Big River

Photo by John Loomis

A summery brisk but sunny 47F this morning seemed to keep the mosquitoes at bay, thankfully, as there was no significant breeze to help had we needed it. There was however plenty of mosquito bait, if you will, and I'm really happy to report that since our last time here, they've finally graded over all the car-sized holes in the road leading up to the trail head parking area.

We had many guests today, and even the locals showed up in force! John and Marianne came all the way from Kansas City, and apparently I've been missing some Tuesday morning people, like Merri and Pete and his guests Carol and Jennifer. Bob and Susan brought Don, who is here playing at the Muscial Festival. Already I feel the tension mounting that I will forget or misplace someone, but I am the pinch hitter today and my salary and benefits can't possibly go any lower... Marc, Jan, Peter, John L., Toni, Fran, Ron, Charlene, Nancy B., Patty, Nancy T., Roger, Steve, Kathy, Susie, Neil, Cheryl and Johnny (27). Please let me know if I left out someone. Fourteen of us had a good breakfast at the Bayview Cafe.

Now get out your calendar and mark off Sunday, July 24 (two weeks from now), for a run/walk/ride at MacKerricher State Park, and pot-luck picnic afterwards. Please note this is NOT our usual MacKerricher Haul Road route starting at the Pudding Creek trestle bridge. There are some new restroom facilities near the end parking lot:

NEXT SUNDAY, July 18, 2011 @ 8 AM: Caspar Logging Road. See "Our Routes" tab above.

EVERY TUESDAY @ 7 AM: RUSSIAN GULCH STATE PARK, beginning on Point Cabrillo Drive, 1/10 of a mile north of its south end.

EVERY THURSDAY @ 7 AM: VAN DAMME STATE PARK, beginning at the beach.

Big River

The Ron Jahelka Trail proved to be a perfect place to start this special day. Unusually low tide and green grass framed the action as a league of 11 gathered at the trail head watching Big River flow only a short distance from where it is swallowed by the sea. Osprey were giving a welcoming cry. The mosquitoes were mysteriously absent. Everyone was on the move at the stroke of 8:00 AM.

The temperature was a warm 50 at the outset but the weather seemed undecided "do I rain or do I shine." Soon the sun prevailed and gave way to a beautiful day.

Present were Chuck, Geri, Fran, Pat, Rick C., early start Kim, Heather, Nancy, Rick B., John, and Bob. Some mothers may have stayed home to receive their ritualistic breakfast in bed.

Afterward, some discussed having brunch at Little River Inn, others went home to honor their Moms, and one went home to listen to the sounds of Scottish fiddles on Oak and Thorn.

If you haven't yet seen John Loomis's ceramic work and get the opportunity, check out his Sea Urchin series.

Penny and Al we miss you.

Happy Mother day to all of the wonderful Mothers in the world.

NEXT SUNDAY, May 15 @ 8:00 A.M.: Van Damme Park, beginning at the beach

EVERY TUESDAY @ 7:00 A.M.: RUSSIAN GULCH STATE PARK, beginning on Point Cabrillo Drive, 1/10 of a mile north of its south end.

EVERY THURSDAY @ 7:00 A.M.: VAN DAMME STATE PARK, beginning at the beach.

Big River

Stepping out of the house this morning I was met by sprinkles, and I seem to recall that pleasant thoughts did not immediately rush to mind. A few degrees cooler (it was 36F, Tom), and it would have been snowing. But there were clear skies to both the east and west, and I had hope - there would be no mosquitoes!!!

Photo by John Loomis

As it turned out, the sprinkles abated by the time everyone began driving up. What I hadn't really counted on however was that down-river breeze, which prompted several of us to begin a little early just to warm up. Sorry Tom, I know that was against protocol, but it was probably less than 30 seconds, and it was COLD!

