Caspar Logging Roads

"A guy who has run twenty Boston Marathons was once asked, "Don't you feel like skipping a day when it's raining?"  The old road warrior replied, "If you start skipping runs because the weather's too lousy, pretty soon you start missing runs because the weather's too nice!"--Florence Griffith Joyner and John Hanc, RUNNING FOR DUMMIES.

Caspar Creek, J. Loomis photo

John couldn't make it this morning, so he snapped a few pictures a couple of days ago, if you can't tell  by the sunshine, thanks John.

I think I felt a little tremor, or a stutter in the earth's rotation, this morning at 6:00.  It must have been when everybody's  alarm clocks went off, you woke up and heard the rain, rolled over and went back to sleep.  Well, you missed a beautiful morning!   I do know that quite a few Fog Dodgers do have family and it is the Thanksgiving weekend, so I'm not implying that the rain kept all home.

J. Loomis photo

At 8:00, the rain was very light and it was 54 degrees and really nice for both walking and running.  Small group this morning: Nancy B., Joe, Fay, Bob, Nancy and Tom (6).  Recent rain and traffic on Road 600, has mashed down a lot of the loose rock that I mentioned bothering us on our last run/walk here and we all really enjoyed the morning.

Caspar Barn, J. Loomis photo

Everyone is so happy with the rain!  It was nice today, to see and hear the little tributaries to Caspar Creek, and to see how the creek itself has come up.  There is either rain or a chance of rain in the forecast everyday next week, and so I hope that the Fern Canyon Trail at Van Damme will be okay 

because,

when the banana slug came out and saw it's shadow

NEXT SUNDAY, DECEMBER 7TH @ 8:00 A.M.:  VAN DAMME STATE PARK, see "Our Routes" above.  And then,

SUNDAY, DECEMBER 14TH, PUDDING CREEK TRESTLE, followed with our Annual Pot Luck Breakfast and Cookie Exchange, at Tom and Nancy's.

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.

5th Annual Bin-2-Bin-2-Bin Run/Walk

"Like so many runners, if I don't run, I don't feel right.  I don't feel relaxed; I don't enjoy eating. " -- Fred Lebow

5th Annual Bin-2-Bin-2-Bin Run Walk, J. Loomis Photo

Well, that was great!  With so many of us traveling around at Thanksgiving time,  and from the four previous Bin-2-Bin-2-Bin Run/Walks turnouts, I am so pleased with the great turnout we had today.  Thank you all, I think we did a very nice little thing to help out our local Food Bank.

It was a good morning, weather-wise, for running and walking.  There were high clouds, no wind and 47 degrees, just about perfect!  Thank you Shari and Peter, for bringing K(C?)atherine and Nate.  I hope they enjoyed the morning.  Also present:  Geri, Donna, Steve, Charlene, Caroline, Richard, Bob J., Fay, John, Bob, Rod, Melissa, Janis, Nancy B., Rick, (should I count Kira, front-center in the photo?), Nancy and Tom (21!).  Previously, our best for this particular run/walk was in 2012, with 10.

J. Loomis photo

I think that 15 of us had breakfast at David's this morning.  I'm happy that Kira got into our photo.  She continues to treat us, and all customers, really well.  She has boundless energy and will move tables and chairs from one end of the restaurant to the other, to accommodate different sized groups.  The food is delicious and the staff, hard working, polite and efficient.   She has established a large, local and repeating customer base.  I really do feel that it's time for her to change the restaurant's name to Kira's, in order to receive the recognition she deserves. 

ANNUAL CHRISTMAS POTLUCK BREAKFAST AND COOKIE EXCHANGE, Dec. 14th, after the run/walk, at Nancy and Tom's house.

NEXT SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 30TH @ 8:00 A.M.: CASPAR LOGGING ROADS, 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.

Van Damme State Park's Fern Canyon

"Remember, the feeling you get from a good run is far better than the feeling you get from sitting around wishing you were running."-- Sarah Condor 

Van Damme State Park, J. Loomis

J. Loomis

At 8:00 this morning at Van Damme, it was 49 degrees with a thin layer of high clouds and it was calm.  There was a large number of happy, talkative people in the beach parking lot.  Lots of tent campers this morning and many people up early, that's different.

Van Damme, J. Loomis

Van Damme State Park, J. Loomis

John couldn't make it this morning.  Get this, he was out of town celebrating a reunion of his 8th Grade class.  He was very thoughtful though, to go out on Thursday and get some pictures for the blog.   Thank you very much John.

