @ 7:00 A.M.: VAN DAMME STATE PARK, beginning at the beach.

Jackson State Forest, Road 450

 Every mile is two in winter.
    - George Herbert (1593 - 1633)

Good day to be wearing your parka.  Not like Bob who was sporting some fine bare legs.  Brrrrr. It was 30 deg  - what "we" would call Brass Monkey weather.  For those that aren't British - click here for more information.

However, there was no wind and it was just a beautiful, crisp morning.  On the return journey, I think everyone had removed hats, gloves, coats.....but  the cars were still covered in frost when we returned.

To enjoy today's weather and fine company were, Bob, Fran, Fay, Greg, Ron, Charlene, Toni, Joe, Neil, Barbara, Roger, Nancy and of course John, who once again arrived while some of us were still sleeping, to get these fine photos.

Don't forget next week is the annual Pot Luck and cookie exchange at Tom & Nancy's house.  For those that don't know where that is, here's the address - 31491 Camille Dr - click here for map .  I chose "Gravel Pit" or JSF Road 400 for the next walk, I know it's not the most popular, but it's close to Tom's house, which really will be the main reason for getting up next Sunday.

NEXT SUNDAY, DATE @ 8:00 A.M.: HARE CREEK, JACKSON STATE FOREST ROAD 400 - see 'Our Route's above
EVERY TUESDAY @ 7:00 A.M.: RUSSIAN GULCH STATE PARK, beginning on Point Cabrillo Drive, 1/10 of a mile north of its south end.
EVERY THURSDAY @ 7:00 A.M.: VAN DAMME STATE PARK, beginning at the beach.

The In-Between (Small Bus. Sat. & Cyber Monday) Run/Walk

It was a beautiful Fall morning around the Caspar Creek watershed.  Clear blue skies and about 40 degrees with no wind, seemed to work for everybody.  Some went uphill and some went downhill at the start and all seemed happy and talkative.

Applesauce time, J. Loomis

Present today, at least to the best of my memory and eyesight were:  Suzi, Fran, Barbara, Gay, Mark, Nancy T., Roger, Bob, Joel, John, Tom T., Linda, Charlene, Ron, Geri, Melissa, Nichole, Cheryl, Greg, Nancy and Tom (21).

Egret in Caspar Bay, J. Loomis

J. Loomis

Yes, in just two weeks (12/15), we will have our annual (I think?) Christmas Potluck Breakfast and Cookie Exchange.  You can bring any kind of breakfast dish that you'd like, or a beverage, hot or cold.  We'll have an oven and microwave if you need to re-warm something.  Cookies are great and make for a great exchange thing, if you want to participate.  You bring a plate full of cookies, leave those here for others and take home a plate full of mixed cookies that others have brought.  One very important rule though, don't leave any cookies behind when you leave!  Someone around here has no will power!

It will be at Nancy and Tom's this year.  If you don't know the way, just try to follow someone, or ask me while at the run/walk.  Roger is going to pick the location to meet for the walk/run.  We will supply the service ware, coffee, tea, champagne, orange juice and mimosas.

NEXT SUNDAY, DEC. 8TH @ 8:00 A.M.: JACKSON STATE FOREST, ROAD 450, about two miles east, going up Simpson Lane.  See "Our Routes" above.

EVERY TUESDAY @ 7:00 A.M.: RUSSIAN GULCH STATE PARK, beginning on Point Cabrillo Drive, 1/10 of a mile north of its south end.

EVERY THURSDAY @ 7:00 A.M.: VAN DAMME STATE PARK, beginning at the beach.