The Fog Dodgers invite all residents and visitors of the Mendocino Coast to join us on our weekly group runs and walks. We have runners and walkers of all abilities (and even some bikers) and we have only one "rule" - we start at exactly 8:00 a.m. on Sundays. Exercise at your own pace (1/2 hour out, 1/2 hour back) and experience the fresh Mendocino coastal air.

Fog Dodgers provides a fun, safe way to explore some of our local trails and back roads and to meet new friends. You can find out where we're going to be by reading the bottom of last week's post, then clicking on the "Our Routes" tab above. We average 15-20 persons each Sunday and typically half will go to breakfast together afterwards at a nearby restaurant.

Sunday, January 31, 2016

POMO BLUFFS - NOYO BAY

J. Loomis photo
What the heck!  Who picked this venue!!?  Obviously, I had no idea it would be like it was this morning when I chose to try this new venue.  Very interesting.  It was like a very, very cold Spring morning, 40 degrees with north winds strong enough to almost blow you over.  I thought to myself, I'll never pick this venue again but then after the turn-around, it warmed a bit and we were going with the wind and it wasn't terrible.  We may do it again but then the sun will be higher in the sky, not in our eyes and the temperature is bound to be a little warmer.

J. Loomis photo
Thank you, John, for all of today's photos.  I'm not sure they show how windy it was or how cold it was but it has potential for being a good run/walk.  The photos show it's beauty!


Those tough enough to show up today were:  Greg, Gay, Mark, Donna, Jamie, Bill, Jordan, Susan, Bruce, Cheryl, Bob, John, Jan, Nancy B., Rick, Nancy T., Roger, Toni, Joe, Mary, Ron, Jackie, Nancy and Tom (24).

This morning, Pomo Bluffs Park, J. Loomis photo
There is a very high (King) tide next Sunday around 8 a.m., so, depending upon the weather between now and then, Big River should be very interesting to see.

J. Loomis photo
SUNDAY, FEB. 7TH BIG RIVER ( a very high tide, should be pretty)
SUNDAY, FEB. 14TH, WARD AVENUE
SUNDAY, FEB. 21ST, NOYO HEADLANDS PARK NORTH (Beautiful views), see "Our Routes" above.
SUNDAY, FEB. 28TH, NAVARRO RIDGE ROAD (Great Grange Pancake Breakfast!)

NEXT SUNDAY, FEB. 7TH @ 8:00 A.M.: BIG RIVER (it will be interesting with a very high tide)

EVERY TUESDAY, 7:00 A.M.  GROUP RUN,  RUSSIAN GULCH STATE PARK

EVERY THURSDAY, 7:00 A.M., GROUP RUN, VAN DAMME STATE PARK

Sunday, January 24, 2016

TEN MILE RIVER LOGGING ROAD

This morning's sunrise at Pudding Creek, J. Loomis photo
A great morning!  Being that Ten Mile River is a longer drive for most of us, I kind of expected a small turnout.  Surprise!  Two new people, Mary and Jamie, thanks for coming!  Not just two new people but Neil was there, right on time, along with:  Heidi, Nancy T., Roger, Joe, Charlene (thanks for inviting Mary), Ron, Melissa, Katie, Jackie, Janis, Donna (thanks for bringing Jamie), John, Steve, Cyd, Joel, Nancy and Tom (19).

Alder trees at Ten Mile River, J. Loomis photo
It was 46 degrees, calm and mostly cloudy at the beginning, just perfect!  It had been awhile since we've done the Ten Mile River Logging Road and it was quite different.  Most of the blackberry vines along the edge have been mowed down and the road surface resealed and widened.  It's still a good road for almost anything, just too bad it's so far away from town.

This guy has found a way to save the commute.  He's been camped here for at least a few years.
J. Loomis photo
Next week we will park and start our run/walk from a new location, so be sure you remember where you are going next Sunday morning.  It should make for a pretty run/walk and it's always interesting, walking across the Noyo Bridge.

Today's clouds, J. Loomis photo
Just one more week of starting late (7:15) for the Tuesday/Thursday runners.  On Feb. 2nd, we will try going back to 7:00 a.m., Tuesdays at Russian Gulch and Thursdays at Van Damme.  Hopefully, it will be light enough and the trails to be  in pretty good shape.

South Fork Ten Mile River, J. Loomis photo


SUNDAY, JAN. 31ST, POMO BLUFFS- NOYO BAY (New route, see "Our Routes" above.  
SUNDAY, FEB. 7TH BIG RIVER ( a very high tide, should be pretty)
SUNDAY, FEB. 14TH, WARD AVENUE
SUNDAY, FEB. 21ST, NOYO HEADLANDS PARK NORTH (Beautiful views), see "Our Routes" above.
SUNDAY, FEB. 28TH, NAVARRO RIDGE ROAD (Great Grange Pancake Breakfast!)

NEXT SUNDAY, JAN. 31ST  @ 8:00 A.M.:  POMO BLUFFS - NOYO BAY (See "Our Routes" above.  This is a new venue, we will park and start  at Pomo Bluffs Park on Todd's Point, west and north of the college.

EVERY TUESDAY AND THURSDAY @ 7:15 A.M.: GROUP RUNS, BIG RIVER.

Sunday, January 17, 2016

CASPAR LOGGING ROADS

Point Cabrillo (on a nicer day) J. Loomis photo

I thought it actually pretty nice this morning.  Not quite like the photo above, but pretty good for what I expected.  The forecast was for moderate and heavy rain but we got lucky, just a light rain and not too much wind.  It was 56 degrees and I enjoyed the run.

