POMO BLUFFS - NOYO BAY

I was hoping for a pretty morning, didn't happen.  But, it was good for running and walking, overcast and cool.  Charlene and Ron brought a friend from Chico, Eric, and he enjoyed the fog.  Eric says the valley heat has been relentless.  We can be happy with the weather that we have here on the coast.

Noyo River harbor, J. Loomis photo

One of John's many talents is his gardening.  Thanks John, for today's photos, two of which show the product of his garden.

John's garden breakfast

almost there!

Others present today: Jan, John, Nancy B., Rick, Toni (for breakfast), Joe, Sara (h?), Nancy and Tom(12).

Ron has heard from State Parks, that their Big River maintenance project (bridge contruction ?) is to begin on Aug. 1st.  We may lose that venue for our Tuesday runs.  During the summer months, we've decided that the mosquitoes are too fierce for the Sunday hikes, so it won't be missed.


Sunday, August 6th, Caspar Logging Roads
Sunday, August 13th, Lake Cleone (starting from the parking lot)
Sunday, August 20th, Noyo Headlands Trail-North (parking lot by Glass Beach)
Sunday, August 27th, Van Damme State Park
Sunday, September 3rd, Caspar Logging Roads
Sunday, September 10th, Pudding Creek Trestle
See "Our Routes" above for descriptions.

NEXT SUNDAY, AUG. 6TH  @ 8:00 A.M.  CASPAR LOGGING ROADS

EVERY TUESDAY AND THURSDAY, GROUP RUN @ 7:00 A.M.: BIG RIVER LOGGING ROAD ON TUESDAY AND AND VAN DAMME STATE PARK ON THURSDAY.  (the Tuesday run may get relocated when State Parks begins their road repairss)

WARD AVENUE

It was "warm" and sunny this morning at MacKerricher State Park.  At our start, it was 57 degrees and just a slight breeze.

Thanks to John L. for all of today's pictures
Here's a goose family at Pudding Creek

Like many, I use the excuse, 'I have trouble remembering names'.  I know, it's not right and I should use associations or something and make a better effort.  This morning, I really had trouble and I'm sorry.  I hope that I have everybody here.  I am happy that we had four new people join with us this morning: Steve (Thanks, Zelda), Alta and Jerry (thanks, Nina) and Cindy.  Also, returning after a 12 year absence was Patty.  I hope that all of you return.

Others present today:  Those mentioned above that brought new guests, Joe, Joel, Jan, Nancy B., Rick, Ron, John, Nancy and Tom (16).

Upcoming venues:  
Sunday, July 30th, Pomo Bluffs-Noyo Bay
Sunday, August 6th, Caspar Logging Roads
Sunday, August 13th, Lake Cleone (starting from the parking lot)
Sunday, August 20th, Noyo Headlands Trail-North (parking lot by Glass Beach)
Sunday, August 27th, Van Damme State Park

See "Our Routes" above for descriptions.








On this morning's run, Ron pointed out that there weren't any young of the year gulls, only older ones.  That's not good.  He also found plastic litter.  That is common but also not good.  John came prepared to gather whole sand dollars but only found two.  Usually there are many.  That's one of the things that make our morning run/walks interesting, always something new!

I like next Sunday's run/walk for the views, from the Noyo Bridge and from Todd's Point and Soldier Point.  Hopefully, the weather will be nice.


NEXT SUNDAY, JULY 30TH  @ 8:00 A.M.:  POMO BLUFFS - NOYO BAY (see "Our Routes" above).

EVERY TUESDAY, GROUP RUN @ 7:00 A.M.: BIG RIVER LOGGING ROAD.

EVERY THURSDAY, GROUP RUN @ 7:00 A. M., VAN DAMME

VAM DAMME STATE PARK'S FERN CANYON

A beautiful morning at Van Damme.  It was sunny, calm and 57 degrees.  Roger got everyone going two minutes early, but I walked slowly, keeping my eye on the parking lot for late (on time) arrivals, and I don't think we left anyone behind.

Little River Cove, J. Loomis photo

Present today:  Shari, Peter, Orah, Steve, Nancy B., Rick, Joe, Charlene, Ron, Jan, John, Nancy T., Roger, Bob, Fran, Nancy and Tom (17).

Spring Ranch barn, J. Loomis

As I said in last week's blog, this trail has tripping hazards ....  
We had one trip but only minor scrapes and blood.   A park employee told John recently, that they were going to pave this trail after the nesting season for some bird.  If that happens, along with bridge repairs, it will be a much nicer trail.

