Van Damme State Park

It was a perfect day with a warm sun and cool air. The parking area was totally filled up with abalone divers and kayakers this morning. If we hadn't parked early we wouldn't have been able to walk there this morning. 

On our way out we had a close encounter with a black Infinity sedan with two kayaks on the roof. The driver drove into the park at about 25-30 MPH as we were walking out, close to the entrance, and wouldn't slow down. I was walking with two or three others and had wandered into the center of the road when I saw the car approaching in a big hurry. Wouldn't slow down when we waved them to and then they turned around and left just as fast. Unfortunately none of us were able to catch the license plate number for the ranger who saw the car but had just arrived and wasn't able to read it either.

Van Damme Trail with Bridge by J. Loomis

Van Damme 2014, by J. Loomis

 

Morning at Van Damme, by J. Loomis

 

 

 

 

 

 

    
We were a group of 16 including guests and the regular cast of characters. Some of us went to the Caspar breakfast and the rest went to the Little River Inn. The were only three runners this morning and the rest walked.

Van Damme Rock Island, by J. Loomis

The park was pretty full too. Lots of visitors this weekend! Hope to see you next week at Russian Gulch.

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

SUNDAY, OCT. 4TH, RUSSIAN GULCH STATE PARK
SUNDAY, OCT. 11TH, BIG RIVER LOGGING ROAD
SUNDAY, OCT. 18TH, WARD AVE.
SUNDAY, OCT. 25TH, CASPAR LOGGING ROADS
SUNDAY, NOV. 1ST, PUDDING CREEK TRESTLE (maybe the south half will be open?)

NEXT SUNDAY, OCTOBER 4TH @ 8:00 A.M.:  RUSSIAN GULCH STATE PARK

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 ROADS

J. Loomis photo

It was a beautiful morning!  I think that it was 51 degrees when we started, with clear, sunny skies and no breeze.  Our incredible weather continues, though I know it's actually called a severe drought. Predictions for El Nino are all over the place.  Some say we will get lots of rain, some say very little. I know that whatever happens, it is going to take many very rainy years to replenish the underground reservoirs.  They should start building more and bigger desalination plants now.

J. Loomis photo

Present today were:  Melissa, Katie, Susan, Bruce, Neil, Geri, Nancy T., Roger, Joe, Deb, Sam, John, Nancy and Tom (14).

One more day and I should be safe!  J. Loomis photo

Having fallen down a couple of times lately, I should say, having tripped, and being told by the doctors at the ER, to stop running and maybe try Tai Chi, we were very aware of how rocky the Caspar Logging Roads are.   We kept telling ourselves to "pick up your feet!".  I just cannot go back to our local hospital!   John, Nancy and I really enjoyed today's run otherwise.  It was nice also to have Bruce and Otis with us for part of the run.

SUNDAY, SEPT. 27TH, VAN DAMME STATE PARK
SUNDAY, OCT. 4TH, RUSSIAN GULCH STATE PARK
SUNDAY, OCT. 11TH, BIG RIVER LOGGING ROAD
SUNDAY, OCT. 18TH, WARD AVE.
SUNDAY, OCT. 25TH, CASPAR LOGGING ROADS
SUNDAY, NOV. 1ST, PUDDING CREEK TRESTLE (maybe the south half will be open?)

NEXT SUNDAY, 27TH @ 8:00 A.M.:  VAN DAMME STATE PARK

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.

PUDDING CREEK TRESTLE

today's photos compliments of J. Loomis

John was out of town today, so I'm using some old photos that he had sent.  They show where we were this morning but do not reflect what we saw.  It was very foggy this morning.  I never even saw the ocean, even though we were within 50 yards of it at times.

view from the coastal trail on a prettier day

We ran on the new coastal trail.  Only the north half of it is open, the south half reportedly will open in several weeks.  We had 5 runners:  Laura, Randy, Cheryl, Nancy and Tom.   Also had 5 walkers:  Shari, Peter, Susan, Bruce and Fran.  A small group, probably because of Wine Song occurring yesterday.

Next Sunday we will meet at one of our best venues, Caspar Logging Road.  The roads there are all Jackson State Forest, so you can walk your dog, ride your bike, walk or run without restrictions.

SUNDAY, SEPT.. 20TH, CASPAR LOGGING ROADS
SUNDAY, SEPT. 27TH, VAN DAMME STATE PARK
SUNDAY, OCT. 4TH, RUSSIAN GULCH STATE PARK
SUNDAY, OCT. 11TH, BIG RIVER LOGGING ROAD
SUNDAY, OCT. 18TH, WARD AVE.

NEXT SUNDAY, SEPT. 20TH @ 8:00 A.M.:  CASPAR LOGGING ROADS

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

Fall is in the air.  Though it was sunny and 49 this morning at Big River with just a slight breeze, several commented that it was nippy.

thanks, John, for today's photos

Also, the days are getting shorter and this morning, we had the low rising sun right in our eyes as we took off.  Not complaining here, it was a beautiful morning!

Present today:  Susan, Bruce, Fran, Bob J., Deb, Sam, Lisa, Tabi, Linnaea, Zavier, Cheryl, Charlene, Ron, Shari, Peter, Geri, Nancy B., Rick, Toni, Joe, John, Nancy and Tom (23).

Afterwards, 12 of us enjoyed breakfast at David's.

The south half of the "new coastal trail" will soon be opening.  That will make for a great, approximately one hour run, from the Pudding Creek Trestle to the Noyo Bridge (or thereabouts).  Right now, with only the north half open, it's about a half hour run or a one hour walk.  Next Sunday, we will check out the north half and probably some of the MacKerricher Haul Road.

Future run/walks:  I post these now, for the benefit of "guest" bloggers, so that they won't have to guess at where we've been lately.  I do it myself, so that I try not to do the same venue too frequently.

John sent me five photos today.  He has a good eye for interesting shots and his photos make the blog look, well, like a blog, but nice.  Thank you, John!

SUNDAY, SEPT. 13TH, PUDDING CREEK TRESTLE
SUNDAY, SEPT.. 20TH, CASPAR LOGGING ROADS
SUNDAY, SEPT. 27TH, VAN DAMME STATE PARK
SUNDAY, OCT. 4TH, RUSSIAN GULCH STATE PARK
SUNDAY, OCT. 11TH, BIG RIVER LOGGING ROAD
SUNDAY, OCT. 18TH, WARD AVE.

NEXT SUNDAY, SEPT. 13TH @ 8:00 A.M.:  PUDDING CREEK TRESTLE

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.  Soon, the Thursday morning run will move to Big River, at least thru the winter.  I'll let you know.