BIG RIVER LOGGING ROAD

clouds, J. Loomis photo

I think it was about 47 degrees when we started.  We had clear, blue skies and a good turnout.

Present were:  Melissa, Gay, Mark, Lisa, Fran, Nancy T., Bob J., Charlene, Ron, Cheryl, Neil, Joe, Nancy B., Rick, Deb, Sam, John, Bob, Nancy and Tom (20).

foggy Big River, not today, J. Loomis photo

Over breakfast, Sam and I were talking about the Grange/Church breakfasts that we used to go to.  Navarro Ridge seemed a bit too far away for some and so we do not go there but maybe once a year.  Inglenook (Fort Bragg Grange) was too busy and we couldn't be seated together.  St. Anthony's Pancake breakfast was eliminated because of the Catholic Church opposition too gay marriage.  These were all good breakfast venues and we may return to going to them, but for the past few years, Kira and the crew at David's have treated us as "specials" and really do go out of their way to keep us coming back.  We might just try one of the Grange/Church again before long, so stay tuned.

foggy bay at  Jack Peters Creek, J. Loomis photo

Note:
While I'm still thinking about breakfast, today four of our group could not stay for breakfast at David's because we didn't have seats reserved and also because Kira keeps our big round table reserved until 9:15 and then lets it go.  Today, it was past 9:15 when we arrived and we had no idea how many were coming.  In the future, Kira will hold our big table until we arrive or cancel.  What we need to do though, is to let whoever is counting noses for breakfast (usually at 8:00) know of our plans to attend and then try to leave promptly upon completing our run/walk.  I feel real bad for the four today that had to leave for lack of seats.  Please don't give up on the breakfasts, we just need to plan a little better.  Breakfasts give us a good opportunity to talk with someone that you didn't get to during the walk/run.


Sunday, April 7th, Coastal Trail - North (Glass Beach)

Sunday, April 14th, Caspar Logging Roads

Sunday, April 21st, Ward Avenue (a good minus tide, right when we start, if you want to beach walk)

Sunday, April 28th, Coastal Trail - South (Taco Bell)

NEXT SUNDAY, April 7th, @ 8:00 A.M.: Coastal Trail - North (Glass Beach)

EVERY TUESDAY AND THURSDAY, GROUP RUN @ 7:00 A.M.: BIG RIVER LOGGING ROAD ON TUESDAY AND HEESER DRIVE/MENDOCINO ON THURSDAY.

VAN DAMME STATE PARK

It was 41 degrees and clear this morning at Van Damme State Park.  A sad morning for all.

Spring Ranch barns, Little River

It had been several months since our group had been to Van Damme, much longer than that for me.  Since the last time we were there, heavy rains caused the creek to rise, erode and ruin at least half of the trail between the campground and Bridge 7.  We couldn't go beyond Bridge 7 due to a large puddle completely covering the trail, edge to edge.

J. Loomis photo

Thanks to John for today's photos, taken on other days but still nice to look at.  I continue to have difficulty with "Blogger" with the placement and editing of photos, if you were wondering.

Present  today:  Jeanette, Sue, Lisa, Deb, Sam, Fran, Cheryl, Neil, Shari, Peter, John, Toni, Joe, Catherine, Charlene, Nancy, Tom,  Nancy T. and Roger's son Keith. (19)  We all will miss Roger.

Future venues, and please let me know if there is one of our venues that you'd like to do more often.

Sunday, March 31, Big River (mosquitoes aren't back yet and the road is repaired, sort of).  Editing this in later;  Now, on Friday the 29th, I can say that we ran here on this past Tuesday and with all of the recent rainfall, the potholes are already back but not as severe.  This is too good of a venue to eliminate.  I hope that you can make it.  I would suggest that you leave home a minute early and just "creep" through the potholes.  There aren't too many.

Sunday, April 7th, Coastal Trail - North (Glass Beach)

Sunday, April 14th, Caspar Logging Roads

Sunday, April 21st, Ward Avenue (a good minus tide, right when we start, if you want to beach walk)

Sunday, April 28th, Coastal Trail - South (Taco Bell)

NEXT SUNDAY, MARCH 31ST @ 8:00 A.M.:  BIG RIVER (see advisory above)

EVERY TUESDAY AND THURSDAY, GROUP RUN @ 7:00 A.M.: BIG RIVER LOGGING ROAD ON TUESDAY AND HEESER DRIVE/MENDOCINO ON THURSDAY.