Mendocino morning, J. Loomis

After our run/walk, eleven of us enjoyed a champagne breakfast at the Little River Inn.

Spring Ranch hawk, J. Loomis

Next Sunday, there is a good low tide two hours before our run/walk.  I don't know how to compute the tides between their lows and highs but I think it will still be nice for beach running//walking at 8:00 a.m.  The tide will be coming in so don't get your shoes wet!

Sunday, July 23rd, Ward Ave. (-1.4 tide at 6:00 a.m)
Sunday, July 30th, Pomo Bluffs-Noyo Bay
Sunday, August 6th, Caspar Logging Roads
Sunday, August 13th, Lake Cleone (starting from the parking lot)
Sunday, August 20th, Noyo Headlands Trail-North (parking lot by Glass Beach)
Sunday, August 27th, Van Damme State Park

NEXT SUNDAY, JULY 23RD @ 8:00 A.M.:  WARD AVE. (-1.4 tide at 6:00 a.m.)

EVERY TUESDAY,  GROUP RUN @ BIG RIVER, 7:00 A.M.

EVERY THURSDAY, GROOUP RUN AT VAN DAMME, 7:00 A.M. 

PUDDING CREEK TRESTLE

All photos by John L., thank you!

It was foggy and 53 degrees, no wind, when we met at the Pudding Creek Trestle this morning.  The nearby cypress grove picture from John shows the conditions well.

Pudding Creek trestle and geese

It was nice that Fran brought her son, Steve, to run and Zelda brought her friend, Kim.  It's rewarding, that when Fog Dodgers have family and friends come for a visit, they bring them out for our Sunday  run/walks.  It's always nice to have someone new to meet.

Also present today:  Charlene, Ron, Shari, Peter, Joel, Nancy B.,  Joe, Nancy T., Roger, John, Sara, Nancy and Tom (17).

Pudding Creek dam/gate

We haven't been going to Van Damme State Park or Russian Gulch much lately, so this past week, we checked out both locations to see if the trails were suitable for walking and running.  Russian Gulch trail is very narrow due to nettles and poison oak along the sides.  Van Damme's Fern Canyon has tripping hazards but is usable.  I'll try to include it in the
rotation again.  Big River is going to be closed for bridge construction and has that mosquito problem for the walkers.

Handsome bucks!

Garden flowers, J. Loomis photo

Upcoming run/walks:
Sunday, July 16th, Van Damme State Park
Sunday, July 23rd, Ward Ave. (-1.4 tide at 6:00 a.m)
Sunday, July 30th, Pomo Bluffs-Noyo Bay
Sunday, August 6th, Caspar Logging Roads
Sunday, August 13th, Lake Cleone (starting from the parking lot)
Sunday, August 20th, Noyo Headlands Trail-North (parking lot by Glass Beach)
Sunday, August 27th, Van Damme State Park

NEXT SUNDAY, JULY 16TH @ 8:00 A.M.:  VAN DAMME STATE PARK


EVERY TUESDAY AND THURSDAY, GROUP RUN @ 7:00 A.M.: BIG RIVER LOGGING ROAD.

CASPAR LOGGING ROADS

A beautiful morning, just right for running and walking.  We met at Jackson State Forest Road 500, at the junction with Road 600.  I should have noticed that all was not well, when driving to our starting point, I noticed lots of dust in my rear view mirror.  The road is not normally very dusty.

Well, the dust was bad because the road had recently been graded and it made for a terrible, very rocky run and walk.  If we return to the Caspar Logging Roads, we will try going down Road 600, rather than up Road 500.  I hope that 600 is better.

Present today: Jan, Charlene, Ron, John, Cheryl, Nancy T., Roger, Joe, Fran, Nancy and Tom (11), and Toni joined us for breakfast.

John sent some lovely "moody" photos of Caspar.  It seems that once again we're not seeing as much fog as we had historically, so it's almost nostalgic to see the fog.  Thanks John.

Also have great July 4th.

July 9th, Pudding Creek Trestle

NEXT SUNDAY, JULY 9TH @ 8:00 A.M.: PUDDING CREEK TRESTLE

EVERY TUESDAY AND THURSDAY, GROUP RUN @ 7:00 A.M.: BIG RIVER LOGGING ROAD.  Exception: July 4th Russian Gulch and July 6th at Van Damme.