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, June 28, 2015

Big River Logging Road



It was 59 degrees, overcast and calm at Big River this morning, perfect weather for the mosquitoes.  Surprisingly, they weren't too bad at the beginning.  I'm not sure how it was for walking but it was okay throughout our run.  I suspect that a few stayed home though, because of these.

All photos are from John, thanks.




I wasn't as worried about the mosquitoes as I was about tripping and falling, having done just that twice over the past two weeks.   They really don't want to see me at the hospital again.  They say I should be doing Tai Chi and not running.





Present today:  Fran, Neil, Tom T., Cheryl, Laura, Charlene, Ron, Toni, Nancy B., Deb, Sam, Shari, John, Cyd, Jackie, Nancy and Tom (17).

It was a nice run today and next week should be even better, for walkers especially, no mosquitoes!  The Caspar Logging Roads offer several different options and should be a quiet place to escape the busy holiday weekend on the coast.


One of John's plum trees.  Thank you, John, for all of today's photos.




NEXT SUNDAY, JULY 5TH @ 8:00 A.M.:  CASPAR LOGGING ROADS, see "Our Routes" above.

Sun. July 12th, Russian Gulch
Sun. July 19th, Ward Ave.

Sun. July 26th, Pudding Creek Trestle

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, June 21, 2015

Jackson State Forest Road 450

It was a typical summer morning for the coast - a bit overcast, though it was a very pleasant 55° and no wind. Not only is it a happy Father's Day for all our dad's, but a special day for Tom celebrating his birthday.  However, it wasn't because of sleeping off the after effects of a birthday party, but he and Nancy are collecting their new RV (which, I understand is large enough to hold the Fog Dodger's next pot luck).

It's also the summer solstice, so today we have the most daylight hours for the year.  A great day for a barbeque.  For those that were awake during the short night (like John), may have seen the sliver of the solstice moon last night.

There was a great turnout for today's walk, including - Gay, Mark, Peter, Shari, John, Rick, Nancy B., Charlene, Ron, Toni, Joe, Geri, Tom T., Syd, Lisa & Tabi with Linaea and Zaviar (who had the easiest walk), Michael, Zelda, Roger, Nancy T., Cheryl, Neil.


Neil, living the closest to the walk, proved the empirical law, that arrival time is inversely proportional to distance traveled!

Nine of us enjoyed great company and a good breakfast at David's.  We were lucky to get a table as the line was way down the sidewalk when we left, and the Dad's even got a free cup of coffee.  Thanks Kira.

Again, many thanks to John and Google for the photos.

NEXT SUNDAY, June 28th @ 8:00 A.M.: Big River Logging Road
Sun. July 5th, Caspar Logging Road
Sun. July 12th, Russian Gulch
Sun. July 19th, Ward Ave.
Sun. July 26th, Pudding Creek Trestle

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, June 14, 2015

Van Damme State Park's Fern Canyon

The outer reef at Little River, J. Loomis photo
John was in Santa Cruz this morning but he thought enough of us to send me a few of his Van Damme photos.  Thank you, John.


Great Blue Heron, J. Loomis photo
 It was 49 degrees with overcast and it was calm, perfect for a run or a walk.   Present today:  Cindy, Jackie, Fran, Nancy B., Rick, Toni, Joe, Charlene, Ron, Melissa, Katie, Roger, Jennifer, Shari, Peter,
Nancy and Tom (17).
Little River anchorage, J. Loomis photo
Van Damme State Park's Fern Canyon used to be the favorite trail for many of us.  Due to neglecting trail maintenance by Department of Parks and Recreation, I know of several from our Fog Dodgers Group  that no longer come to Van Damme.  Besides the mud holes, there's the stinging nettles, poison oak, fallen trees and as my stitched hands can attest, rocky trip hazards.  The trail could be a real jewell, instead, it is an embarrassment to California.  Sorry for the editorial.

