CASPAR LOGGING ROAD

“The Last Dipody”

(Courtesy Bob Cimmiyotti)

Have you heard about the Fog Dodgers today?
Amassing at the trailhead then hustling away
Their voices spewing fun and laughter
near the haunts of Siegfried Caspar.
There were nine in number, one was late,
the others got started at exactly eight.
Some went south and some went east
trying to choose the hill of least.
Up then down or down then up
making that choice can be tough.
The weather was perfect, sunny and warm
enhanced by wild iris in radiant form.
John was there with camera new as was Sherry,
Peter, Joe, Susan, Bruce, Bob and Otis too,
and another young lady with name forgotten,
others were absent, that are there quite often.
Such good fun to walk and jog
once again to dodge the fog.

For those that haven't heard of a "dipody", dictionary.com defines it as:

"a group of two feet in English poetry, in which one of the two accented syllables bears primary stress and the other bears secondary stress, used as a prosodic measurement in iambic, trochaic, and anapestic verse"

Did that help! 

Here's some photos courtesy of John:

"Horse Power"

Lily Ponds

Llama though a fence

Upcoming venues:
June 11th, Noyo Headlands Trail - North
June 18th, Ward Avenue
June 25th, Noyo Headlands Trail - South
July 2nd, Caspar Logging Roads
July 9th, Pudding Creek Trestle

NEXT SUNDAY, JUNE 11th @ 8:00 A.M. - Noyo Headlands Trail - North
EVERY TUESDAY AND THURSDAY, GROUP RUN @ 7:00 A.M.: BIG RIVER LOGGING ROAD.

LAKE CLEONE

It was a great morning for walking  and running at MacKerricher State Park, 53 degrees with a thick grey overcast, keeping it warm-like and dry.

We had a lady runner that has been before but I'm ashamed that I haven't gotten her name down yet, sorry.  Also present:  Jan, Neil, John, Bob, Nancy B., Rick, Nancy T., Roger, Toni, Joe, Nancy and Tom (13).

J. Loomis photo

There was a very low (minus) tide this morning, reminding me that I should always check the tide tables before scheduling run/walks.  It would have been a good morning for Ward Ave. and a walk or run on the beach.

Boardwalk at Lake Cleone, J. Loomis photo

Thanks to John Loomis for keeping this blog full of nice photos.

Lake Cleone, J. Loomis photo

Upcoming venues:
June 4th, Caspar Logging Roads
June 11th, Noyo Headlands Trail - North
June 18th, Ward Avenue
June 25th, Noyo Headlands Trail - South
July 2nd, Caspar Logging Roads
July 9th, Pudding Creek Trestle

NEXT SUNDAY, JUNE 4TH @ 8:00 A.M.:  CASPAR LOGGING ROADS

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

POMO BLUFFS - NOYO BAY

Well, so much for the pretty ocean views.  The ocean today was barely visible,  due to a thick, low fog. I don't think the fog bothered any of us though, just took away the normally beautiful ocean view.  Thanks to John, his pictures below kind of show the morning.

J. Loomis photo

Present today, Pat and Bill, they were new and here last week, when I wasn't,  and Pat T.  Also present:  Nancy T., Roger, Joe, Toni, Jeff, Charlene, Ron, John, Bob, Fran, Nancy and Tom (15).

J. Loomis Photo

It seems as though our very wet winter might be over.  There's nice weather all next week and I've finally let the home fire go out.  The fog today was certainly more summer-like.

J. Loomis photo

I've listed a bunch of future venues below.  It makes it easier for me, in planning without repeats, and it helps for guest bloggers, so that they don't have to guess on what to schedule next.  The list might always change though, so make it a practice to check on the venue just a little before Sunday.

May 28th, Lake Cleone - We haven't started from the lake for a long time but Nancy and I         checked it out recently and thought that it would work very nicely.  Near the end of Mill Creek Drive, at MacKerricher State Park.
June 4th, Caspar Logging Roads
June 11th, Noyo Headlands Trail - North
June 18th, Ward Avenue
June 25th, Noyo Headlands Trail - South
July 2nd, Caspar Logging Roads
July 9th, Pudding Creek Trestle

NEXT SUNDAY, MAY 28TH @ 8:00 A.M.:   LAKE CLEONE,  We will start from the parking lot, right at the lake.  It's been a few years since we started from here.  It's a good starting point, giving you many options as to which way to go.

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

PUDDING CREEK TRESTLE

J. Loomis photo

J. Loomis photo

It was a breezy and beautiful morning along the Haul Road.  The ocean and the sky seemed bluer than usual and the greens seemed greener.  There are still lots of wildflowers. Even without Tom we managed to start on time.  We also got enough medical advice to diagnose Tom's malady and suggested treatment options to help our leader return swiftly.

J. Loomis photo

J. Loomis photo

Present this morning:  Nancy and Rick thankfully continue to bring guests.  Today they brought Bill and Pat.  Also present were Fran, Jan, John, Ron, Charlene, Joe, Nancy T. and Nancy R. (12)

May 21st, Pomo Bluffs - Noyo Bay (nice view from the Noyo Bridge, if heights don't bother you)

May 28th, Lake Cleone - We haven't started from the lake for a long time but Nancy and I checked it out recently and thought that it would work very nicely.  Near the end of Mill Creek Drive, at MacKerricher State Park.

