PUDDING CREEK TRESTLE

Pudding Creek Trestle, J. Loomis photo

We had three new people this morning.  Thank you Nick, Susan and Bruce, for joining with us today.  We hope that you'll be able to return often.  It's so nice to have new people join in.

It was a beautiful and warm morning at 8:00 a.m., something that is beginning to happen all too often.  It seems funny, or wrong, to worry about too much good weather.  Let's just enjoy it while we can.

A Gorse monster, J. Loomis photo

I was distracted this morning with some kind of RV Show.  I swear, someone asked us to bring those things............... but we were happy to show them too.  Anyway, I'm afraid that I was not attentive to who all was there, and I didn't even get to meet the first timers until much later.  Thanks to Roger, the whole group got going at exactly 8:00.

Summer sunflower, J. Loomis photo

Others present today:  Cyd, Katie, Chandra, Cindy, Jim, Randy, John, Toni, Joe, Deb, Sam, Geri, Nancy B., Orah, Steve, Nancy T., Roger, Ron, Nancy and Tom (23).

North Coast View, J. Loomis photo

Sun. Aug. 2, Big River
Sun. Aug. 9, Van Damme
Sun. Aug. 16th, Caspar Logging Roads
Sun. Aug. 23rd, Pudding Creek Trestle
Sun. Aug. 30, Russian Gulch
Sun. Sept. 6, Big River 

NEXT SUNDAY, AUG. 2ND @ 8:00 A.M.: BIG RIVER, see "Our Routes" above.  Also, at this time of the year, some mosquito repellant is a good idea, unless it's real windy, then you don't need it.


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 AVENUE

J. Loomis photo, Lake Cleone

Not sure of where to start here.  Should I defend the confusion I was alleged to have caused last week?  Nah, I don't think so.  No more speed reading, folks!  I'll start by saying this was one of those mornings that we only get a few of each year.  It was warm, sunny, calm and the ocean was beautiful. You couldn't asked for a prettier morning.

J. Loomis photo

I think we may have had a record turnout.  Let's see, there was:  Neil, thank you Neil for bringing daughter, Aviva (love that name!), son, Jules, and 5 other nieces, nephews and in-laws, Pat, Geri, Cheryl, Laura, Shari, Peter, Nancy T., Roger, Donna, and thanks for bringing friend, Nancy, John, Charlene, Ron, Katie, Tabi, Linnaea, Zavier, Gay, Mark,  Nancy and Tom (29).  No, not a record but a very nice turnout.

J. Loomis photo, vulture

I post these "future"venues if you wish to mark your calendars and to help the guest bloggers in case I don't show up.  DO NOT LOOK AT THEM AND ASSUME THAT THEY ARE FOR THE CURRENT WEEK.  Also, there is no one location that is best for all of us.  I keep using the same old places.  If anyone has a new route that would accommodate a dozen cars and walkers and runners of all abilities, I would welcome it.  If you really love one of our current venues, I'd like to hear that too.

Sun. Aug. 2, Big River
Sun. Aug. 9, Van Damme
Sun. Aug. 16th, Caspar Logging Roads
Sun. Aug. 23rd, Pudding Creek Trestle
Sun. Aug. 30, Russian Gulch
Sun. Sept. 6, Big River 

J. Loomis photo

NEXT SUNDAY, JULY 26 @ 8:00 A.M.: PUDDING CREEK TRESTLE, see "Our Routes" above.  Starting here, you can go north on the Haul Road or South on the new Coastal Trail.  Both directions very pretty.

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 AND Ward Avenue

For those that make it, the J-H waterfall

Well this morning's walk added a small extra element of interest. 7 of the group that had not had their early cup of coffee before checking the location of today's walk, misread Tom's blog and went to Ward Avenue.  The rest of us, 13, went to the correct location, Russian Gulch. In mitigation however, I have to say Tom, the way you wrote the blog did require careful reading to get it right!

It was a lovely warm morning, about 60 deg.  Altogether there were 20 walkers - Cindy, Cheryl W, Donna, Jackie, Joe, Toni, Laura, Michael C, Neil, Cheryl, Peter, Shari, Ron, Charlene, Nancy B, Zelda, Pat, Leon, Roger and Nancy T.

The Jug Handle Bridge

To add even more interest to the morning, 5 from each group decided to go to breakfast. The speed reader group had the foresight to book a table at David's for 5. So when the 5 careful readers arrived, Kira gave us the reserved Fogdodgers table.  We just assumed Kira was clairvoyant. When the other 5 arrived, Kira, with her positive, can do attitude (what a wonderful world it would be if it were full of Kiras), gave us another table reserved for 10 (how serendipitous was that), and found a table for the other group by the time they arrived.

For those that missed the Salmon Barbeque, July 4th.

So the morning turned out to great for everyone.  And just so there's no confusion, next Sunday, the 19th July, the walk IS at Ward Avenue.

NEXT SUNDAY, July 19th @ 8:00 A.M.: Ward Ave

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.
For the following 2 Sundays:
Sun. July 26th, Pudding Creek Trestle
Sun. Aug. 2, Big River

CASPAR LOGGING ROAD

          John's version of a fireworks display.  Thank you, John, for all of today's pictures.

Thank you, Ron, for bringing your sister, Sandy, and her husband, Jim.  Jim ran with us and is a good, steady runner.  It was also nice to have Joel with us today, out in front on his bike.  Also present this morning, Charlene, Fran, Geri, Tom T., Tabi, Toni, Joe, Jackie, Bob, John, Cyd, Nancy B., Nancy T., Roger, Steve, Nancy and Tom (21).

J. Loomis photo

It was 58 degrees, overcast and calm at 8:00 this morning, perfect for running or walking.  The Caspar Logging Roads, both 500 and 600, are kind of rocky but otherwise great for walking, running and biking.  It was a nice morning and 12 of us capped it off by going to David's for breakfast.

J. Loomis photo

Sun. July 19th, Ward Ave.

Sun. July 26th, Pudding Creek Trestle
Sun. Aug. 2, Big River

NEXT SUNDAY, JULY 12TH @ 8:00 A.M.:  RUSSIAN GULCH, 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.