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, 2021

COASTAL TRAIL - NORTH


     Early Fog Dodger photo:



                       
                         Cheryl, Erin, Nancy, Sharon, Tom, John, Deb
                          8/15/99  We look about the same, don't we??
                                     MacKerricher State Park

The weather wasn't so nice out at MacKerricher this morning.  Extra credit to the three that showed up: Bob, Nancy and Tom.

John has given me some photos to fill up the blog page.  I don't know what we would do without him.  Thanks, John.  His photos though, were not taken today.


                      
                                   MacKerricher State Park

                     


              Rainy day oil spot.  Which way was the wind going?
  

                 
                                Unknown, J. Loomis photos

For those that missed out on today's run/walk, just about everybody, you've made it easy for me to pick a venue for next week.  We will go to the same place and hope for better weather.


NEXT SUNDAY, FEB. 7TH @ 8:00 A.M.:  GROUP RUN/WALK/BIKE,  COASTAL TRAIL - NORTH (Glass Beach)

EVERY TUESDAY AND THURSDAY, GROUP RUN/WALK @ 7:30 A.M.:  Beginning behind the Fort Bragg Fire Station on Tuesdays and on Big River Logging Road on Thursdays.

Posted by Tom at 12:26 PM 0 comments

Sunday, January 24, 2021

CASPAR LOGGING ROAD


It was cold and grey this morning, but we beat the rain!  We had a good time running, walking and biking the Caspar Logging Road.  I think it was about 40 but felt colder.

                                              Great Blue Heron, J. Loomis photo

                                         Caspar Farm Equipment, J. Loomis photo

                                                Caspar Ivy, J. Loomis photo

                          Info Kiosk on the Caspar Logging Road, J. Loomis photo

Thanks to John for all of today's photos.  Oh, I almost forgot one.  Here's a couple of "jug pots" (whatever they are for?) that John made on the rainy days we just had.  He's always busy making something!


Present today:  M.T., Pat, Leon, Fran, Gay, Mark, Toni, Joe, Charlene, Bob, Deb, Sam, John,  Nancy and Tom (15).

It's been four months (Sept. 13th) since we started at Glass Beach.  Next week might be raining, so bring your rainwear and enjoy the stormy ocean!  It's great out there when you dress "appropriately".  


NEXT SUNDAY, JAN. 31st @ 8:00 A.M.:  GROUP RUN/WALK/BIKE,  COASTAL TRAIL - NORTH (Glass Beach)

EVERY TUESDAY AND THURSDAY, GROUP RUN/WALK @ 7:30 A.M.:  Beginning behind the Fort Bragg Fire Station on Tuesdays and on Big River Logging Road on Thursdays.

Posted by Tom at 1:44 PM 0 comments

Sunday, January 17, 2021

WARD AVENUE


                               
                                            MacKerricher State Park

It was a beautiful morning, albeit a little cold at the beginning of our run/walk/bike.  Lately, we are down to one runner, Nancy.  Fog Dodgers started as a running club.  As the morning warmed up, it turned into an incredibly beautiful Spring-like day, not bad for the middle of January!

                                
                                                 Lake Cleone parking lot

I was told, that State Parks intended to allow Lake Cleone to become an estuary, always open to the ocean.  The high tides and large surf this winter are doing just that.

                              
                                           Remains of Haul Road retaining wall

Present today: Gay, Mark, Fran, Pat, Leon, Joe, Charlene, Deb, Sam, John, M.T., Nancy and Tom (13).

                                  
                             MacKerricher deer, all photos today from J. Loomis 

NEXT SUNDAY, JAN. 24th @ 8:00 A.M.:  GROUP RUN/WALK/BIKE,  CASPAR LOGGING ROAD

EVERY TUESDAY AND THURSDAY, GROUP RUN/WALK @ 7:30 A.M.:  Beginning behind the Fort Bragg Fire Station on Tuesdays and on Big River Logging Road on Thursdays.


Posted by Tom at 12:53 PM 0 comments

Sunday, January 10, 2021

BIG RIVER LOGGING ROAD



It was an overcast morning and at 8:00 a.m., it was about 45 degrees with no wind.  That's about just right for a run or walk or even a bike ride and we had a nice group this morning.  Nice to see Peter back, along with Shari and Louis.  Also present: Charlene, Fran, M.T., Pat, Leon, Toni, Joe, John, Deb, Sam, Nancy and Tom (14).
                                                           Big surf at Mendocino Bay

                                                               Big River, J. Loomis photo

Besides the weather being good, there was a king tide, 7.2 feet, right at 8 o'clock.  I think we all enjoyed seeing how much more river there was than what we are used to seeing.

                                                        Big River Beach,  J. Loomis photo

                        John took pictures this morning of the river and of the bay.  Thank you John!

                                                   
                                                          Pat and Leon, J. Loomis photo

It has been 11 weeks since we started at Ward Ave. We will try it again next Sunday.  It works well for all of us, so it is worth the few extra minutes of drive time.  I hope to see you there.

NEXT SUNDAY, JAN. 17TH @ 8:00 A.M.:  GROUP RUN/WALK/BIKE,  WARD AVENUE

EVERY TUESDAY AND THURSDAY, GROUP RUN/WALK @ 7:30 A.M.:  Beginning behind the Fort Bragg Fire Station on Tuesdays and on Big River Logging Road on Thursdays.

Posted by Tom at 1:24 PM 0 comments

Sunday, January 3, 2021

MENDOCINO HEADLANDS AND TOWN

We're finally getting regular rain events.  It will certainly help the trees and eventually those whose wells have dried up.  Another benefit of the winter rain, it usually warms up the weather and such was the case today.  It was a nice 52 degrees, cloudy, but no rain.

                                                  Lansing Street in Mendocino, J. Loomis photo

                                              
                                                Small Mendocino house, J. Loomis photo

Present this morning:  Fran, Charlene, M.T., Pat, Leon, Toni, Joe, Deb, Sam, John, Bob, (Cheryl & Scott, the "Ghost walkers", only seen by a few), Nancy and Tom (15).


                                                Mendocino barn and cabin, J. Loomis photo


                                       
                                                  Mendocino Bay Misty, J. Loomis photo

For the mid-week Fog Dodgers, next Sunday's run/walk/bike might seem repetitive, we're there on Thursday also.  I couldn't help not choosing Big River though, because right at 8:00 a.m., there's a 7.2 foot "King Tide".  That just means that it's about as high as the tides get all year.  It's really neat, to see how much water comes in and how the high water rises into all the little "canals" that cut thru the grass/mud flats.  When we finish at 9:00, the tide should be turning and starting to empty the river pretty fast.

  NEXT SUNDAY, JAN. 10TH @ 8:00 A.M.:  GROUP RUN/WALK/BIKE, BIG RIVER LOGGING ROAD

EVERY TUESDAY AND THURSDAY, GROUP RUN/WALK @ 7:30 A.M.:  Beginning behind the Fort Bragg Fire Station on Tuesdays and on Big River Logging Road on Thursdays.

Posted by Tom at 12:35 PM 0 comments