Van Damme State Park, J. Loomis

Present  today:  Neil, Bob J., Barbara, Fran, Melissa, Nichole, Katie, Bob, Maribeth, Rod, Shari, Peter, Nancy B., Rick, Nancy T., Roger, Toni, Joe, Nancy and Tom (20).

REMEMBER, POT LUCK BREAKFAST AND COOKIE EXCHANGE, 12/14 AT RILEY'S HOUSE.

Next Sunday, we will do have our Fifth Annual Bin-2-Bin-2-Bin Run/Walk.  Meet in front of Harvest Market and be ready to go at 8:00.   You buy an item of food for the Food Bank and drop it in the bin there and then head to Safeway, buy another food item and drop it in their bin, then head to Purity if you're a runner or back to Harvest if you're walking.  You finish up by buying one last item at Harvest Market and putting it into their Food Bank bin.   These food items needn't cost much, just whatever you'd like to donate to the Food Bank.  Save your receipts, they are deductible on tax day.  No matter what the weather is like, running or walking across the Noyo Bridge early in the morning is really beautiful.  Total time usually 50-60 minutes.

NEXT SUNDAY, DATE @ 8:00 A.M.:  Fifth Annual Bin-2-Bin-2-Bin Run/Walk, read the above paragraph.

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.

MacKerricher Haul Road

"I run, therefore I am.  And given the years improved fitness adds to our lives, if I did not run, maybe I would no longer be." -- Hal Higdon

J. Loomis photo, Pudding Creek

Thanks to John for this morning's photos.  He was out photographing before we arrived and then went off to run in today's race at 9:00, he's a busy person!

It was one of those very grey mornings, 54 degrees, thick and low overcast and just a slight breeze.  We ran and walked from the Pudding Creek Trestle, with some going north and some going south.  Nancy and I went south to check out the new coastal trail behind the old mill site.  It is going to be a beautiful trail when finished!

J. Loomis phot

With us this morning:  Gay, Mark, Joe, Geri, Fran, John, Nancy T., Roger,  Kathy, Steve D., Charlene,
Nancy and Tom (13).

J. Loomis 

Nancy and Roger recently returned from a lengthy trip to China.  They took many photos along the way and have invited us all to view them.  I would encourage viewing the photos, and the web site, they are truly amazing and wonderful!  www.thornburns.com/china

J. Loomis photo, Tree Dahlia

State Parks has been working on the Fern Canyon Trail at Van Damme recently.  I think it would be nice to give it a try next week.  Hopefully, any of the predicted Wednesday rain won't be enough to muddy up the recently reworked areas.

Please try to save Sunday, Dec. 14th.   After our run/walk, we will have a Potluck Breakfast and Cookie Exchange.  There is always a good turnout and lots of delicious food and good conversation.  You can bring anything you'd like, including a plate of cookies, if you would like to participate in the Cookie Exchange.  It will be at Tom and Nancy's house.

NEXT SUNDAY, NOV. 16TH @ 8:00 A.M.: VAN DAMME 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 Logging Road

"Even when I'm running I smile, because I know that I don't have to."-- John Bingham, "Who Needs A Reason", Runner's World.

J. Loomis photo.  He turned it into a pie.

 It was a little brighter this morning, since we all moved our clocks back last night.  It was a little chilly though, 46, with a stiff breeze.  One of those mornings when everyone starts moving out a little before 8:00.

J. Loomis photo, Chinese Temple

Thank you Maribeth, for bringing your son along.  Macky just recently moved here from the Phillipines.  Also present today:  Rod, Bob J., Geri, Linda, Tom T., Fay, Gay, Mark, Fran, Charlene, Suzanne, Henry, Mike, Toni, Joe, Nancy T., Roger, John, Bob, Zelda, Nancy and Tom (24 and I feel that I've missed somebody).   Blair, if you read this, please do come and check out our group!

J. Loomis, Mendocino water tower

On the lower part of the Big River Road, we couldn't see much evidence of the work that they had been doing recently.  Some of the construction waste soil has been used to fill in the rock quarry/frog pond and I'll be sorry to see that go.

J. Loomis, Mendocino water tower

 For next week, we will go back to the Pudding Creek Trestle to begin, just because we haven't been there for quite awhile.

J. Loomis, Big River rowers

Please try to save Sunday, Dec. 14th.   After our run/walk, we will have a Potluck Breakfast and Cookie Exchange.  There is always a good turnout and lots of delicious food and good conversation.  You can bring anything you'd like, including a plate of cookies, if you would like to participate in the Cookie Exchange.  It will be at Tom and Nancy's house.

NEXT SUNDAY, NOV. 9TH @ 8:00 A.M.:  PUDDING CREEK TRESTLE, 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.