PUDDING CREEK TRESTLE

Sun thru the fog, J. Loomis photo

It was a good morning for walking, biking and running.   We met at the Pudding Creek Trestle and it was 55 degrees, calm and the sun was filtered by the coastal clouds (John's photo to the left).  We had a good turnout and I hope I've got everyone's name.  Some arrived late and so I barely got a glimpse or missed seeing them completely.  Sometimes, I just hear by word of mouth who was present.

J. Loomis photo

Robert was new but is a friend of several other Fog Dodgers and had met us before.  Lisa brought her folks, Denny and Linda.  Zelda brought her friend, Mike.  I think that covers most of the guests and we're thankful for new friends.  Others present:  Tabi, Linneaa, Zavier, Chandra and Tenley, Julie, Laurie, Fran, Greg, Shari, Peter, Nancy T., Roger, Nancy B., Rick,
Deb, Sam, Joel, Charlene, Ron, John, Cindy, Jim, Mark, Nancy and Tom (32).

Canada Geese, J. Loomis photo

Most of us took off to the north.  With a good minus tide this morning and the new coastal trail access to Glass Beach, going south through the abalone hunters would have been similar to driving during rush hour in Los Angeles.  How long can the abalone population survive?  So glad that I am no longer working! (former Game Warden).

kelp, J. Loomis photo

Sun. June 14th, Van Damme State Park
Sun. June 21st, Jackson State Forest Road 450
Sun. June 28th, Big River Logging Road
Sun. July 5th, Caspar Logging Road

J. Loomis photo

Again, walkers, please don't take this wrong.  After all, you may be doing what's best.  But, it is really nice to see a number of new and younger runners.  It more closely resembles the Fog Dodgers of years past.  Now, if we could just get them all to show up at the same time!



NEXT SUNDAY, June 14th @ 8:00 A.M.: Van Damme State Park.

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 Logging Road



I would like to thank Nancy B. for doing the blog.  Unfortunately, "blogger" and her browser/composer were not communicating well and gave her all kinds of trouble.  I have tried to save what she and John reported but I may have left someone or something out.  My apologies for that and to Nancy for the frustration she had to endure.  Because I've copied and pasted for the most part, punctuation and layout aren't perfect as things seem to go where "blogger" wants them to go, not where I'd like them to.
 
 This morning there wasn't much sun as the fog and breeze continue to move in from the ocean to hover over the Coast and about two miles or more inland. I worked the Mendocino Film Festival tent Friday and Saturday, selling tickets outside and despite my many layers was cold and had to hang on to the tickets and bills to prevent them from flying away! However, this morning at Big River the wind wasn't strong and the mosquitoes weren't hungry.   And we all went our separate ways for breakfast this morning.


We were eleven runners and nine walkers. Not bad, but a good number of our members were either at the Film Festival or sleeping in after staying there late last night. Our group included runners Bob C., Cyd, John, Laurie, Katie, Lisa, Linnaea, Zavier, Tabi (?),  Melissa and Ron; and walkers Charlene, Cindy; Jim, Mark, Gaye, Rick, Nancy B. and Shari (20).

                             

 John Loomis provided his lovely photos again.

    

Sun. June 7th, Pudding Creek Trestle
Sun. June 14th, Van Damme State Park
Sun. June 21st, Jackson State Forest Road 450

NEXT SUNDAY, JUNE 7TH @ 8:00 A.M.:  PUDDING CREEK TRESTLE

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.

NAVARRO RIDGE ROAD

Navarro Ridge Road, J. Loomis photo

It had been a very long time since we'd been on Navarro Ridge Road.  Somethings, like the redwoods above haven't changed at all.  Other things, like the homes and lots nearer the ocean, seemed to change a lot.

J. Loomis photo

Thanks to John for today's photos.  They're all from Navarro Ridge but taken yesterday, when the sun was out!   For us today, it foggy overcast, calm and 51 degrees.  Good for walking and running but not nearly as pretty.

Present today:  Shelly (had walked with us before), Suzanne, Henry, Nancy B., Rick, Mike, Toni, Joe, Nancy T., Roger, John, Cyd, Nancy and Tom (14).

I didn't go to the Grange's Pancake Breakfast but many of the others did and I bet it was good.  Nancy and I ate later at David's and it too was good.

