The Fog Dodgers invite all residents and visitors of the Mendocino Coast to join us on our weekly group runs and walks. We have runners and walkers of all abilities (and even some bikers) and we have only one "rule" - we start at exactly 8:00 a.m. on Sundays. Exercise at your own pace (1/2 hour out, 1/2 hour back) and experience the fresh Mendocino coastal air.

Fog Dodgers provides a fun, safe way to explore some of our local trails and back roads and to meet new friends. You can find out where we're going to be by reading the bottom of last week's post, then clicking on the "Our Routes" tab above. We average 15-20 persons each Sunday and typically half will go to breakfast together afterwards at a nearby restaurant.

Sunday, May 24, 2015

NAVARRO RIDGE ROAD


Navarro Ridge Road, J. Loomis photo

It had been a very long time since we'd been on Navarro Ridge Road.  Somethings, like the redwoods above haven't changed at all.  Other things, like the homes and lots nearer the ocean, seemed to change a lot.

J. Loomis photo

Thanks to John for today's photos.  They're all from Navarro Ridge but taken yesterday, when the sun was out!   For us today, it foggy overcast, calm and 51 degrees.  Good for walking and running but not nearly as pretty.

Present today:  Shelly (had walked with us before), Suzanne, Henry, Nancy B., Rick, Mike, Toni, Joe, Nancy T., Roger, John, Cyd, Nancy and Tom (14).

I didn't go to the Grange's Pancake Breakfast but many of the others did and I bet it was good.  Nancy and I ate later at David's and it too was good.

                           

J. Loomis photo

                                   
Next week, we will go to one of our most popular venues, Big River.  It's usually pretty nice there but remember to bring the mosquito repellant if it's near or above 50.



J. Loomis photo




Sun. May 31, Big River
Sun. June 7th, Pudding Creek Trestle
Sun. June 14th, Van Damme State Park
Sun. June 21st, Jackson State Forest Road 450











J. Loomis photo


Sorry about the photo layout.  I keep trying to shift them around and do away with the big blank spaces but Blogger won't let me.   Remember that you can click on any photo and enlarge them nicely.  Thanks John.

       
NEXT SUNDAY, MAY 31ST @ 8:00 A.M.:  BIG RIVER, 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.

Sunday, May 17, 2015

TEN MILE RIVER


Hwy. One and Ten Mile River Bridge, J. Loomis photo

It seems like just a few years ago, actually probably a dozen, I told several people of my hopes.  I said, if we could just get 20 people to show up on a Fog Dodger Sunday, I'd be really happy, because then I felt that we would be kind of self sustaining.  It wasn't too long after that, we did get to that 20 number, and then more!   And we did become sort of self sustaining.  Every week, we'd average about 20 people, and I became lazy, just sat back and enjoyed it.   But the group became older, slower,  and I again began to hope, hoping that something or someone would invigorate the group.   It seems to have happened!  Thanks to many of you.   You've brought along your families, your neighbors and your friends from work.  And because of you, our average age is dropping like a rock! The Fog Dodgers again have a good number of good runners and the group's balance is good!

J. Loomis photo


Thanks Chandra, for bringing your husband, Chris and your daughter, Tenley.  Chandra pushed Tenley in a jogger and so we now can claim to have a whole new division,  Child Joggers!  (used to be called strollers to most of us).  Not only did Chandra push the jogger, she left the rest of us in the dust!  Lisa arrived a minute (?) late, and played catchup, pushing Linnaea and Zavier in the jogger.  You wanna know what real work is?  Try pushing a jogger with two children up today's hill!  Good job!

Gay and Mark brought Susie (y?), Gaye's sister.  Thank you!

Joel came today and represented our Bike Division.

Turkey vulture, J. Loomis photo
Many more were present today:  Zelda, Neil, Greg, Orah,
Steve, Toni, Joe, Nancy B., Charlene, John, Cyd, Jackie, Cindy, Nancy and Tom (25).

Thank you, John, for today's, and most every Sunday's pictures.  They do dress up the blog!  He found some interesting garage doors in Inglenook today, near our run/walk.  They're below.

