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, March 26, 2023

BIG RIVER LOGGING ROAD

Big River Road, where we hiked today, often has a chilly wind or mosquitoes. Today neither were present and a sizable group of Fogdodgers showed up. Present were Charlene, Shari, Barbara, John, Sky, Jeff, Diana, Tom, Nancy, Toni, Joe, Kim, Doug, and Bowie. It was cool, but not windy, and this made for nice walking. A beautiful sunny day. The puddles along the trail had mostly dried up but the road from the highway to the parking area is getting pretty rough again. It must be hard for them to keep the road in decent shape.

After the walk 8 of us went to breakfast at the Good Life. We all sat together at a long table (4 tables placed together I think). By that time a slight wind was picking up in Mendocino, so we appreciated the propane heaters in the tent at the Good Life.

Here are some of the pictures John sent me:

Big-River-Spring


Early-Morning-Sunshine


Dogs-are-Welcoome-Fog-Dodgers (Bowie)

and some houses in Mendocino

Mendocino-Home


45340-Mendocino


44940-Mendocino


10577-Mendocino


And, for good measure, the old church in Caspar

Caspar-Church (not on today's hike)


NEXT SUNDAY, Sunday, April 2 @ 8:00 A.M.: GROUP RUN/WALK/BIKECOASTAL TRAIL - MIDDLE (FIRE STATION). (Maybe some whales will finally show up) You can click on the "Our Routes" tab at the top to get directions, if needed.

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

Sunday, March 19, 2023

COASTAL TRAIL - SOUTH

In spite of a light rain a decent number of Fog Dodgers showed up to hike the south coastal trail. Present were Nancy, Tom, John, Charlene, Diana, Jeff, Sky, Kim and Doug, along with Bowie, and Joe. Scott and Cheryl joined the group on the way back to the parking lot and we did catch a glimpse of Bob running by us early on in the hike. The drizzle came and went but it was not cold or windy, so, all in all, not a bad day for a morning walk. Toni did not make it so we were not treated to an early morning exclusive tour of the Crows Nest. Maybe some time in the future.

John supplied these photos:

Rhododendrons


Wood-Fire-Morning


Joe-D.-on-Fog-Dodger-Walk

 

Noyo-Bridge-on-Misty-Morning


After the walk five of us ate breakfast together at the Home Style Cafe. We got the round table this time, a treat!

NEXT SUNDAY, March 26 @ 8:00 A.M.: GROUP RUN/WALK/BIKE, BIG RIVER ROAD (a.k.a. THE RON JAHELKA TRAIL). You can click on the "Our Routes" tab at the top to get directions, if needed.

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

Sunday, March 12, 2023

COASTAL TRAIL - NORTH

At Glass Beach it looked like it was going to be pretty wet, but turned out to be just a light sprinkle. Seven of us showed up and hiked south on the coastal trail. In attendance were Nancy, Tom, Deb, Sam, Charlene, Sky and Joe. It was good to get out in spite of all the rain we have been having. No one reported whales, though Toni saw several on a pelagic trip she took last Wednesday.

After returning to the parking lot at Glass Beach six of us added a bit more walking, going a few blocks up to Denny's at the corner for breakfast.

John did not make the hike "due to time and weather" but he did send some pictures to be added to the blog, including a couple of his ceramic sculptures:

 Sidewalk-Surfer-on-the-Downhill

Shadow-Boy

Skunk-Train (back when No 45 was running and the water tower was genuine)

Sunset- 2 Geese-Fort-Bragg



Kite-Girl

Juggling-Clown-on-octagon

NEXT SUNDAY, March 19 @ 8:00 A.M.: GROUP RUN/WALK/BIKE, COASTAL TRAIL - SOUTH (Taco Bell). If Toni makes it she will give us a short tour of the Crow's Nest. Look forward to that especially if you have not been there. Some interesting pinniped skeletons and the double deck tide pool aquarium. You can click on the "Our Routes" tab at the top to get directions, if needed.

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

Sunday, March 5, 2023

WARD AVENUE

DON'T FORGET TO ADVANCE YOUR CLOCKS FOR DAYLIGHT SAVINGS.

 

Probably because of early morning hail and rain only 7 of us showed up at the Ward avenue parking area: Shari, Charlene, John, Sky, Joe and Toni, with Sarah running. By 8 AM all was clear and there were decent periods of sunshine, so the walk turned out to be beautiful, not windy and an easy walk to the south until we got to the place where Lake Cleone was spilling across the road through a gap in the dune and out across the beach to the sea. Turning around a bit early, we walked a bit through the campground on our way back to the haul road. We got back to the parking lot just as slight sprinkles were commencing. 

Only Toni and Joe went to breakfast at the Laurel Deli.

A couple of photos from John, including a fanciful address sign on Pine Street near the park:

 Happy-Address-Post


Pudding-Creek


 

Rainbow-at-Ward-Ave (the storm was just coming in at the end of the hike)



DON'T FORGET TO ADVANCE YOUR CLOCKS FOR DAYLIGHT SAVINGS. 

 

NEXT SUNDAY, March 12 @ 8:00 A.M.: GROUP RUN/WALK/BIKE, COASTAL TRAIL - NORTH (GLASS BEACH). You can click on the "Our Routes" tab at the top to get directions, if needed.

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