May 30, 2010

This morning, we ran, walked and biked the Caspar Logging Road. It was 48 degrees at the start (third week in a row, Bob), sunny and calm, a beautiful morning. It was nice to see Brad's mom and dad, Carmen and Don, again and San Diego Larry (Larry T.) was here, along with his daughter and son, Jessica and Jason. Also, a first timer, Linda, welcome. Also present were: Brad, Johny, Maddelyn, Scott, Joel, Fran, Gay, Mark, Bob, John, Kim, Adeline, Brian, Heather, Reid, Cindy, Jim, Nancy B., Rick, Charlene, Ron, Nancy T., Roger, Nancy and Tom (31).

I don't think any of us missed seeing the motorcycles of last week. It was just a very nice morning. Next time that we run at Caspar, we will start at the Duck Pond for a change. Some of the group miss that lower section of the course so we'll do it every once in awhile.

After the run/walk this morning, 15 of us had a fun and delicious breakfast at David's Restaurant. Scott got a "special" punch on his David's Breakfast Punch Card!

NEXT SUNDAY, 6/6/10, 8:00 A.M., GROUP RUN/WALK/BIKE, THE RON JAHELKA TRAIL, aka Big River Rd., beginning 1/2 mile east of Hwy. One.

TUESDAYS, 7:00 A.M., Group Run/Walk, RUSSIAN GULCH STATE PARK, beginning on Point Cabrillo Drive, 1/10 of a mile north of it's south end.

THURSDAYS, 7:00 A.M., Group Run/Walk, VAN DAMME STATE PARK, beginning at the beach.

May 23, 2010

This morning we made the trek to Navarro Ridge, with promise of the standard Whitesboro Grange breakfast afterward. It was sunny and 48 degrees at the beginning, and warmed up fast, with little if any breeze even on the way back. Present today were: Gay, Mark, Cindy, Jim, Joyce, Nancy T., Roger, Kim, Adeline, John, Kathy, Steve, Nancy, Tom, Charlene and Johnny (16).


Someone please, please remind us! Next year, before the fourth Sunday of May, we should find out the course for the California 10,000. According to Tom, "It's called the 10,000 because that's the number of motorcycles entered and today their ride was the same as ours, Navarro Ridge." I couldn't help thinking that perhaps Mad Max 4: Fury Road was finally in production, or maybe my blood sugar was just a little low. Still, nothing some blackberry syrup couldn't fix (Tina Turner never had it so easy).


NEXT SUNDAY, MAY 30 @ 8 AM, with fewer motorcycles:  CASPAR LOGGING ROAD (JACKSON STATE FOREST ROAD 500), beginning at the junction of JSF Road 500 and 600, about 2 miles east of Hwy 1. Go east on Fern Creek Rd. (where the duck pond is), 1/4 mile, turn right and go 1/4 mile, turn left on Caspar Orchard Road, go about 3/4 mile until it merges with Rd. 500 at the junction with Rd. 600.

EVERY TUESDAY @ 7 AM: RUSSIAN GULCH STATE PARK, beginning on Point Cabrillo Drive, 1/10 of a mile north of its south end.

EVERY THURSDAY @ 7 AM: VAN DAMME STATE PARK, beginning at the beach.

May 16, 2010

Well, never mind then. Tom and Nancy came back early, we didn't get back to town until late late, and Lone Bob threw me a bone here. Thanks Bob. I really do get to the falls. Some days, I even have a picnic while I'm waiting.

According to Tom, it was 48 degrees at the start. Near as I've been able to tell, present were: Bob, Tom, Nancy, John, Kira, Bill, and? Well, now you get yet another chance to be heard. Just chime in with a comment on this blog. Tell us what/who you saw!

Wrote Lone Bob:

If last Sunday was Mothers Day then this Sunday was “invasion of the Abalone snatchers” day. Travelers having to use the Coast Highway would soon discover a highway with shoulders draped and clogged with snatcher vehicles. Not surprising because the ocean conditions and weather were perfect for divers. And as it most often is the temperature was also perfect for runners but not so for sunbathers.

What was the actual temperature is only a question a newcomer would ask. Seasoned residents know that the average temperature clusters in a narrow range from 49 degrees winter to 59 degrees summer. For those that must know the temperature read on, others may skip to the next paragraph. Given that it is spring season and early AM pick a number near the bottom of that range and you’ll have the correct answer.

More about the weather. Overcast with a slight breeze blowing from the South foretelling the possibility of rain and the return arrival of Fog Dodger rap musician professor Bill Heffernan. However the biggest surprise to many was that Tom and Nancy were present. The strong Iowa wind blew them home early proving why Iowa is the wind energy producing capital of our nation. Iowa was the corn growing capital but with grass fed beef becoming more popular than corn fed corn stalks are yielding to towers of wind turbine.

The day began as everyone arrived at the starting point near the A&W logging road. So named because at one time there was an A&W located near the entrance to the road. Of course logging was never conducted by A&W but they did sell juicy burgers with Root Beer in ice cold glass mugs. The burgers were wrapped in foil and plastered with plenty of sauce to run down forearms and drip from elbows. Meanwhile runners continued gathering, greeting friends, chatting of recent current events, yawning, stretching, removing or adding clothing, and last minute lacing of shoes. As Tom Time neared 8:00 AM runners intuitively turned East, Horace Greeley not among us, and scurried like quail to the haul road.