I'm guessing few others anticipated that cold wind, as many of you showed up, smiles blazing - John, Melissa, Orah, Steve, Hector, Jim, Cindy, Mark, Gay, Charlene, Toni, Fran, Geri, Sarah, Kim, Neil, Cheryl, Suzi, Roger, Nancy, Deb, Sam, Maddelyn, Scott, Marc and me, Johnny (25). Ten of us had breakfast at the Bayview Cafe afterward. I have to say a great and unanticipated treat was to sit by Suzi and watch her so beautifully and deftly recreate the vista in watercolor right before our eyes!

NEXT SUNDAY, February 27 @ 8 AM: MacKerricher Haul Road (See "Our Routes" above).

EVERY TUESDAY @ 7 AM: RUSSIAN GULCH STATE PARK, beginning on Point Cabrillo Drive, 1/10 of a mile north of its south end.

EVERY THURSDAY @ 7 AM: VAN DAMME STATE PARK, beginning at the beach.

TWO things to note:

Sunday, March 13 will be Daylight Savings Time! Yes, already!

Sunday, April 24 will bring the Easter Bunny Rabbit back, and IT IS the year of The Rabbit, folks.

Ron Jahelka Trail, Big River

This crisp morning didn't stop quite a few folks from showing up at Big River. Apparently, some of you have been away long enough you had to introduce yourselves to the "regulars"! Though in the mid 40's when we started, it warmed up nicely, with no breeze to keep the mosquitoes at bay -- I think some of them hadn't eaten in 3 months....

Just a reminder, on Sundays we still take off at 8 sharp, with or without you, even when Tom isn't here. Present today were John, Jim, Cindy, Sam, Deb, Peter, Nancy B., Roger, Nancy T., Joyce, Bob, Melissa, Marc, Scott, Kennedy, Maddelyn, Steve, Kathy, Randy, Heather, Fran, Laurie and Johnny (23). Wow, super job folks! Afterward, a few of us enjoyed breakfast at Bayview Cafe, with free coffee and no automatic gratuity!

NEXT SUNDAY, 9/5/10 @ 8 AM:  Ten Mile River Logging Road (See "Our Routes" tab above). As Tom pointed out last week, the blackberries should be out in force (the most plentiful a couple of miles down the road) for those who wouldn't otherwise make the trip up there to pick them. See you then!

EVERY TUESDAY @ 7 AM: RUSSIAN GULCH STATE PARK, beginning on Point Cabrillo Drive, 1/10 of a mile north of its south end.

EVERY THURSDAY @ 7 AM: VAN DAMME STATE PARK, beginning at the beach.

June 06, 2010

This morning, we were at Big River, for what was a "typical" summer-like morning, overcast, 59 degrees and swarming with mosquitoes. Mosquitoes not too bad if you are Johnny, he can outrun them, but for many of the group, they're ferocious!

We ran, walked and biked, and present today were: Fran, and she brought a friend, Reba, John, Joel, Bob, Caleb, Nancy T., Roger, Deb, Sam, Kathy, Steve, Ron, Laurie, Kim, Maddelyn, Scott, Heather, Johnny, Joyce, Nancy and Tom (22).

Six of us enjoyed breakfast at Mendocino's Bayview Cafe.

The broken bridge at Van Damme is now repaired, not sure if the tree blockages are totally removed, and the trail remains very muddy. Russian Gulch State Park's trail is almost completely overgrown with stinging nettles. So,

NEXT SUNDAY, 6/13/10, 8:00 A.M., GROUP RUN/WALK/BIKE, A&W ROAD, also known as the Noyo River Logging Road, beginning at the Fort Bragg Police Department, corner of Cypress and Franklin.

TUESDAYS, 7:00 A.M., Group Run/Walk, RUSSIAN GULCH STATE PARK, beginning on Point Cabrillo Drive, 1/10 of a mile north of it's south end.

THURSDAYS, 7:00 A.M., Group Run/Walk, VAN DAMME STATE PARK, beginning at the beach.

Remember, you can always (24x7) dial the message phone to double check on run locations, 964-9348.