RUSSIAN GULCH and party next Sunday

First, I want to announce that Diana and Jeff have graciously offered to host a party at their house next Sunday, December 22 after the hike. Thus the traditional holiday breakfast pot luck party of yesteryear is making a comeback. Yay!

Directions to their house: The address is 18731 Trillium Lane. Take Hwy 20 east from Hwy 1 and go one mile and turn right on Trillium Lane. Go all the way to the end and it is the last driveway on the left. There is a sign at the driveway entrance that says Forest View. We recommend not using GPS as it almost always takes people to Veronica Lane which ends up in a dead end gravel/dirt road.

Today we hiked at RUSSIAN GULCH State Park but took some detours in anticipation of blockages on the main trail due to the recent rains, a good idea since the trail was blocked further up the creek. We walked over to the beach, which is dominated by the massive arches of the highway bridge, and then walked the regular trail. Hiking were Kelly, Eric, Nancy, Tom, Diana, Jeff, John, Deb, Sam, Jean, Fran, Charlene, Mark, Barbara, Sky, Shari, and Joe (17).

Afterwards ten of us went to the Good Life in Mendocino. The patio was relatively empty for a change. I guess the weather and the Highway 128 closure has left Mendocino somewhat empty.

John's photos:

Russian-Gulch-Bridge

The Beach

Russian-Gulch-western-view

Russian-Gulch-Community-Center

Russian-Gulch-trail

Santa

NEXT SUNDAY, December 22 @ 8:00 A.M.: GROUP RUN/WALK/BIKE, COASTAL TRAIL – SOUTH (Taco Bell). You can click on the "Our Routes" tab at the top to get directions, if needed.

EVERY TUESDAY AND THURSDAY, GROUP RUN/WALK @ 7:30 A.M.: COASTAL TRAIL - MIDDLE, behind the Fort Bragg Fire Station.

VAN DAMME

We hiked at VAN DAMME today on a cool but sunny Sunday. Some of us hiked to the location of an old bridge supported by wooden beams, which is now gone awaiting repairs we assume, as the beams had been removed and set on the ground. Hiking were Shari, Fran, Jean, Charlene, Chris, Sarah, Eric, Sky, John, Joe, Nancy (back again, but walking a shorter distance), Tom, Kelly, Diana, Jeff, Deb, and Sam (17).

Afterwards many went to St Anthony's for our usual bargain breakfast.

John submitted a large collection of photos:

VanDamme-Bridge

VanDammeCreek

Fall-Leaf-VanDamme

Mushroom-Group

Descanso-Lites-Starburst

Van-Damme-Creek

VanDammeHouse-on-the-hill

VanDamme2024

VanDammeLittle-River

DescansoLites

VanDamme-Campers

DescansoLitesMoon

NEXT SUNDAY, December 15, 2024 @ 8:00 A.M.: GROUP RUN/WALK/BIKE, RUSSIAN GULCH. You can click on the "Our Routes" tab at the top to get directions, if needed.

EVERY TUESDAY AND THURSDAY, GROUP RUN/WALK @ 7:30 A.M.: COASTAL TRAIL - MIDDLE, behind the Fort Bragg Fire Station.

WARD AVENUE

The skies were overcast at WARD AVENUE but a fairly large contingent of Fog Dodgers showed up including many new and infrequent hikers.The role call consists of Eric, Mark, Tom, Kelly who brought Tracy, Mary, Charlene, Diana, Jeff, Jean, Fran who brought Chris, Sky, Mary and Drew who brought Cheryl and John, and Joe (18). It was nice and cool as we walked south. On the beach back near the parking area there was a large group of turkey vultures feed on some large undetermined carcass.

Afterward about ten of us including Nancy, who Tom fetched from home, had breakfast at Denny's where all were adequately fed at a reasonable price.

Some photos from southern California from John:

NEXT SUNDAY, December 8, 2024 @ 8:00 A.M.: GROUP RUN/WALK/BIKE, VAN DAMME. You can click on the "Our Routes" tab at the top to get directions, if needed.

EVERY TUESDAY AND THURSDAY, GROUP RUN/WALK @ 7:30 A.M.: COASTAL TRAIL - MIDDLE, behind the Fort Bragg Fire Station.

