Russian Gulch State Park

Photo from John L.

Another perfect morning for running and hiking. We met at Russian Gulch under clear, calm skies with the temperature at 51 degrees. Present were: John, Johnny, Joel, Bob, Jan, Marc, Cheryl, Neil, Dorothy, Fran, Shari, Peter, Nancy and Tom (14). After the run/walk, 6 of us hung around and helped the State Park Foundation's Park Champions Program do trail work on the Fern Canyon Trail. We were all really happy with the improvements that we were able to accomplish. We will be able to use this trail more often now and keep our feet clean!

The new State Parks Administration is now willing to allow us, the Fog Dodgers, to do minor trail maintenance on these trails that we run and hike on. I would like your name if you are willing to volunteer periodically for "light" trail work. I need names because we need to go to the S.P. Area Office at Russian Gulch to sign up and get briefed before they will "turn us loose". John DeLuca, Supervising Ranger, is willing to meet with us all at once or two or three at a time and it won't take long to do it. Please send me your name, triley(AT)mcn.org .

NEXT SUNDAY, May 6th @ 8:00 A.M.: Big River Logging Road (see "Our Routes" above). Five or six of us will turn around early and head to Boonville for The Boontling Classic, 5K Race/Competitive Walk, which begins at 10:00. If you haven't been there and done that, it's a fun one with lots of Raffle Prizes!

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.

Navarro Ridge Road

Thank you, John L.

It couldn't get much better! It's Springtime here but it looked a lot like summer. Along the coast and in the river canyons lie a thick blanket of fog. Driving up Navarro Ridge, we broke into sunshine and bright blue, 50 degree skies, just a hundred feet west of the Grange. Our walk/run along the ridge just couldn't be better. It was a beautiful morning, enjoyed by: Nancy T. and Roger, Tanya, Bob, John, Nancy B. and Rick, Cindy and Jim, Fran, Dorothy, Nancy and Tom (13). Seven stayed on for breakfast at the Grange.

For next week, please read last week's blog entry regarding volunteer work at Russian Gulch State Park. For those interested in helping our State Parks, you could stick around after our run/walk and do a little work. Also, please note in that same blog entry, that I would like names of Fog Dodgers that would be interested in helping to maintain the Russian Gulch trail. This is in addition to the one day effort next Sunday. Please send your name to me at triley(AT)mcn.org . We have a "core" group already, made up of those that run Russian Gulch each Tuesday but would like more names, doesn't matter whether you run or walk. Do you prune?

NEXT SUNDAY, April 29 @ 8:00 A.M.: Russian Gulch State Park, 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.

Big River

Another great day on the coast and another good turnout.  It must be spring!  Tom tells me it was 47° when we started - while the rest of were just excited that we didn't have to face that strong wind that often funnels along the Big River.

There were 21 of us this morning, plus 3 dogs.  Tom & Nancy, Nancy & Roger, Nancy & Rick, Marc & Jan, Larry, Toni, Peter & Shari, Tom T, Fran, Neil, Joel, Ron & Charlene, Bob, Elaine, and John L (with thanks for the photo of Mendocino early this morning).  Breakfast for 12 followed at Davids where we apparently helped train their new chef!

The letter below is from John Deluca, Area Superintendant of State Parks. If any of you would be interested in doing a little volunteer work on the trails at Russian Gulch, please let me know at triley@mcn.org. I will be contacting John about what all he has in mind and what time is best for a meeting. I don't know if we all will have to attend a meeting or if Nancy and I can represent us. At this time we are just interested in seeing how many of our group would be willing to help. 
Tom

Hi Tom,

I wanted to give you a heads up for a volunteer work day that is scheduled for the end of the month. The California State Parks Foundation’s Parks Champions Program will host a volunteer workday that will focus on the Fern Canyon Trail at Russian Gulch. The workday is scheduled for April 29, 2012 from 9am to 1pm. Advance registration is required and this can be done on line by following the link below. Please spread the word to Fog Dodger members.

Also, I would like to sign up interested Fog Dodgers as State Parks volunteers so we can start planning regular work days to improve the Fern Canyon Trail at Russian Gulch. Please let me know if there is a date and time that would work best for your group to meet at the District Office to start the sign up process.

http://calparks.org/programs/volunteer/park-champions/

Take care,

John De Luca

NEXT SUNDAY, April 22nd @ 8:00 A.M.: NAVARRO RIDGE (with breakfast at the Grange)
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.

CASPAR LOGGING ROAD

Happy Easter! For our traditional Easter Egg Run/Walk, we met at the Caspar Logging Road. It was a little cool, 39 degrees but otherwise a beautiful morning. Present were: Jeff, John, Bob, Charlene, Ron, Nancy B., Rick, Laurie, Toni, Larry, Orah, Steve, Tom T., Gay, Mark, Nancy T., Roger, Johnny, Nancy and Tom (20).



Starting out straight up Road 500, it didn't take long to figure out that something wasn't right, that the Easter Bunny hadn't been here. In the past, eggs have always been plentiful right from the start. So, after a few hundred yards we turned around, returned to the starting point, and then checked out the parallel bike trail. Eggs everywhere!! I don't know if the Easter Bunny had a helper this year or what but he left behind many, many eggs! It was really a good trail to have an Easter Egg hunt on and I think all had a good time.

Thanks to John L. for the photo. He sent others but I can't get them in here for some reason.

NEXT SUNDAY, 4/15/12 @ 8:00 A.M.: Big River Logging Road (Ron Jahelka Trail) because the forecast calls for showers just about every day this week.

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

Photos by John L., thank you!

It was a beautiful morning and all the Nancys were back! We were at Ten Mile River, it was 40 degrees but with the calm and clear sky it didn't seem that cold.

It's a long drive for some and so I was happy to see such a good turnout. We even had a new runner, Jeff! Also present were: Nancy B., Rick, Neil, Jenny, Joel, Toni, Larry, Jan, Marc, Gay, Mark, Nancy T., Roger, Randy E., Johnny, John, Shari, Peter, Nancy and Tom (21).

Brad joined 15 of us for breakfast at David's.

Next Sunday is Easter. Besides visiting many homes in the area, the Easter Bunny will be hopping and running up JSF Road 500 (Caspar Logging Rd.) early next Sunday. Join us, and bring a couple of plastic bags (one to carry found eggs and one to return empty egg shells, or bring the shells back next week).

NEXT SUNDAY, April 8th @ 8:00 A.M., CASPAR LOGGING 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.