CASPAR LOGGING ROADS

Thanks to John for all of today's photos, all from Caspar

It was about as close to perfect as you can get this morning.  Clear, calm, 48 degrees and we were fortunate enough to have 3 guests.  Thanks to Rick and Nancy for bringing Richard and to the Wassermans for suggesting our group to Phyllis and Jerry, all very nice folks.

Also present this morning:  Fran, Jennifer, Toni, Joe, Charlene, Ron, John, Jan, Nancy and Tom (15).




I'm not sure what the Fern Canyon Trail at Van Damme State Park will be like next Sunday.  I've heard that you can get as far as Bridge 6 before having to climb over fallen trees.  Most of the walkers do not get that far anyway.   If you have a dog to walk, you can walk thru the campground and then up the hill to the Upper Meadow Campground.  It's all very nice whichever way you go.

May 7th, Van Damme (Little River Inn?)  Many of the group like the Little River Inn periodically. Several of us will cut this walk/run short and take off for Boonville and the 10:00 a.m. start of the Boontling Classic 5K.  It's a very nice race or walk for anyone that is interested, just Google it.

May 14th, Pudding Creek Trestle

May 21st, 

May 28th, Lake Cleone - We haven't started from the lake for a long time but Nancy and I checked it out recently and thought that it would work very nicely.  Near the end of Mill Creek Drive, at MacKerricher State Park.

NEXT SUNDAY, MAY 7TH @ 8:00 A.M.:  VAN DAMME STATE PARK

EVERY TUESDAY AND THURSDAY, GROUP RUN @ 7:00 A.M.: BIG RIVER LOGGING ROAD.

NOYO HEADLANDS TRAIL - NORTH

It was beautiful morning.  We Fog Dodgers ran and walked the north half of the new Coastal Trail and a bit of the MacKerricher Haul Road.  It was 46 degrees at our start and mostly clear skies and the ocean was beautiful, with some good sized waves.

Pudding Creek Headlands, J. Loomis photo

Thank you, Fran, for bringing Jeanette and Charlie.  Also present:  Healdsburg Tony, John, Jan, Charlene, Joe, Shari, Peter, Nancy B., Cheryl N., Neil, Nancy and Tom (14).

Apple blossoms, J. Loomis photo

Yesterday was the Mendo 50, a 50 kilometer foot race, which utilizes the Big River, Russian Gulch and Caspar Creek watersheds.  We walked with Tony up Big River six miles to meet some of his Healdsburg friends and run them back to the finish line.  Walking at Big River just invites hundreds of mosquitoes to torment you.  So, next weeks planned Big River walk has been changed to Caspar.

Skunk Depot, J. Loomis photo

April 30th, Caspar Logging Roads  (St. Anthony's Mexican Breakfast?) This walk/run was previously scheduled for Big River but the mosquitoes are back now and you don't want to walk at Big River, believe me!  The Mexican Breakfast is just information for you, not a recommendation.

April 30th, Caspar Logging Roads

May 7th, Van Damme (Little River Inn?)  Many of the group like the Little River Inn periodically.

May 14th, Pudding Creek Trestle

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

EVERY TUESDAY AND THURSDAY, GROUP RUN @ 7:00 A.M.: BIG RIVER LOGGING ROAD.

Van Damme State Park

A small but determined group ran and walked in Van Damme. The weather was accommodating though the trail was mucky and added souvenirs to our shoes. Our hardy runners were John and Ron. The walkers were Joe, Peter, Shari, Charlene, Jennifer and me, Nancy. There were campers who were having a great time and not the least concerned about camping despite the likelihood it will probably be raining again soon. Most of us went home for breakfast today, though I'm pretty sure that Shari and Peter went out for breakfast! Nancy and Tom will be back next Sunday. We all will hope that we won't running or walking on mucky trails. Just to keep your spirits up,

I have added some photos of Little River, which is quite high and certainly higher than I've ever seen before. The three photos below are from me.

Crossing the river on a fallen log.

The small waterfall in full flow.

Little River is flowing fast.

Photo by John Loomis

Photo by John Loomis

Photo by John Loomis

Photo by John Loomis

April 23rd, Noyo Headlands Park - North
April 30th, Big River (St. Anthony's Mexican Breakfast?)
May 7th, Van Damme (Little River Inn?) 

NEXT SUNDAY, APRIL 23RD @ 8:00 A.M.: Noyo Headlands Park - North



NEXT SUNDAY, DATE @ 8:00 A.M.: Type location and directions here
EVERY TUESDAY AND THURSDAY, GROUP RUN @ 7:00 A.M.: BIG RIVER LOGGING ROAD.

CASPAR LOGGING ROADS

Cherry tree, J. Loomis photo

We ran and walked Jackson State Forest Road 500 this morning.  For running, it's a real challenge, to not trip and fall down, due to the road surface, which is covered with loose rock  or imbedded ones just waiting for one of our toes.  I guess it was a good morning, none of us fell down!

Flowering apple, J. Loomis photo

Present this morning:  Zelda, Neil, Shari, Peter, Tom T., Nancy B., Rick, Orah, Steve, Nancy T., Roger, Jan, John, Bob, Deb, Sam, Charlene, Ron, Toni, Joe, Nancy and Tom (22).

It was a chilly 37 degrees at our 8:00 a.m. start.  Not supposed to be that cold at this time of the year.

frosty, J. Loomis photo

Caspar Church, J. Loomis photo

After our run/walk, 19 of us enjoyed breakfast at David's.  We were asked, nicely, to try calling in our reservation at the beginning of our run/walk (8:00) instead of at the end.  They work very hard to accommodate us and we will do whatever we can, though I explained the difficulty with calling early.

Our "Jack of All Trades" John, is also an accomplished ceramicist (is that the word?).  Below are some of his recently created pots.

April 16th, Van Damme State Park
April 23rd, Noyo Headlands Park - North
April 30th, Big River (St. Anthony's Mexican Breakfast?)
May 7th, Van Damme (Little River Inn?) 

NEXT SUNDAY, APRIL 16TH @ 8:00 A.M.: VAN DAMME STATE PARK

EVERY TUESDAY AND THURSDAY, GROUP RUN @ 7:00 A.M.: BIG RIVER LOGGING ROAD.

BIG RIVER

Everything seemed just right this morning, except for missing a few of our friends.  I guess it's always that way, since we actually do have other lives.  It was a sunny, almost calm, 50 degree morning.

J. Loomis photo, trilliums

 

J. Loomis photo

Even though the day is so nice, the mosquitoes haven't yet invaded Big River.  I suspect that will change soon.

J. Loomis photo

Present today:  Bob J., Zelda, Shari, Peter, Nancy B., Rick, Charlene, Ron, John, Nancy T., Roger, Fran, Susan, Bruce, Nancy and Tom (16).

J. Loomis photo, Jack Peters Creek

I guess that it's the beginning of the tourst season, except for abalone, for which the season is shortened this year.  Six of us went to David's for breakfast and it was even busier than normal, lots of people!

April 9th, Caspar Logging Roads
April 16th, Van Damme State Park
April 23rd, Noyo Headlands Park - North

NEXT SUNDAY, APRIL 9TH @ 8:00 A.M.: CASPAR LOGGING ROADS

EVERY TUESDAY AND THURSDAY, GROUP RUN @ 7:00 A.M.: BIG RIVER LOGGING ROAD.