POMO BLUFFS

The rain let up for our morning walk at POMO BLUFFS. It was pretty cool. Some of us hiked south while others hiked north. In attendance were Tom, Eric, Charlene, Cindy, Deb, Sam, Fran, Jean, Shari, Joe, and a newcomer, Kelly (11). When we got back to out cars Shari spotted a whale crossing the Noyo's outflow.

Afterwards a group went to Denny's for breakfast, same place as last week, but at least one went to the Caspar Community Center for their last breakfast of the year.

John sent some photos, not from our walk, but interesting:

NEXT SUNDAY, December 1, 2024 @ 8:00 A.M.: GROUP RUN/WALK/BIKE, WARD AVENUE. You can click on the "Our Routes" tab at the top to get directions, if needed.

EVERY TUESDAY AND THURSDAY, GROUP RUN/WALK @ 7:30 A.M.: COASTAL TRAIL - MIDDLE, behind the Fort Bragg Fire Station.

PUDDING CREEK TRESTLE

This Sunday we hiked at the PUDDING CREEK TRESTLE. Rain threatened, but was very light. Hiking were Eric, Deb, Sam, John, Kim, Doug and Bowie, Bob (who ran south), Tom, Charlene, Diana, Jeff, Fran with friend Sue Arnold, Jean (good to have her back), Sky, Beth, Bob and Joe

As one might expect a large group went to breakfast at Denny's, where we were joined by newcomer Blanche. The salmon dinner is now one of the more popular choices for breakfast.

John's photos:

Pudding-Creek-Bridge

Bowie-Leads-the-way

Hall-Road-Tree-grove

Virgin-Creek-Surfer

Casualties-on-the-Great-Highway

Property-Trail-Mushroom-hunting

Apple-Time

City-Hall

Drop-in-Donut

NEXT SUNDAY, November 24, 2024 @ 8:00 A.M.: GROUP RUN/WALK/BIKE, POMO BLUFFS. You can click on the "Our Routes" tab at the top to get directions, if needed.

EVERY TUESDAY AND THURSDAY, GROUP RUN/WALK @ 7:30 A.M.: COASTAL TRAIL - MIDDLE, behind the Fort Bragg Fire Station.

MENDOCINO HEADLANDS

Today we hiked the MENDOCINO HEADLANDS. The traffic was light so we pretty much took over the road, only occasionally allowing cars to pass. The group did get strung out into subgroups which ended up taking different routes before converging on Toilet Point. There was a pretty large turnout for the walk: Diana, Jeff, Eric, Tom, Deb, Sam, Sky, John, Joe, Charlene, Shari, Beth, Bob, Fran, Kim, Doug and Bowie.

After the walk our group ate at Saint Anthony's where we were joined by Jean, making a group of ten.

John's photos:

Northern-View-from-Mendocino

Presbyterian-Church-Mendocino

Fog-Dodgers-on-way-back-Mencocino

Cabrillo-Light-Station

Mendocino-Residence-on-bluff

Buck-surprised-me...just-stting-calmly-by-my-garage

NEXT SUNDAY, November 17 @ 8:00 A.M.: GROUP RUN/WALK/BIKE, PUDDING CREEK TRESTLE. You can click on the "Our Routes" tab at the top to get directions, if needed.

EVERY TUESDAY AND THURSDAY, GROUP RUN/WALK @ 7:30 A.M.: COASTAL TRAIL - MIDDLE, behind the Fort Bragg Fire Station.

SOUTH HARBOR

This time we did the walk at SOUTH HARBOR. Hiking were John, Eric, Tom, Mark, Charlene, Joe, Sky, Diana, Jeff, Fran, Beth and Bob. Pleasant weather with a sunny sky improved by having just switched from Daylight Savings. The south side of the Noyo is in shade for much of the route but we did make it around the bend to the trailer camping area where the sun was shining.

Denny's was the restaurant of choice this time with seven of us sharing the corner booth.

Here are John's photos:

Full-View-Noyo-Harbor

Harbor-Master

Trianna-at-Caitos

Reflection-on-Tommy's

Man-in-the-woods

NEXT SUNDAY, November 10 @ 8:00 A.M.: GROUP RUN/WALK/BIKE, MENDOCINO HEADLANDS by request. You can click on the "Our Routes" tab at the top to get directions, if needed.

EVERY TUESDAY AND THURSDAY, GROUP RUN/WALK @ 7:30 A.M.: COASTAL TRAIL - MIDDLE, behind the Fort Bragg Fire Station.