                           

J. Loomis photo

                                   
Next week, we will go to one of our most popular venues, Big River.  It's usually pretty nice there but remember to bring the mosquito repellant if it's near or above 50.

J. Loomis photo

Sun. May 31, Big River
Sun. June 7th, Pudding Creek Trestle
Sun. June 14th, Van Damme State Park
Sun. June 21st, Jackson State Forest Road 450

J. Loomis photo

Sorry about the photo layout.  I keep trying to shift them around and do away with the big blank spaces but Blogger won't let me.   Remember that you can click on any photo and enlarge them nicely.  Thanks John.

       
NEXT SUNDAY, MAY 31ST @ 8:00 A.M.:  BIG RIVER, see "Our Routes" above.

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.

TEN MILE RIVER

Hwy. One and Ten Mile River Bridge, J. Loomis photo

It seems like just a few years ago, actually probably a dozen, I told several people of my hopes.  I said, if we could just get 20 people to show up on a Fog Dodger Sunday, I'd be really happy, because then I felt that we would be kind of self sustaining.  It wasn't too long after that, we did get to that 20 number, and then more!   And we did become sort of self sustaining.  Every week, we'd average about 20 people, and I became lazy, just sat back and enjoyed it.   But the group became older, slower,  and I again began to hope, hoping that something or someone would invigorate the group.   It seems to have happened!  Thanks to many of you.   You've brought along your families, your neighbors and your friends from work.  And because of you, our average age is dropping like a rock! The Fog Dodgers again have a good number of good runners and the group's balance is good!

J. Loomis photo

Thanks Chandra, for bringing your husband, Chris and your daughter, Tenley.  Chandra pushed Tenley in a jogger and so we now can claim to have a whole new division,  Child Joggers!  (used to be called strollers to most of us).  Not only did Chandra push the jogger, she left the rest of us in the dust!  Lisa arrived a minute (?) late, and played catchup, pushing Linnaea and Zavier in the jogger.  You wanna know what real work is?  Try pushing a jogger with two children up today's hill!  Good job!

Gay and Mark brought Susie (y?), Gaye's sister.  Thank you!

Joel came today and represented our Bike Division.

Turkey vulture, J. Loomis photo

Many more were present today:  Zelda, Neil, Greg, Orah,
Steve, Toni, Joe, Nancy B., Charlene, John, Cyd, Jackie, Cindy, Nancy and Tom (25).

Thank you, John, for today's, and most every Sunday's pictures.  They do dress up the blog!  He found some interesting garage doors in Inglenook today, near our run/walk.  They're below.

The old snag with the Osprey nest near the bottom of the hill was broken down.  Chris pointed out another snag nearby that now holds a new nest.  He also mentioned a Heron rookery nearby.  Greg said that he liked today's venue and I agree, there's a lot of neat things to see.

Next week's run/walk is somewhat similar, a little further away but worth it for the scenery and the Grange Breakfast.  I hope many of you can make it.

Garage door art, J. Loomis photo

Garage door art, J. Loomis photo

Sun. May 24, Navarro Ridge Road (a good pancake, egg, ham breakfast, I think$6)
Sun. May 31, Big River
Sun. June 7th, Pudding Creek Trestle
Sun. June 14th, Van Damme State Park
Sun. June 21st, Jackson State Forest Road 450


NEXT SUNDAY, May 24th @ 8:00 A.M.:  NAVARRO RIDGE ROAD, see "Our Routes" above.

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.

MOTHER'S DAY 2015

J. Loomis photo, Happy Moms

It was a perfect morning for running and walking.  Thank you John, for the Mom picture above.  We met at Caspar Logging Road and conditions were just right, 50 degrees, mostly sunny and calm.

John brought his son, Nick and Ron brought his son, Harvey and  sister, Nancy and brother-in-law, Mick.  It's really nice that so many of the group bring family and friends to join with us.  It is a good way to start any Sunday.

J. Loomis photo

Others present today:  Shari, Peter, Suzanne, Henry, Nancy T., Roger, Toni, Joe, Charlene, Melissa, Katie, Tabi, Linnaea, Zavier, Bob, Nancy and Tom (23).

