Big River Logging Road

We enjoyed an almost full moon this morning on our way to the run/walk.  John took it's picture.

It was really cold this morning.  I mean, it was REALLY COLD.  Not so much the temperature, it was 35.  But with the wind chill, it was so un-California-like.  We still had a nice turnout though and again, it was hard for everyone to hold back until the 8:00 start time.   At Big River this morning were: Janet (a late entry here, my apologies), Craig, Greg, Ginny, Terry, Bob, John, Nancy B., Rick, Orah, Steve, Bob J., Nancy T., Rod, Nancy and Tom (16).

John also took this other photo of  Big River, thank you!

Since Van Damme didn't work out last week, we'll give it another try next Sunday.  There are a few trees across the trail but they are all fairly easy to get over or under.

NEXT SUNDAY, JAN. 6TH  @ 8:00 A.M.:  VAN DAMME STATE PARK, see "Our Routes" above.

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

EVERY THURSDAY @ 7:15 A.M.: VAN DAMME STATE PARK, beginning at the beach.

Van Damme State Park

 

Merry Christmas everybody!  Thank you, John, for taking this photo last week for the blog.

An extra star on the attendance report  this morning  for:  Ginny, Terry, Bob, John, Melissa I., Nancy and Tom (7).  They were the only brave ones to venture out this morning.  It was about 48 degrees and for the first time in my life, I could see why they say, "the rain was coming down in sheets".  You could really see the heavy bands of rain in the downpour, as they swept out of the sky, and across the highway and  parking lot.  The extremely strong  gusts kept it coming down at a 45 degree angle.
  
Full disclosure:  The seven of us didn't actually run, but we would have, had it not been for the gale winds.  We felt it just too unsafe in the forest, a forest full of sick trees.  So, it was unanimous, we all voted to head home for breakfast and a warm fire.
 
I came home to a power outage which was all fine, since I had a generator and the cable (internet access) was still in tact.  Half way thru writing this blog, the cable died and I lost the internet.  It's a little later now, the cable is back, I've rewritten the blog  and I find out from John that he didn't go straight home but instead went to the MacKerricher Haul Road and ran both with and against 50 mph winds!  Is that what is called obsessive-compulsive disorder?  Next Sunday, we'll go to one of our favorite runs, one for which we needn't worry so much about falling trees.

NEXT SUNDAY, DEC. 30TH @ 8:00 A.M.: BIG RIVER LOGGING ROAD, see "Our Routes" above.

__._,_.___

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

EVERY THURSDAY @ 7:15 A.M.: VAN DAMME STATE PARK, beginning at the beach.

Caspar Logging Road

 First of all, thanks to John L., for the Christmas/New Years wish to the right.

It was raining as we left home this morning and just a light drizzle when we arrived at our Caspar Logging Road starting point.  It was also a cool 45 degrees.  I didn't think many would show but was pleasantly surprised.  But, because we walk and run at different paces, and I have been known to get things confused, I don't know if I can separate out, those that walked or those that came for breakfast, so I hope that your name isn't omitted from our honor roll.   The walk and run actually were actually  pretty nice, as the drizzle let up, and we turned around at or near the top of the hill.  Of course, it's always fun going downhill!

 
Gay and Mark had another really nice Potluck Breakfast and Cookie Exchange.    They have the most beautiful home!  Thank you Gay and Mark! No, we didn't eat like cows but John just sent me this photo from this morning so I'm trying to get it in somewhere after the first posting.

Present this morning were:  Gay, Mark, Cheryl, Neil, Nancy B., Rick, John, Ginny, Terry, Suzanne, Henry,  Dorothy, Fran, Bob J., Kathleen, Craig, Toni, Orah, Steve, Nancy T., Roger, Joe, Nancy and Tom (24).


NEXT SUNDAY, DEC. 23RD @ 8:00 A.M.: VAN DAMME STATE PARK, see "Our Routes" above.

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

EVERY THURSDAY @ 7:15 A.M.: VAN DAMME STATE PARK, beginning at the beach.

Hare Creek

Thank you, John, for the picture of the Swithenbank's orchard and our starting point this morning.

 This morning, we ran and walked at Hare Creek, on JSF Road 400.  It was a very  cold 40 degrees but there was no wind and the skies were clear, therefore not too bad.  I guess that "Snow", that normally nice little dog, took pity on me and tried to warm my leg, yes, he peed on me!!  You are forgiven, Snow. People have accused me of being a skinny "stick person", so I guess that I deserved it!

I think that it was Gay and Mark, that invited first timer, Greg, thank you!  Besides those three, also present were:  Suzanne, Henry, Tonita, Dorothy, Fran, Melissa I., Joe, Kathleen, Craig, Cheryl, Neil, Ginny, Terry, John, Nancy T., Roger,  Sabine, Sean and Tom (22). It seems like there were more and if I forgot you, I apologize.

You don't want to miss next week.  Gay and Mark have offered to host our Annual Potluck Breakfast and Cookie Exchange.  It will immediately follow our run/walk.  They have a wonderful home and make everyone feel so welcomed and comfortable. Gay has said that she will likely do the waffle bar again.  For everyone else, bring any breakfast-like dish that you like.  For the cookie exchange, we have another "rule", that is that you must exchange the cookies that you bring, for an amount almost equal, of other's cookies.  Please, no left overs left behind.  Of course, bringing cookies is optional, if you're like me and can't stop eating them when you get home.  Mark is bringing directions to their home, to the walk/run next week, or just follow someone that has been there before.

NEXT SUNDAY, DEC. 16TH  @ 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.  From Dec. 18th until the end of January, 7:15 a.m.

EVERY THURSDAY @ 7:00 A.M.: VAN DAMME STATE PARK, beginning at the beach. From Dec. 20th until the end of January, 7:15 a.m.

MacKerricher Haul Road

It turned out to be a beautiful day for a walk.  A nice 53°, little wind and no rain.  I'm not sure if it was just a 'lazy' morning, or because everyone knew Tom was not here they felt they could skip today, but we only had 4½ people and 2 dogs to enjoy the morning.  Present at the start were John, Craig, Roger and Nancy T. plus Abby and Scout.  The "½" was Sarah, who had a delayed start (looking for her cat) - but being a fast runner caught up and passed us.  Sarah has been on a few previous Fog Dodger runs when visiting, but has now moved here permanently, so we should be seeing more of her now.

For all of you that missed the morning, here's some photos from John and Roger.

Craig, Nancy and Roger went to Cafe One for a nice breakfast.

NEXT SUNDAY, DATE @ 8:00 A.M.: HARE CREEK, JACKSON STATE FOREST ROAD 400 - 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.