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, October 29, 2017

POMO BLUFFS - NOYO BAY




Thanks, John, for a couple of Halloween photos

Well, I kind of confused a few people, by throwing in way too many street names and directions but in the end, it all seemed to work out fine.  We were trying out a small deviation to our "regular" Pomo Bluffs run/walk.  I had recently tried for the first time, the Hare Creek Beach Access Trail and wanted everyone else to see how neat it was.  They liked it!


The Noyo Ghost, J. Loomis photo
Happy Halloween!

I think it was 52 degrees this morning and very foggy.  Got a good laugh out of a few people we passed on the Coastal Trail, when they read "Fog Dodgers" on Nancy's shirt.  It was a very thick fog and I'm not sure if we were dodging or just cutting through it.

Present today:  Gay, Mark, Nancy B., Rick, Nancy T., Roger, Toni, Shari, Peter, Cheryl N., Neil, Joel, Nicole, John, Nancy and Tom (16).

Coming up in three weeks, we do our 8th Annual Bin 2 Bin 2 Bin Run/Walk.  For any unfamiliar with this one, it simply starts at Harvest Market.  We run/walk into the store and buy a couple of items for the Fort Bragg Food Bank, drop them in their barrel there and go on to do the same at Safeway and Purity.  We finish by making a second trip into Harvest.  Runners can make all four stops easily in an hour and walkers three stops in the same time.

Sunday, November 5th, Van Damme State Park  (Remember the time change)

Sunday, November 12th, Pudding Creek Trestle

Sunday, November 19th, Bin 2 Bin 2 Bin, Harvest Market Thanksgiving Run/Walk (We'll donate a couple cans of food to the Food Bank at each store)

Sunday, November 26th, Noyo Coastal Headlands Trail - North, from the Glass Beach parking lot.  Hopefully,  the north and south halves of the trail are now connected.

Sunday, Dec. 3rd, by request, Ten Mile River Logging  Road, (click on "Our Routes" above).

Sunday, Dec. 10th, Big River Logging Road (Yaaay!  It's open again and the mosquitoes gone at this time of the year.)

NEXT SUNDAY, NOV. 5TH @ 8:00 A.M.,  VAN DAMME STATE PARK  (PACIFIC STANDARD TIME)

EVERY TUESDAY AND THURSDAY, GROUP RUN @ 7:00 A.M.: MENDOCINO, beginning at the Heeser Drive restrooms.  This will be our last (for awhile) dark run.

Sunday, October 22, 2017

MENDOCINO

Thanks, John, for all of today's photos.

Mendocino Masonic Building, J. Loomis photo
This morning, we tried a new (for most anyway) venue.  We ran and walked around the Mendocino Headlands and the town of Mendocino.  I haven't heard of any complaints and it was really a nice morning.  At our start, it was 52 degrees, calm and the nothing but blue skies, from now on.

The view from our starting point, looking north towards Pt. Cabrillo
Our neighbor, Nicole, showed up (second time) apologetically saying she hadn't run for six months due to an injury.  She then proceeded to take off, striding like only young people can, and right away ran me into the ground!  Nancy was able to keep up though and it's what Nancy has been needing, someone to keep her from slowing down.  Thanks, Nicole!

Others present this morning: Zelda, Gay, Mark, Cheryl N., Neil, Nancy B., Rick, Nancy T., Roger, Joe, Charlene, Ron, John, Nancy and Tom (16).

A staple post.  J. Loomis photo
Another of John's interesting photos.  He has an eye for neat things!
We will soon have the option of going to the Big River Haul Road again.  In the meantime, a couple of our other venues have been ammended, giving us more opportunities, avoiding too many frequent repeats.


Sunday, October 29th, Pomo Bluffs - Noyo Bay (this week I am suggesting that it's possible 
to start off going south and checking out the Hare Creek Beach Access Trail (it's over south of or behind the college), looping around and back to the college and then proceeding to the Noyo Bridge and Coastal Trail.)  I did this recently and found it a nice variation. (S. on Ocean View Dr. > Pacific Dr. > Bay View Ave. > Harbor Ave. and over the Noyo Bridge).

Sunday, November 5th, Van Damme State Park

Sunday, November 12th, Pudding Creek Trestle

Sunday, November 19th, Bin 2 Bin 2 Bin, Harvest Market Thanksgiving Run/Walk

Sunday, November 26th, Noyo Coastal Headlands Trail - North, from the Glass Beach parking lot.  Hopefully,  the north and south halves of the trail are now connected.

Sunday, Dec. 3rd, by request, Ten Mile River Logging  Road, (click on "Our Routes" above).

Sunday, Dec. 10th, Big River Logging Road

NEXT SUNDAY, OCT. 29TH @ 8:00 A.M., POMO BLUFFS - NOYO BAY.  Besides doing our regular route, see the suggestion above.

EVERY TUESDAY AND THURSDAY, GROUP RUN @ 7:00 A.M.: MENDOCINO, beginning at the Heeser Drive restrooms.

Sunday, October 15, 2017

MACKERRICHER STATE PARK

It was a bit chilly this morning at 45 degrees but it was calm and beautiful with clear blue skies.  We met at the Lake Cleone Parking Lot and I believe that everyone went south from there, out to Laguna Point or south on the Haul Road.

