WARD AVENUE

I could not have predicted the wind when I selected WARD AVENUE for this week's hike, but it turned out to be hella windy today. In order to minimize the wind some of us actually hiked east on Ward Avenue rather than the usual path south along the road at the coast. The wind made it chilly but otherwise it was a beautiful day. Hiking were Nancy, Tom, Diana, Jeff, Eric, Joe, John, Charlene, Fran, Jean, Zelda, Kim, Doug, and Mark.

Seven of us went to breakfast at the Laurel Deli and were able to use the back room - always nice.

John got some good photos:

Windswept-Mackerricher

Deer-in-the-dunes

Haul-road-north

Deer-out-of-the-wind

Ward-Ave-Blooms

Mckerricher-sea-wall-remains (made of old railroad rails)

Ward-Ave-Rhodedendron 

NEXT SUNDAY, May 24 @ 8:00 A.M.: GROUP RUN/WALK/BIKE, NAVARRO RIDGE (let me know if you all are getting tired of NAVARRO RIDGE every fourth Sunday). 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.

VAN DAMME

We hiked along the rough trail at Van Damme State Park. Who knows wen the park might do some repairs along the trail.The weather was nice and cool. It had been raining lightly earlier in the morning but the sun was out along the coast as we finished. On the hike were Sky, Joe, Deb, Sam, Nancy, Tom, John, Diana, Jeff, Charlene, Mark, Jean, Fran, Shari and Eric.

Then, as usual, most of us went to St Anthony's for the pancake breakfast where we were joined by Peter with Bob and Claudette stopping by.

John's photos:

Happy-Mothers-Day-Fog-Dodgers

Goosey-Gander-goslings

Big-River-outlet

VanDamme-Wild-Columbine

Van-Damme-overcrossing

Van-Damme-River

Van-Damme-Wild-Flower

NEXT SUNDAY, May 17 @ 8:00 A.M.: GROUP RUN/WALK/BIKE, WARD AVENUE. You can click on the "Our Routes" tab at the top to get directions, if needed. We might be able to see some harbor seal pups in the rookeries along the coast. It's that time of year.

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

BIG RIVER

8:00 a.m., Sunday the 3rd:  It was 54 degrees, thick overcast making it dry-like, no breeze and just a few mosquitoes.  It was a good morning for walking at Big River.  Present were: Sky, Mark, Mary, Fran, John, Jean, Eric, Shari, Barbara, Nancy and Tom (11).  Eric, Nancy and Tom turned around shortly after the start and headed to Boonville to do the Boontling Classic 5K.

Thanks to John for today's photos, all from Big River.

Big River Hwy. 1 Bridge

Big River looking west

Big River looking east

                                                         Big River wildflower

                                                           Big River Star Thistle

                                                         Big River wild flowers
Next Sunday is Mother's Day.  I'm not sure what that will do to the Pancake Breakfast crowd at St. Anthony's but everyone likes going there on the second Sundays so, we just walked Heeser Dr. and around Mendocino, so I'm picking another venue nearby.

NEXT SUNDAY, MAY 10TH, 8:00 A.M., GROUP RUN/WALK/BIKE, VAN DAMME STATE PARK.

EVERY TUESDAY AND THURSDAY, GROUP RUN/WALK/BIKE, 7:30 A.M., COASTAL TRAIL MIDDLE (BEHIND THE FORT BRAGG FIRE STATION).