The old snag with the Osprey nest near the bottom of the hill was broken down.  Chris pointed out another snag nearby that now holds a new nest.  He also mentioned a Heron rookery nearby.  Greg said that he liked today's venue and I agree, there's a lot of neat things to see.

Next week's run/walk is somewhat similar, a little further away but worth it for the scenery and the Grange Breakfast.  I hope many of you can make it.

Garage door art, J. Loomis photo
Garage door art, J. Loomis photo

Sun. May 24, Navarro Ridge Road (a good pancake, egg, ham breakfast, I think$6)
Sun. May 31, Big River
Sun. June 7th, Pudding Creek Trestle
Sun. June 14th, Van Damme State Park
Sun. June 21st, Jackson State Forest Road 450


NEXT SUNDAY, May 24th @ 8:00 A.M.:  NAVARRO RIDGE ROAD, 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.

Sunday, May 10, 2015

MOTHER'S DAY 2015


J. Loomis photo, Happy Moms
It was a perfect morning for running and walking.  Thank you John, for the Mom picture above.  We met at Caspar Logging Road and conditions were just right, 50 degrees, mostly sunny and calm.

John brought his son, Nick and Ron brought his son, Harvey and  sister, Nancy and brother-in-law, Mick.  It's really nice that so many of the group bring family and friends to join with us.  It is a good way to start any Sunday.

J. Loomis photo
Others present today:  Shari, Peter, Suzanne, Henry, Nancy T., Roger, Toni, Joe, Charlene, Melissa, Katie, Tabi, Linnaea, Zavier, Bob, Nancy and Tom (23).

Somehow, Kira saved six of us a table (Thank you, Toni!) for a nice breakfast at David's.

The next two venues are ones that we don't do often.  Try to make them, as they're worth the few extra minutes of driving.  Spring time has most of the wild flowers blooming and both of these venues are very scenic.

Sun. May 17, Ten Mile River Logging Road
Sun. May 24, Navarro Ridge Road (a good pancake, egg, ham breakfast, I think$6)
Sun. May 31, Big River
Sun. June 7th, Pudding Creek Trestle
Sun. June 14th, Van Damme State Park
Sun. June 21st, Jackson State Forest Road 450

NEXT SUNDAY, MAY 17TH @ 8:00 A.M.:  TEN MILE RIVER LOGGING ROAD, 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.

Sunday, May 3, 2015

Big River Logging Road


Big River, J. Loomis photo
It was a good morning at Big River and we hated cutting it short.  John, Jackie, Nancy and I needed to get to Boonville for the Boontling Classic.

Congratulations to Nancy, First Place and bettered the Course Record by 12 minutes!  She now holds  two age group records at Boonville and that covers all women from age 60 to 79!  She actually bettered the 50-59 year group also when she was in it but was not given credit (clerical error by organizers).  So, she has run faster than any woman aged 50-80, over a Boontling Classic 33 year history!

Big River high tide, J. Loomis photo

8:00 a.m. Big River,  it was 48 degrees (just warm enough to bring out a few of the mosquitoes) under calm and overcast skies.  Present today:  Chandra, Julie, Bob J., Bob, John, Katie, Tabi, Linnaea, Zavier, Charlene, Ron, Nancy T., Roger, Fran, Joe, Nancy and Tom (17).
Rick Banker photo
Next week, for Mother's Day, I know you'll enjoy Jackson State Forest Road 500 or 600 (Caspar Logging Road).  The rhodies will be blooming, the weather nice and there's rarely any vehicle traffic out there.  Good for hiking, running, biking and for pushing a child jogger, Tabi!

After next week, we're going to try a couple of our furthest away venues (by request) and I hope we don't lose anyone.  They're really not much further than Ward Ave. or Van Damme so don't be put off by the distance.  

Sun. May 10, Caspar (Mother's Day, great start to the day, Mom!)
Sun. May 17, Ten Mile River Logging Road
Sun. May 24, Navarro Ridge Road (a good pancake, egg, ham breakfast, I think$6)
Sun. May 31, Big River

NEXT SUNDAY, MAY 10TH @ 8:00 A.M.:  CASPAR LOGGING ROAD, (see "Our Routes" above.)   No better way to start Mother's Day than a run or hike through Jackson State Forest.

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.