WARD AVENUE

A great morning on the Ten Mile Beach, beginning at Ward Avenue.  It was 53 degrees with a solid overcast and no wind, perfect for any activity!

Erin came from Boston for a visit, and brought along her dad, Keith and daughter, Riley.  They all are former (current?) Fog Dodgers, and it was real nice to see them again.  Keith took the group photo below, so unfortunately he's not in it.

                                        Fog Dodgers on 7/25/21, thanks Keith for the photo

I was surprised to find, or not to find, any neat little treasures along the waterline.  In the past, there were always a lot of sand dollars, crab shells, boats or wreckage, you name it, it was there!  But, the tide and the weather were perfect!

I would name the shorebird above, if I could.  Thanks to John for all of today's photos.  I know that the next one is a woodpecker, Red Headed I think.

                                 Haul Road pedestrian underpass at Ward Avenue, J. Loomis photo

Besides Keith, Erin and Riley, also present today were:  Fran, Pat, Leon, Susan, Bruce, Diana, Jeff, Charlene, Jean, Bob, Joe, Deb, Sam, Nancy and Tom (18).

                                                       Golden Poppy, J. Loomis photo

                                                           Sunflower, J. Loomis photo

Thanks, Bruce, for the following photos.  

                                             Susan enjoying a good minus tide.  B. Piercy photo

                                                     It was a -1.3 low tide.  B. Piercy photo

                                   Looks like starfish may be making a comeback.  B. Piercy photo

By special request, next week we will meet on Heeser Drive.  Hopefully, the B&B guests of Mendocino won't be out and about at 8:00.  Usually we're pretty safe at that hour and don't worry much about traffic.  It's nice to go up and down the streets of town, looking at the houses.  Also nice is runnning or walking along the bluff top single track.

SUNDAY, AUG. 1ST @ 8:OO A.M., GROUP RUN, WALK AND BIKE, MENDOCINO HEESER DRIVE AND TOWN, beginning at the restrooms on Heeser Dr. ( You can always click on "Our Routes" at the top of the page to find out more about our venue and where to park.)

EVERY TUESDAY AND THURSDAY, GROUP RUN/WALK @ 7:30 A.M.:  Beginning behind the Fort Bragg Fire Station.

PUDDING CREEK TRESTLE

It was a really nice morning, sunny and calm, a little hazy, I guess that's because the ocean was all kind of bumpy.  Lots of fishing boats, all kind of clustered, as if a salmon bite is on.

                                                    Pathway at Pudding Creek

Thanks to John for the photos today, all except for the trestle photo below, thanks to Ron for it.

                                                         Pudding Creek Trestle

Our friends from Chico, Greg and Keith, were here today.  Also present: Toni, Joe, Diana, Jeff, Shari, Pat, Leon, Charlene, Bob, Nancy and Tom (13).

                                        Hummingbird on a sunflower, J. Loomis photo

                                                             Red-winged blackbird

                                                 Great blue heron, Pudding Creek

Town has been very busy lately, much more so than pre-pandemic.  I guess everyone is enjoying travel again, and also getting away from the heat inland.  There's another good minus tide next Sunday, so I think we'll meet at Ward Avenue.  There won't be quite so many people there and if you want to walk on the beach, there will be a lot of it.  

This past week, the mosquitoes of Big River came out with a vengeance, so Big River is out for awhile.

SUNDAY, JULY 25TH @ 8:OO A.M., GROUP RUN, WALK AND BIKE, WARD AVENUE, ( You can always click on "Our Routes" at the top of the page to find out more about our venue and where to park.)

EVERY TUESDAY AND THURSDAY, GROUP RUN/WALK @ 7:30 A.M.:  Beginning behind the Fort Bragg Fire Station.

COASTAL TRAIL - SOUTH

It was pretty foggy this morning, yet we had a good turnout and a good time.  It was really nice, in that we had 3, maybe 4, new people join us.  Thanks for coming, Diana, Jeff, Linda, and I think someone said that Linda's husband was present, but I'm not sure on that one.   Nice thing about these people, they are all locals and said they would come back!

John's picture above depicts what type of morning it was.  Thanks, John, for all of today's photos.

Three miles inland, no more fog, just blue skies.  I think we were lucky to have the fog, at least when you here about the record heat inland.

                                                           Dahlias in full bloom

Also present today: Gay, Mark, Jean, Fran, Pat, Leon,Kim, Doug, John, Susan, Bruce, Deb, Sam, Nancy and Tom (18).

                                                           Hairy Woodpecker, male

                                                       Dragon lillies at John's house

This morning, Gravel Pit Road was mentioned a couple of times and by different persons.  We haven't been to that location for a very long time.  I would like to return but when last there, the road was covered with fairly large loose rock and then, of course, there is the hill.  If someone has been there recently, I'd like to know what conditions are like now.

Next week, we'll meet at the Pudding Creek Trestle.  It's always a safe place to meet, since it works for running, walking or biking, and dogs are allowed.  Hope to see you there.

SUNDAY, JULY 18TH @ 8:OO A.M., GROUP RUN, WALK AND BIKE, PUDDING CREEK TRESTLE, ( You can always click on "Our Routes" at the top of the page to find out more about our venue and where to park.)

EVERY TUESDAY AND THURSDAY, GROUP RUN/WALK @ 7:30 A.M.:  Beginning behind the Fort Bragg Fire Station.

CASPAR LOGGING ROAD

Happy Independence Day to all!  Thanks to John for all of today's photos!

Fourth of July Floral

We met on Caspar Logging Road this morning.  As I expected, we weren't exactly free to choose our course.  There were several Security Cars there to block timber harvest protesters from going into the controversial timber harvest area.

                                           Canada Geese on the Caspar Duck Pond

We were told that we couldn't use the main roads but could use the bicycle/hiking single tracks.  I'm not sure what the logic is in that, maybe to keep us from carrying in tree stands or chain saws??

                                       Great Blue Heron on the Caspar Duck Pond

Fran's son, Steve, rejoined us again, thanks Fran.  Also present: Jean, Toni, Joe, Bob, John, Pat, Leon, Nancy and Tom (11).

This morning's weather was perfect, 53, calm and overcast.  Next week, we will use the Coastal Trail, starting west of Taco Bell.  Long range weather forecasts are not perfect but right now, it calls for next Sunday to be very nice.  I hope to see you then.

SUNDAY, JULY 11TH @ 8:OO A.M., GROUP RUN, WALK AND BIKE, COASTAL TRAIL - SOUTH (Taco Bell).  You can always click on "Our Routes" at the top of the page to find out more about our venue and where to park.

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.