Merry Christmas!

Thank you, John, for the seasonal pic!

Merry Christmas, everybody! I didn't know what to expect this morning, kind of guessed that there'd be only 3 or 4 of us (those with OCD?) but what a pleasant surprise, there were 10! Certainly don't blame anyone for being home (or away) with their families on this special morning but for those of us that were able to make it to MacKerricher, we were rewarded with a beautiful morning run or walk. It was 39 degrees, calm and mostly cloudy at the start but coming back saw the low clouds give way to beautiful blue skies and thin high clouds.

Present were: Orah, Steve, Charlene, Ron, Johnny, Tom and we have John to thank for bringing Barbara, his son Jason and future d-i-l, Summer (10). It was a great start to a beautiful Christmas Day.

HELLLLOOOO? I mentioned last week, for the next six months or so, I am going to continue posting the blog but will also moderate a Yahoo Group website. If you will send me your e-mail address ( triley@mcn.org), I will send you an invite to join the Yahoo Group. It will be by invitation only to eliminate any possible spammers and the like. I'm just doing this because I continue to get comments from people that miss the old e-mail reminders. On the Yahoo Group, you can choose to receive an automatic e-mail for each message or to just go to the web site when you're curious as to what is going on. We'll see what happens.

NEXT SUNDAY, NEW YEAR'S DAY, @ 8:00 A.M.: VAN DAMME STATE PARK (see "Our Routes" above. What a great way to start the new year!

EVERY TUESDAY thru 1/17 @ 7:15 A.M. thereafter, 7:00 A.M.: RUSSIAN GULCH STATE PARK, beginning on Point Cabrillo Drive, 1/10 of a mile north of its south end.

EVERY THURSDAY @ thru 1/19th, 7:15 A.M., thereafter, 7:00 A.M.: VAN DAMME STATE PARK, beginning at the beach.

Noyo River Logging Road

Or, A&W Road, whichever you prefer. It was a calm, grey, 40 degree morning, as we met at the Fort Bragg Police Department at 8:00 a.m. Always nice to meet new people and today we had the pleasure of meeting Caroline and Richard, friends and neighbors of Charlene and Ron, also present. Besides those four, present today were: Gay, Mark, Cindy, Jim, Tanya, Melissa, John, Johnny, Kathy, Steve, Toni, Geri, Fran, Nancy B., Rick, Rod, Orah, Steve, Nancy and Tom (24).


Christmas color and spirit provided by John Loomis, thanks John.


We had a potluck breakfast and cookie exchange afterwards at Nancy and Tom's. I should give thanks to the Cookie God, as most of the cookies were gone after everyone had left. There was, as always, lots and lots of food, coffee, champagne and wonderful conversation. We all have so much to learn from and share with one another. It is a great group of people.

For the next six months or so, I am going to continue posting the blog but will also moderate a Yahoo Group website. If you will send me your e-mail address ( triley@mcn.org), I will send you an invite to join the Yahoo Group. It will be by invitation only to eliminate any possible spammers and the like. I'm just doing this because I continue to get comments from people that miss the old e-mail reminders. On the Yahoo Group, you can choose to receive an automatic e-mail for each message or to just go to the web site when you're curious as to what is going on. We'll see what happens.

NEXT SUNDAY, Christmas Day @ 8:00 A.M.: MacKerricher Haul Road, see "Our Routes" above. The last Sunday Group Run/Walk on Christmas Day was in 2005. There were 7 in attendance but 3 of those have moved away. Don't know if anyone will make it this year but yes, there will be a Group Run/Walk. (It's the best thing you can give yourself, or those you love!)

EVERY TUESDAY @ 7:00 A.M.: RUSSIAN GULCH STATE PARK, beginning on Point Cabrillo Drive, 1/10 of a mile north of its south end.

EVERY THURSDAY @ 7:00 A.M.: VAN DAMME STATE PARK, beginning at the beach.

Hare Creek, Jackson State Forest

Hare Creek was pretty this morning, very "winter-like". It was 42 degrees, calm and with a thick grey overcast. Throw in lots of fallen leaves and a few mud puddles and you get the idea. It was fun though and present were: Suzi, Fran, Orah, Steve, Johnny, Bob, John, Nancy B., Rick, Nancy T., Roger, Nancy and Tom (13). Afterwards, seven of us met with Brad for breakfast at David's, very, very good.

John took this picture of Noyo Harbor and a crab boat yesterday, similar to this morning but with a lower fog/overcast.


Next Sunday, we will have our Annual Christmas Potluck Breakfast and Cookie Exchange. Bring any breakfast type dish you'd like and if you bring cookies (optional) to exchange, remember to take home as many as you brought!!! After the run/walk, follow someone to Tom and Nancy's house, if you are unsure of our location. These are always great breakfasts and lots of fun, please try to make it.

And John wouldn't "beat his own drum" but I will. I had this nice photo of some of ceramic pots that he made this year. He's a man of many talents!

NEXT SUNDAY, 12/18/11 @ 8:00 A.M.: Noyo River Logging Road, aka A&W Road, see "Our Routes" above.

EVERY TUESDAY @ 7:00 A.M.: RUSSIAN GULCH STATE PARK, beginning on Point Cabrillo Drive, 1/10 of a mile north of its south end.

EVERY THURSDAY @ 7:00 A.M.: VAN DAMME STATE PARK, beginning at the beach.

Ten Mile River logging road

 It must be the continuing gorgeous weather that gave such a great turnout this morning of 21 people - even without our leader - Tom and Nancy.  Roll on climate change!

The first part of ten-mile has that steep hill, which, when we started, hadn't had the benefit of basking in the beautiful morning sun, so it would have been more appropriate to have worn ice skates than walking boots.  Still Jan & Marc, John L., Suzie, Gay & Mark, Johnny, Nancy B., Steve & Ora, Dorothy, Nick, Neil, Toni, Cindy & Jim, Fran, Randy, Randy (of rompingradishes.com fame) and Roger & Nancy all managed to get down (and up) the hill without needing the services of a doctor.

The picture I've included is one I took on last weeks walk, and is a wild rose seen on the Navarro Ridge Road.

As I get to write this weeks blog, I guess I can take the opportunity to do a little advertising. I created and maintain a number of websites, one of which has grown to be quite a project.  It started off supporting our local model railway, but has grown into a great reference for all the local logging and railroad history.  Take a look at www.mendorailhistory.org - which now has over 500 pages, 3,000 photographs and 100 videos.

John just sent me a photo he took this morning of Ten Mile River and Bridge.  I've added here on the right.

NEXT SUNDAY, 11th Dec @ 8:00 A.M.: Hare Creek, Jackson State Forest Road 400 (off Hwy. 20 - see our routes)
EVERY TUESDAY @ 7:00 A.M.: RUSSIAN GULCH STATE PARK, beginning on Point Cabrillo Drive, 1/10 of a mile north of its south end.
EVERY THURSDAY @ 7:00 A.M.: VAN DAMME STATE PARK, beginning at the beach.