Many people's homes and businesses were lost this week in the worst fires to ever hit California.  We were fortunate to be living here, where the skies were only briefly filled with a light smokiness.  John's pictures below, show the extent of our discomfort, only a little smoke and pretty sunrises.


smoky sunrise over Mendocino






 Present today:  Cheryl N., Neil, Shari, Peter, Toni, Joe,
Nancy T., Roger, Charlene, Ron, Jan, John, Joel, Bob,
Catherine, David, Fran, Nancy and Tom (19).



All photos by John Loomis, thanks John!

It was a beautiful morning along the MacKerricher Haul Road.  A little cold at the beginning but perfect after a few minutes of warm-up.





J. Loomis photo

Next Sunday, we will try out a new venue.  The Mid-week Fog Dodgers have been using it regularly lately due to Big River Road construction closing that road.  We really like this "Mendocino" run/walk.  It offers numerous routes, beautiful views and ample parking.  Be sure to run/walk opposing the traffic (left side) or off of the pavement.

Sunday, October 22nd, Mendocino (starting at the Heeser Drive restrooms)

Sunday, October 29th, Pomo Bluffs - Noyo Bay (this week I am suggesting that it's possible 
to start off going south and checking out the Hare Creek Beach Access Trail, looping around and back to the college and then proceeding to the Noyo Bridge and Coastal Trail.)  I did this recently and found it a nice variation.

Sunday, November 5th, Van Damme State Park

Sunday, November 12th, Pudding Creek Trestle

Sunday, November 19th, Bin 2 Bin 2 Bin, Harvest Market Thanksgiving Run/Walk


NEXT SUNDAY, OCT. 22 ND @ 8:00 A.M.:  MENDOCINO (starting at the Heeser Dr. restrooms.  They are on the north side of the roadway that goes around the Mendocino Headlands, just west of the town of Mendocino, can't miss them.)



EVERY TUESDAY AND THURSDAY, GROUP RUN @ 7:00 A.M.:  MENDOCINO HEADLANDS AND TOWN.  Beginning at the Heeser Drive restrooms.

Sunday, October 8, 2017

CASPAR LOGGING ROADS


Did anyone not see this week's full moon?  John took this photo from the Mendocino headlands, just a few minutes before our 7:00 a.m. start on Tuesday.  Sometimes it really pays to wake up early!

J. Loomis photo, Mendocino


J. Loomis photo, thanks John!







It was 52 degrees at our start this morning.  The skies were cloudless and blue and the forest protected us from the strong coastal winds.  It was a beautiful morning.

"Caspar rental", J. Loomis photo









Thank you Shari and Peter, for bringing your friends, Bonnie and Wes, again.  Thank you Jan, for inviting Liz.
Also present this morning:  Susan, Bruce, Neil, Fran, Joe, Tony (for breakfast), Charlene, Ron, Joel, Bob, John, Nancy and Tom (19).


Caspar Naked Ladies, J. Loomis photo





Caspar South and a quiz for Ron, what kind of birds?
J. Loomis photo

Notice that in two weeks, we will try a new venue.  It's one that the Mid-week Fog Dodgers have been doing for the past month, since Big River Road is closed for maintenance.  I think we like it so much, we may just keep doing it.  It's a beautiful run or hike, hopefully the weather will cooperate.




The weather is changing now, rather quickly.  Yesterday, I saw two very large formations of geese flying south.  I guess they know something.

Sunday, October 15th, Lake Cleone (starting at the lake parking lot)
Sunday, October 22nd, Mendocino (starting at the Heeser Drive restrooms)

NEXT SUNDAY, OCT. 15TH @ 8:00 A.M.:  LAKE CLEONE (starting at the lake parking lot.


EVERY TUESDAY AND THURSDAY, GROUP RUN @ 7:00 A.M.  MENDOCINO, beginning at the restrooms on Heeser Dr.

Sunday, October 1, 2017

POMO BLUFFS - NOYO BAY

 It's Fall now.  John's pictures here today are reminders of it.




At the beginning of today's run/walk, it was more like Spring, with a stiff northwest wind blowing and 55 degrees.  We nearly canceled, deciding that breakfast seemed a better choice.

But we started right at 8:00 and maybe because we were going with the wind or that it calmed down, it was actually quite pleasant.














Sara (h), I keep forgetting which is correct, as usual, gave us all a couple of minutes head start.  She easily caught up with us just after crossing the bridge.  Also present today: Nancy B., Rick, Joe, Charlene, Ron, Tony (for breakfast, still healing), John, Nancy and Tom (10).








After crossing the Noyo Bridge, we went out and around the South Noyo Headlands Coastal Trail, back across the bridge and then went for that breakfast we had been thinking about.




 It was a great morning!  Thank you, John for all of today's photos and for a nice run!





Sunday, October 8th, Caspar Logging Roads
Sunday, October 15th, Lake Cleone (starting at the lake parking lot)
Sunday, October 22nd, Mendocino (starting at the Heeser Drive restrooms)

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

EVERY TUESDAY AND THURSDAY, GROUP RUN @ 7:00 A.M.:  MENDOCINO HEADLANDS AND AROUND TOWN.  We start at the Heeser Drive restrooms.