NEXT SUNDAY, MAY 21 @ 8:00 A.M.: Pomo Bluffs - Noyo Bay (nice view from the Noyo Bridge, if heights don't bother you).

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

VAN DAMME STATE PARK

This morning, it was Van Damme State Park's Fern Canyon.  I think it was 49 degrees, with a strong NW wind that made if feel colder.

Our neighbor, Nicole, showed up with 5 other runners (I think one was Nina).  It was great  to see SIX new runners show up, but we felt really bad, because the four of us remaining runners only ran a few minutes and then turned around and headed to Boonville for the Boontling Classic 5K. Nicole and group, please come back, we'll do better!  I hope that you had a good run.

J. Loomis photo, Great Blue Heron

J. Loomis photo, Pelicans

At the race, Nancy and Tom each got 1st Place finishes.  We keep saying, all you gotta do is get older, but in all honesty and modesty, Nancy is really fast, Tom only moderately!   There were more Raffle Prizes at the race then there were entrants, so everyone won a nice bottle of wine, great little race!

Also present at Van Damme today:Neil, Fran, Orah, Steve, Charlene, Ron, John, Nancy B., Rick, Nancy and Tom (17).

I'll wait for a little feedback before scheduling Van Damme again.  What I've seen of it and from what I've heard, the trail isn't in too good of condition.  Big River has mosquitoes and Russian Gulch has a lot of poison oak.  What I'm saying, you'll see our local coastal trail and Caspar Logging Road show up more often for upcoming venues.   Let me know if there's a trail you prefer or want to check out.

Little River Creek, J. Loomis photo

May 14th, Pudding Creek Trestle (from here, you can in 3 different directions, your choice!)

May 21st, Pomo Bluffs - Noyo Bay (nice view from the Noyo Bridge, if heights don't bother you)

May 28th, Lake Cleone - We haven't started from the lake for a long time but Nancy and I checked it out recently and thought that it would work very nicely.  Near the end of Mill Creek Drive, at MacKerricher State Park.

NEXT SUNDAY, MAY 14TH @ 8:00 A.M.:  PUDDING CREEK TRESTLE

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

CASPAR LOGGING ROADS

Thanks to John for all of today's photos, all from Caspar

It was about as close to perfect as you can get this morning.  Clear, calm, 48 degrees and we were fortunate enough to have 3 guests.  Thanks to Rick and Nancy for bringing Richard and to the Wassermans for suggesting our group to Phyllis and Jerry, all very nice folks.

Also present this morning:  Fran, Jennifer, Toni, Joe, Charlene, Ron, John, Jan, Nancy and Tom (15).




I'm not sure what the Fern Canyon Trail at Van Damme State Park will be like next Sunday.  I've heard that you can get as far as Bridge 6 before having to climb over fallen trees.  Most of the walkers do not get that far anyway.   If you have a dog to walk, you can walk thru the campground and then up the hill to the Upper Meadow Campground.  It's all very nice whichever way you go.

May 7th, Van Damme (Little River Inn?)  Many of the group like the Little River Inn periodically. Several of us will cut this walk/run short and take off for Boonville and the 10:00 a.m. start of the Boontling Classic 5K.  It's a very nice race or walk for anyone that is interested, just Google it.

May 14th, Pudding Creek Trestle

May 21st, 

May 28th, Lake Cleone - We haven't started from the lake for a long time but Nancy and I checked it out recently and thought that it would work very nicely.  Near the end of Mill Creek Drive, at MacKerricher State Park.

NEXT SUNDAY, MAY 7TH @ 8:00 A.M.:  VAN DAMME STATE PARK

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

NOYO HEADLANDS TRAIL - NORTH

It was beautiful morning.  We Fog Dodgers ran and walked the north half of the new Coastal Trail and a bit of the MacKerricher Haul Road.  It was 46 degrees at our start and mostly clear skies and the ocean was beautiful, with some good sized waves.

Pudding Creek Headlands, J. Loomis photo

Thank you, Fran, for bringing Jeanette and Charlie.  Also present:  Healdsburg Tony, John, Jan, Charlene, Joe, Shari, Peter, Nancy B., Cheryl N., Neil, Nancy and Tom (14).

Apple blossoms, J. Loomis photo

Yesterday was the Mendo 50, a 50 kilometer foot race, which utilizes the Big River, Russian Gulch and Caspar Creek watersheds.  We walked with Tony up Big River six miles to meet some of his Healdsburg friends and run them back to the finish line.  Walking at Big River just invites hundreds of mosquitoes to torment you.  So, next weeks planned Big River walk has been changed to Caspar.

Skunk Depot, J. Loomis photo

April 30th, Caspar Logging Roads  (St. Anthony's Mexican Breakfast?) This walk/run was previously scheduled for Big River but the mosquitoes are back now and you don't want to walk at Big River, believe me!  The Mexican Breakfast is just information for you, not a recommendation.

April 30th, Caspar Logging Roads

May 7th, Van Damme (Little River Inn?)  Many of the group like the Little River Inn periodically.

May 14th, Pudding Creek Trestle

NEXT SUNDAY, APRIL 30 @ 8:00 A.M.:  CASPAR LOGGING ROADS

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