Somehow, Kira saved six of us a table (Thank you, Toni!) for a nice breakfast at David's.

The next two venues are ones that we don't do often.  Try to make them, as they're worth the few extra minutes of driving.  Spring time has most of the wild flowers blooming and both of these venues are very scenic.

Sun. May 17, Ten Mile River Logging Road
Sun. May 24, Navarro Ridge Road (a good pancake, egg, ham breakfast, I think$6)
Sun. May 31, Big River
Sun. June 7th, Pudding Creek Trestle
Sun. June 14th, Van Damme State Park
Sun. June 21st, Jackson State Forest Road 450

NEXT SUNDAY, MAY 17TH @ 8:00 A.M.:  TEN MILE RIVER LOGGING ROAD, see "Our Routes" above.

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 Logging Road

Big River, J. Loomis photo

It was a good morning at Big River and we hated cutting it short.  John, Jackie, Nancy and I needed to get to Boonville for the Boontling Classic.

Congratulations to Nancy, First Place and bettered the Course Record by 12 minutes!  She now holds  two age group records at Boonville and that covers all women from age 60 to 79!  She actually bettered the 50-59 year group also when she was in it but was not given credit (clerical error by organizers).  So, she has run faster than any woman aged 50-80, over a Boontling Classic 33 year history!

Big River high tide, J. Loomis photo

8:00 a.m. Big River,  it was 48 degrees (just warm enough to bring out a few of the mosquitoes) under calm and overcast skies.  Present today:  Chandra, Julie, Bob J., Bob, John, Katie, Tabi, Linnaea, Zavier, Charlene, Ron, Nancy T., Roger, Fran, Joe, Nancy and Tom (17).

Rick Banker photo

Next week, for Mother's Day, I know you'll enjoy Jackson State Forest Road 500 or 600 (Caspar Logging Road).  The rhodies will be blooming, the weather nice and there's rarely any vehicle traffic out there.  Good for hiking, running, biking and for pushing a child jogger, Tabi!

After next week, we're going to try a couple of our furthest away venues (by request) and I hope we don't lose anyone.  They're really not much further than Ward Ave. or Van Damme so don't be put off by the distance.  

Sun. May 10, Caspar (Mother's Day, great start to the day, Mom!)
Sun. May 17, Ten Mile River Logging Road
Sun. May 24, Navarro Ridge Road (a good pancake, egg, ham breakfast, I think$6)
Sun. May 31, Big River

NEXT SUNDAY, MAY 10TH @ 8:00 A.M.:  CASPAR LOGGING ROAD, (see "Our Routes" above.)   No better way to start Mother's Day than a run or hike through Jackson State Forest.

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.

VAN DAMME STATE PARK'S FERN CANYON

Van Damme State Park, J. Loomis photo

It was another perfect morning for running and walking.  We met at Van Damme, 48 degrees, sunny and calm.  It was like old times, more runners than walkers!  Don't get me wrong, nothing at all wrong with walking.  For many, walking is even better for you than running, but we did start as a running group.

J. Loomis photo

Thanks Melissa and Katie,  for inviting a couple more new runners, Chandra and Julie.  I hope we have more time to talk soon, I was kind of late this morning and didn't really spend much time talking.  Also, welcome back Ron!!

J. Loomis photo

Others present today, hope I get everyone, Charlene, Cindy, Jackie, Fran, Lisa, Tabi, Linnaea, Zavier, Cheryl, Nancy T., Roger, Geri, John, Cyd, Rod, Joe, Nancy and Tom (23).

Three days ago, last Thursday, the Fern Canyon Trail, was fairly dry and most of the mud holes were gone.  After a little rain on Friday, the trail was a mess this morning!  Tabi deserves an award, for running with the baby jogger and two small ones!!  Also, Cyd deserves an award, for completing the Zion 100!  Congratulations Cyd!

Next week, should be a good turnout.  Big River normally has the largest attendance.   I look forward to seeing all of you.

NEXT SUNDAY, May 3rd @ 8:00 A.M.:  BIG RIVER LOGGING ROAD, see "Our Routes" above.  A few of us may bail out of this one early, after about 20 minutes, in order to make it to the Boontling Classic 5K, a great little race/walk, if you have never been to it.  It starts at 10:00.

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.