John couldn't make it but he was nice enough to give us a few "local" photos.  Without his photos, the blog would be pretty boring!

J. Loomis photo, Red abalone shell
We had 4 runners and 4 walkers this morning:  Susan, Bruce, Joe, Charlene, Ron, Cyd, Nancy and Tom (8).

Caspar Church, J. Loomis photo


Caspar Bay, J. Loomis photo
I haven't been choosing Russian Gulch or Van Damme State Parks lately for several reasons, mainly they're full of puddles, mud holes and they are overgrown.  When the days get longer and drier, we will return.  For the Tuesday and Thursday runners, we will try going back to these runs and back to 7:00 a.m. starts on Feb. 2nd.

Our upcoming schedule, which may change, so check back just before you go.  There's some new routes too!

SUNDAY, JAN. 24TH, TEN MILE RIVER LOGGING ROAD
SUNDAY, JAN. 31ST, POMO BLUFFS- NOYO BAY (New route, see "Our Routes" above.  
SUNDAY, FEB. 7TH BIG RIVER
SUNDAY, FEB. 14TH, WARD AVENUE
SUNDAY, FEB. 21ST, NOYO HEADLANDS PARK NORTH, see "Our Routes" above.

NEXT SUNDAY, JAN. 24TH,  @ 8:00 A.M.: TEN MILE RIVER LOGGING ROAD, see "Our Routes" above.


EVERY TUESDAY AND THURSDAY @ 7:15 A.M.: GROUP RUNS, BIG RIVER.  On 2/2/16, these mid-week runs will revert to 7:00 a.m., Russian Gulch on Tuesdays and Van Damme on Thursdays.

Sunday, January 10, 2016

BIG RIVER LOGGING ROAD

It was kind of brisk this morning, about 40 degrees with a 5-10 mph easterly breeze.  When it's like that, people get antsy and want to get going early, they did.  Couldn't hold 'em back today, most all were on their way two minutes early.  Four of us however, were right on time.  Extra credit for Joel, Barbara, Jackie and Tom!  Demerits for everyone else!

Big River alders, J. Loomis photo

Also present this morning were:  First timer Heidi, came with Orah and Steve,  first timer Jordan, came with Bill.  Also:  Janis, Barbara, Bruce, Susan, Neil, Charlene, Ron, Cheryl, Laura, Chandra, Joel, Bob, Nancy B., Rick, Nancy T., Roger, Pat, Deb, Sam, John, Rod and Nancy (26).

Chapman's Point, J. Loomis photo

In a couple of weeks, we will try a new venue, "Pomo Bluffs - Noyo Bay",  and I am looking forward to that one.  It will start on Todd's Point (newer name is Pomo Bluffs) and go east to the highway and across the Noyo Bridge and then out to Johnson Point on the new Coastal Trail (South).  Check out the tab above, "Our Routes".  Roger has helped to rewrite and remap several of our venues.

rainbow this week, J. Loomis photo
Also, we haven't been to Ten Mile River or Navarro Ridge for a long time, so they'll be coming up very soon (by request).  They might seem like a long ways away, but they are really just 5 - 10 minutes further than Van Damme or Ward Ave., and they are both great roads for walking and running.

Blue heron, J. Loomis photo
Thanks to John, for all of today's photos.

SUNDAY, JAN. 17TH CASPAR LOGGING ROAD
SUNDAY, JAN. 24TH, TEN MILE RIVER LOGGING ROAD
SUNDAY, JAN. 31ST, POMO BLUFFS- NOYO BAY (New route, see "Our Routes" above.



NEXT SUNDAY, JAN. 17TH @ 8:00 A.M.: CASPAR LOGGING ROAD,  see "Our Routes" above.

EVERY TUESDAY AND THURSDAY @ 7:15 A.M.: GROUP RUNS, BIG RIVER.

Sunday, January 3, 2016

WARD AVENUE

J. Loomis photo, taken on a brighter day
John couldn't make it today but he sent me the above photo.  It's Lake Cleone, taken on a brighter day than today.  For today, we had about 48 degrees, cloudy skies and gusty winds out of the southeast, about 20 miles per hour.  The lake is very full, right up to the roadside and the lake parking lot was under water.  With dark clouds and sky, and with beautiful wind-blown breakers on a dark sea, it was a nice morning to be out.  Even with the wind,  it beat the chilly mornings that we've been having lately.


Bill was back for a second visit and it was nice talking with him.  Also present today:  Shari, Peter, Nancy T., Roger, Nancy B., Rick, Toni, Joe, Susan, Bruce, Joel, Gay, Mark, Neil, Nancy and Tom (17).


Now that the South Noyo Headlands Trail has been opened, we've created a new venue and reworked some of the others.  Check out the "Our Routes" tab above to make sure you are going to the right location.   I think the Pomo Bluffs - Noyo Bay venue will be very nice, going from point to point around Noyo Bay.  Thanks to Roger, for the nice job he did with reworking the maps and descriptions.

For directions to each run, see "Our Routes" above.

SUNDAY, JAN. 10TH BIG RIVER LOGGING ROAD
SUNDAY, JAN. 17TH CASPAR LOGGING ROAD
SUNDAY, JAN. 24TH, TEN MILE RIVER LOGGING ROAD
SUNDAY, JAN. 31ST, POMO BLUFFS- NOYO BAY (New route, see "Our Routes" above.

NEXT SUNDAY, JAN. 10TH @ 8:00 A.M.:   BIG RIVER LOGGING ROAD

EVERY TUESDAY AND THURSDAY @ 7:15 A.M.: GROUP RUNS, BIG RIVER.