POMO BLUFFS PARK

It was a little foggy and 47 degrees this morning when we started.  By the time we finished, the sun had burned away most of the fog.  We were at Pomo Bluffs Park and at the start, half of the group went towards and across the Noyo Bridge while the other half went south and down the Hare Creek Access Trail, back around the college and then across the bridge.  It was a fun run/walk for all.

John was back today and I thank him for the pictures below.  I'm guessing that the flowering tulip was in his yard.

Flowering Tulip

Foggy St. Patricks Day

Hare Creek sunset on another day

Hare Creek vista point looking north

Present today:  Greg, Keith, Lucinda, Fran, Toni, Joe, Charlene, Nancy B., Rick, John, Nancy and Tom (12).

There are times when I am not able to post the blog.  Roger has been a tremendous help.  Bob fills in at times.  John usually sends a few pictures.  I like being able to say that coming to Fog Dodgers is completely without obligations, come if you want or stay home in bed.  It has seemed to work well that way for the past 21 years.  However, it would be nice to have a few other "authorized authors" and if you'd like to have a chance to post a picture, describe the morning or count how many people showed up, I'd be happy to send you an invite to author.  Nothing is really needed, it's mainly just a way to let people know where to meet next week.  If you'd like to help, send me an email (triley@mcn.org) and I'll send you the blogger invite.

NEXT SUNDAY, March 24th @ 8:00 A.M.: Van Damme State Park

EVERY TUESDAY AND THURSDAY, GROUP RUN @ 7:00 A.M.: BIG RIVER LOGGING ROAD ON TUESDAY AND HEESER DRIVE/MENDOCINO ON THURSDAY.

Dialing for Daylight - Big River

This morning, with crumpled circadian clocks and broken biorhythms, the Fog Dodgers ventured out to an ideal place for running and walking. The place is Big River, aka the Ron Jaleka trail, located 2,385 miles north of Zihuatanejo and 21 miles south of Abalobadiah.

Everyone arrived in good spirits and the magnificence of Big River did not disappoint. The sun was out, the sky was brilliant blue with spectacular streaks of soft sunlit white and gray clouds. The river looked calm and inviting with extraordinary hues of brown and green. The air was a chilly 42 degrees but after a short distance up the river it became quite pleasant.

Drivers and passengers that came today were happy to see that the road to the trail head was in  much improved condition as the potholes had been filled and bladed over. Present were Rick, Nancy, Bob J. (good to see you again), Keith, Greg, Fran (she made sure we started on time), Joe, and Bob (waiting for prop 7 implementation).

John was away and could not provide photos. I tossed these in just because the blog doesn't seem the same without something to look at. John we miss you and your pics.

Remember next Saturday March 16 is the Whale Run and Walk. Come out and support Soroptimist in granting scholarships to our local youth.

NEXT SUNDAY, March 17th @ 8:00 A.M.: Pomo Bluff Park
EVERY TUESDAY AND THURSDAY, GROUP RUN @ 7:00 A.M.: BIG RIVER LOGGING ROAD on Tuesday and Mendocino Headlands and town on Thursdays.

Taco Bell Trail No Abierto - Glass Beach

This morning we did not run and walk at the planned location. The area was closed due to an ongoing shipwreck salvage operation.

photo by Loomis

From the closed entrance we could see in the distance a massive yellow crane with a towering boom perched on the edge of the bluff ready to hoist the remains of the wreck from its entanglement at the base of the bluff. The report was that during a recent major storm in the middle of the night the Trek II broke loose from its mooring in the harbor. The boat drifted out toward the sea soon to be bashed and broken on the rocks just south of the jetty.

photo by Loomis

John was the first to arrive at the gate and was thoughtful enough to remain there redirecting Fog Dodgers to Glass Beach. Good thinking John and thank you for taking charge.

Glass Beach was very nice. We were greeted by a plethora of friendly ravens. The temperature was a pleasant 50 degrees, the air was calm. There was a wintry overcast above but to the far west was a promise of lighter brighter skies.

The runners and walkers of the day were Fran, Joe, Rick, Nancy, John, Roger, Nancy, and Bob. Bruce and Otis were there also but I think they had already completed there walk.

This is the first time ever that I can recall we did not get going at the 8 o'clock start time.




NEXT SUNDAY, March 10th @ 8:00 A.M.: Big River
EVERY TUESDAY AND THURSDAY, GROUP RUN @ 7:00 A.M.: BIG RIVER LOGGING ROAD.