Approaching the river runners encountered an abundance of flora and fauna. Wild radish and foxglove were in near peak bloom. A plethora of feathered friends too numerous to mention varying in size from the tiny Titmouse to the grand Osprey. A faint odor of stale mud mixed manure from cloven hoofed bovine wafted from the nearby pastures. Some runners felt a ripple effect when crossing the river. John Loomis spotted what appeared to be a lost abalone diver in the water.

Runners exited the river bottom and entered the xylem and phloem filled forest that leads to the dreaded never ending hill. The hill that can take a runner to their threshold of pain before reaching the summit. Runners now turning about at their chosen spot for the knee jarring downhill thrill to the end of one adventure and to the remainder of another beautiful day.

NEXT SUNDAY, MAY 23 @ 8 AM: NAVARRO RIDGE ROAD, beginning at the Whitesboro Grange Hall, 1 1/2 miles east of Hwy One. This location takes an extra 10 minutes for most of us but is worth it.

EVERY TUESDAY @ 7 AM: RUSSIAN GULCH STATE PARK, beginning on Point Cabrillo Drive, 1/10 of a mile north of its south end.

EVERY THURSDAY @ 7 AM: VAN DAMME STATE PARK, beginning at the beach.

May 9, 2010

This morning we ran and walked Russian Gulch State Park. No (mountain) lions, tigers or bears, but nettles and blackberries, oh my! It was overcast and still, but another beautiful Spring morning and we had the entire park to ourselves. Bob doesn't think I get to the falls, but I assure you all, I do, and they are in great form right now. Go see them if you haven't. The native Rhodies on the north perimeter trail are gorgeous, but it's a bit soggy in a few places.

There were plenty of birds, and Ron was all aflutter about it. No, I'm not nearly out of bird metaphors. If you must know, and apparently you must, present were: Osprey, American Kestrel, Black Oystercatcher, Acorn Woodpecker, Hairy Woodpecker, Olive-sided Flycatcher, Pacific-slope, Flycatcher, Warbling Vireo, Steller's Jay, Tree Swallow, Violet-green Swallow, Chestnut-backed Chickadee, Winter Wren, Golden-crowned Kinglet, American Robin, Wilson's Warbler, Black-headed Grosbeak, Brush Rabbit, Yellow-eared Chipmunk (these last two are birds, Ron?) (20).

The humans present were: Bob, Ry, Sam, Deb, Ron, Charlene, Laurie and her friend Rich, Brian, Kim, Adeline, Fran, Joel, John, Charlene, Neil, Cindy, Jim, and me, Johnny (19). Afterwards, 5 of us had a tasty breakfast at Laurel Deli.

Soon, we'll also dispense with these weekly emails, and you all (and anyone else!) can check out our blog that Brad has set up. We'll overlap for a few weeks, but then it will be the only place to get the email updates. Bookmark this url now. Come on, go ahead, DO IT. You know you want to: http://fogdodgers.blogspot.com/

Now here's the problem about next week. Brad and I are not back until that Sunday night, and Tom and Nancy will still be away. And when the cat's away, the mice will play. So it's a contest. Sort of. Send me your "blog", and I'll publish the "best" to the website Sunday night. You know the format. You know the venue. You know your critics. You know you can do it. You may not yet realize the challenge of trying to emulate Tom.

NEXT SUNDAY, MAY 16 @ 8 AM: A&W LOGGING ROAD (also known as Noyo River Logging Road), beginning at the Fort Bragg Police Department, corner of Franklin and Cypress.

EVERY TUESDAY @ 7 AM: RUSSIAN GULCH STATE PARK, beginning on Point Cabrillo Drive, 1/10 of a mile north of its south end.

EVERY THURSDAY @ 7 AM: VAN DAMME STATE PARK, beginning at the beach.

May 2, 2010

This morning we ran and walked the Ron Jahelka Trail at Big River. It was a balmy 49 degrees when I left Fort Bragg and there was a slight offshore breeze (read "headwind on the way back") picking up. True to May, it was a beautiful Spring morning. That's the most weather report you'll get out of me. There were plenty of birds, and Ron had a whole flock of bird watchers out there this morning too. Hopefully I didn't ruffle any few feathers zipping past them on the way back. My apologies Ron, but they reminded of the Guinea hens that always played chicken with our school bus. And I was wearing yellow.

Present were: Fran, Joel, John, Charlene, Steve, Kathy, Joyce, Elaine, Johnny, Neil, Cheryl, Cindy, Jim, Nancy T., Roger T., Mark, Nancy and Tom (18). Please forgive me if I missed anyone. I did not have my usual notepad with me at the start, and I'm not as adept at this as Tom. Afterwards, Tom and Nancy took off on vacation, and Brad joined me for a delicious breakfast at Bayview Cafe, while many apparently made the trek to The Boontling Classic 5K race, and the rest of you went home to plant your garden now that it's May (hint, hint).

Soon, we'll also dispense with the weekly emails, and you all (and anyone else!) can check out our blog that Brad has set up. We'll overlap for a few weeks, but then it will be the only place to get the email updates.

NEXT SUNDAY 5/9/10 8 AM: RUSSIAN GULCH STATE PARK, beginning on Point Cabrillo Drive, 1/10 of a mile north of its south end.

EVERY TUESDAY 7 AM: RUSSIAN GULCH STATE PARK, beginning on Point Cabrillo Drive, 1/10 of a mile north of its south end.

EVERY THURSDAY 7 AM: VAN DAMME STATE PARK, beginning at the beach.