Snowy egret, J. Loomis photo

Upcoming dates and venues:

Sun. June 21st, Jackson State Forest Road 450 (that's the one out Simpson Lane)
Sun. June 28th, Big River Logging Road
Sun. July 5th, Caspar Logging Road
Sun. July 12th, Russian Gulch
Sun. July 19th, Ward Ave.
Sun. July 26th, Pudding Creek Trestle

NEXT SUNDAY, June 21st @ 8:00 A.M.: Jackson State Forest, Road 450, see "Our Routes" above.  Hint:  It's out Simpson Lane.

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, June 7, 2015

PUDDING CREEK TRESTLE

Sun thru the fog, J. Loomis photo



It was a good morning for walking, biking and running.   We met at the Pudding Creek Trestle and it was 55 degrees, calm and the sun was filtered by the coastal clouds (John's photo to the left).  We had a good turnout and I hope I've got everyone's name.  Some arrived late and so I barely got a glimpse or missed seeing them completely.  Sometimes, I just hear by word of mouth who was present.

J. Loomis photo






Robert was new but is a friend of several other Fog Dodgers and had met us before.  Lisa brought her folks, Denny and Linda.  Zelda brought her friend, Mike.  I think that covers most of the guests and we're thankful for new friends.  Others present:  Tabi, Linneaa, Zavier, Chandra and Tenley, Julie, Laurie, Fran, Greg, Shari, Peter, Nancy T., Roger, Nancy B., Rick,
Deb, Sam, Joel, Charlene, Ron, John, Cindy, Jim, Mark, Nancy and Tom (32).




Canada Geese, J. Loomis photo



Most of us took off to the north.  With a good minus tide this morning and the new coastal trail access to Glass Beach, going south through the abalone hunters would have been similar to driving during rush hour in Los Angeles.  How long can the abalone population survive?  So glad that I am no longer working! (former Game Warden).






kelp, J. Loomis photo






Sun. June 14th, Van Damme State Park
Sun. June 21st, Jackson State Forest Road 450

Sun. June 28th, Big River Logging Road
Sun. July 5th, Caspar Logging Road


J. Loomis photo







Again, walkers, please don't take this wrong.  After all, you may be doing what's best.  But, it is really nice to see a number of new and younger runners.  It more closely resembles the Fog Dodgers of years past.  Now, if we could just get them all to show up at the same time!



NEXT SUNDAY, June 14th @ 8:00 A.M.: Van Damme State Park.

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.

Monday, June 1, 2015

Big River Logging Road




I would like to thank Nancy B. for doing the blog.  Unfortunately, "blogger" and her browser/composer were not communicating well and gave her all kinds of trouble.  I have tried to save what she and John reported but I may have left someone or something out.  My apologies for that and to Nancy for the frustration she had to endure.  Because I've copied and pasted for the most part, punctuation and layout aren't perfect as things seem to go where "blogger" wants them to go, not where I'd like them to.
 
 This morning there wasn't much sun as the fog and breeze continue to move in from the ocean to hover over the Coast and about two miles or more inland. I worked the Mendocino Film Festival tent Friday and Saturday, selling tickets outside and despite my many layers was cold and had to hang on to the tickets and bills to prevent them from flying away! However, this morning at Big River the wind wasn't strong and the mosquitoes weren't hungry.   And we all went our separate ways for breakfast this morning.


We were eleven runners and nine walkers. Not bad, but a good number of our members were either at the Film Festival or sleeping in after staying there late last night. Our group included runners Bob C., Cyd, John, Laurie, Katie, Lisa, Linnaea, Zavier, Tabi (?),  Melissa and Ron; and walkers Charlene, Cindy; Jim, Mark, Gaye, Rick, Nancy B. and Shari (20).

                             

 John Loomis provided his lovely photos again.


    

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

NEXT SUNDAY, JUNE 7TH @ 8:00 A.M.:  PUDDING CREEK TRESTLE

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.