Caspar Logging Roads

"Laziness is nothing more than the habit of resting before you get tired."--Jules Renard

A great morning!  Somewhere near 50 degrees, with clear and calm skies and a real nice turnout of happy, friendly people!

  Best of all, a new runner showed up, Nikki.  Hopefully, Nikki will join us often and she reminds me, that I need to do a better job of recruiting runners.  They're out there.

                                          Thanks to John for this morning's great pictures!

 Also present this morning:  Bob, John, Nichole, Katie, Nancy B., Rick, Cheryl N., Neil, Linda, Tom T., Orah, Steve, Nancy T., Roger, Fay, Jim, Toni, Joe, Geri, Shari, Peter, Donna,  Nancy and Tom (25).

Last week, I mentioned seeing so many broken sand dollars and asked why there weren't more whole ones.  I would like to thank Deb, for coming up with the answer.  Deb said,

"Hi Tom, Seagulls peck the centers of sand dollars looking for a tiny bit of food. They are a kind of sea urchin. That's why they are all broken or center pecked. Cheers, Deb"  

I Googled this after Deb had written to me and learned all kinds of neat stuff about sand dollars and sea gulls but I won't bore you with all the details.  Mainly though, they are much softer and tastier when alive or recently deceased, not white and brittle as we find them. Thank you, Deb, and I've given you 10 bonus points in the Fog Dodger scorebook.

It's Memorial Day Weekend.   I give thanks to all those that sacrificed their lives for us.


We haven't walked or ran the Ten Mile River Logging Road since Sept. 8th of last year.  I don't use it too much because I know it is a little further for some of us to drive.  But, it is so worth the extra 5 minutes (north of Ward Ave.), that you're missing out on a nice route if you choose not to come.

NEXT SUNDAY, JUNE 1ST @ 8:00 A.M.:  TEN MILE RIVER LOGGING ROAD , see "Our Routes" above.  Mile post 69.22, Hwy. One

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.

Ward Ave. and mystery boat

"An object at rest tends to stay at rest and an object in motion tends to stay in motion...." Newton's First Law Of Motion

J. Loomis photo

Pedestrian underpass, Ward Ave.
J. Loomis

We met at Ward Ave., MacKerricher State Park, this morning.  The conditions were perfect for a walk or run, 54 degrees, calm and overcast.  I think the tide was a -1.6 at 8:00 a.m. and therefore there was a lot of wet sand to run and walk on.  

J. Loomis photo

Present today:  Cheryl, Neil, Nancy B., Rick, Jim,  Toni, Joe, Charlene, Joel, Randy, Bob, Nichole, Katie, Melissa, Geri, John, Nancy and Tom (18).  I think I've missed someone, I'm sorry.

J. Loomis photo

About a mile and a half up the beach, we came upon an upside down small boat.  It appeared to have been floating upside down for quite some time before coming ashore and so naturally, our first thoughts were of Fukushima Tsunami debris and radioactive things, not touching that!  An interesting sight though.  The tide was so far out, it was fun running along the shore, far seaward from our normal path.  We find thousands of broken sand dollars but very few whole ones, why is that?





                                                                                             
Thanks to John for all of our photos, very nice as always.

J. Loomis photo

Nine of us enjoyed breakfast at David's this morning.  Next week, my new favorite, I think, Caspar Logging Road.  Hope to see everyone there.
NEXT SUNDAY, 5/25/14 @ 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.

Big River Logging Road

"How would you describe the worst run you ever had? Precious!" -- Hal Higdon

We ran and walked at Big River this morning.  It was about 50 degrees but with just enough of a breeze to to keep the mosquitoes hunkered down.  Rick and Nancy B. brought two friends along, Merry and Bobby, thanks to all for coming.

Also present were:  Katie, Nichole, Melissa, Jennifer, Henry, Cheryl N., Neil, Mike, Bob J., Charlene, Ron, Bob, Cheryl, Rod, John, Nancy T., Roger, Toni, Joe, Steve, Orah, Geri, Nancy and Tom (28).

Next week, at 8:00 a.m. on Sunday, there is a very low tide.  We will go to Ward Ave. and for those that like beach walking or running, it will be terrific.  Hopefully, it won't be too windy.

Eight of us had a nice breakfast today at David's.  Kira was really busy trying to accommodate all the Mother's Day groups.

Thanks to John L. for the nice photos for the day.

I'm probably forgetting something here but I'm in a hurry.  Off to Ukiah for Mother's Day and I hope everyone is having a good day.  See you next Sunday!










NEXT SUNDAY, May 18th @ 8:00 A.M.:  WARD AVENUE, see "Our Routes" above.  There will be a very good low tide, for those that want to walk or run on the beach.

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.

Russian Gulch

"We're talking about a social movement.  It was something that...... was growing, the idea that you could train at any age, that almost anyone could run a marathon if they ran slow enough, and were patient and drank enough liquid along the way." --Kenny Moore on the birth of the running movement in the 1970s

Great morning for a run or hike at Russian Gulch.  It was a "warm" 56 degrees, calm and cloudy.  On our way back, we got sprinkled by a light shower, not bad at all.   It was probably perfect for John, who walked a bit with us and then took off early to do the Boontling Classic 5K.  He was hoping that it wouldn't be too warm.  Because he was short on time this morning, he gave me a photo of Russian Gulch taken earlier.  It looks like a summer morning photo??

Russian Gulch 

Also, because John has done so much for this blog, I'm putting this Art Class Flyer in for him.   If you have the time, it would be something fun  to do.

Present this morning:  Geri, Nancy T., Roger, Mark, Charlene, Ron, Cheryl, Melissa, Nancy B., Rick, Barbara, Joel, John, Bob, Fran, Nancy and Tom (17).


                       
NEXT SUNDAY, May 11th @ 8:00 A.M.:  BIG RIVER, see "Our Routes" above and remember to bring mosquito repellant, if they like you.   The following Sunday, May 18th, has a very low tide at our time and we will go to Ward Ave.  Lots of firm beach to walk or run on.

I'm adding this footnote a little late, Thursday, the 8th.  Joel mentioned to me the last time we went to Big River, that if you park a few hundred feet  to the west of our normal spot (near where they launch the boats and kayaks), there are no mosquitos there.  I don't know how to start this now, should delegate someone to be the first one there and direct all those arriving later, but I won't, maybe next time.

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.