Russian Gulch AND Ward Avenue

For those that make it, the J-H waterfall

Well this morning's walk added a small extra element of interest. 7 of the group that had not had their early cup of coffee before checking the location of today's walk, misread Tom's blog and went to Ward Avenue.  The rest of us, 13, went to the correct location, Russian Gulch. In mitigation however, I have to say Tom, the way you wrote the blog did require careful reading to get it right!

It was a lovely warm morning, about 60 deg.  Altogether there were 20 walkers - Cindy, Cheryl W, Donna, Jackie, Joe, Toni, Laura, Michael C, Neil, Cheryl, Peter, Shari, Ron, Charlene, Nancy B, Zelda, Pat, Leon, Roger and Nancy T.

The Jug Handle Bridge

To add even more interest to the morning, 5 from each group decided to go to breakfast. The speed reader group had the foresight to book a table at David's for 5. So when the 5 careful readers arrived, Kira gave us the reserved Fogdodgers table.  We just assumed Kira was clairvoyant. When the other 5 arrived, Kira, with her positive, can do attitude (what a wonderful world it would be if it were full of Kiras), gave us another table reserved for 10 (how serendipitous was that), and found a table for the other group by the time they arrived.

For those that missed the Salmon Barbeque, July 4th.

So the morning turned out to great for everyone.  And just so there's no confusion, next Sunday, the 19th July, the walk IS at Ward Avenue.

NEXT SUNDAY, July 19th @ 8:00 A.M.: Ward Ave

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.
For the following 2 Sundays:
Sun. July 26th, Pudding Creek Trestle
Sun. Aug. 2, Big River

CASPAR LOGGING ROAD

          John's version of a fireworks display.  Thank you, John, for all of today's pictures.

Thank you, Ron, for bringing your sister, Sandy, and her husband, Jim.  Jim ran with us and is a good, steady runner.  It was also nice to have Joel with us today, out in front on his bike.  Also present this morning, Charlene, Fran, Geri, Tom T., Tabi, Toni, Joe, Jackie, Bob, John, Cyd, Nancy B., Nancy T., Roger, Steve, Nancy and Tom (21).

J. Loomis photo

It was 58 degrees, overcast and calm at 8:00 this morning, perfect for running or walking.  The Caspar Logging Roads, both 500 and 600, are kind of rocky but otherwise great for walking, running and biking.  It was a nice morning and 12 of us capped it off by going to David's for breakfast.

J. Loomis photo

Sun. July 19th, Ward Ave.

Sun. July 26th, Pudding Creek Trestle
Sun. Aug. 2, Big River

NEXT SUNDAY, JULY 12TH @ 8:00 A.M.:  RUSSIAN GULCH, 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

It was 59 degrees, overcast and calm at Big River this morning, perfect weather for the mosquitoes.  Surprisingly, they weren't too bad at the beginning.  I'm not sure how it was for walking but it was okay throughout our run.  I suspect that a few stayed home though, because of these.

All photos are from John, thanks.

I wasn't as worried about the mosquitoes as I was about tripping and falling, having done just that twice over the past two weeks.   They really don't want to see me at the hospital again.  They say I should be doing Tai Chi and not running.

Present today:  Fran, Neil, Tom T., Cheryl, Laura, Charlene, Ron, Toni, Nancy B., Deb, Sam, Shari, John, Cyd, Jackie, Nancy and Tom (17).

It was a nice run today and next week should be even better, for walkers especially, no mosquitoes!  The Caspar Logging Roads offer several different options and should be a quiet place to escape the busy holiday weekend on the coast.

One of John's plum trees.  Thank you, John, for all of today's photos.

NEXT SUNDAY, JULY 5TH @ 8:00 A.M.:  CASPAR LOGGING ROADS, see "Our Routes" above.

Sun. July 12th, Russian Gulch

Sun. July 19th, Ward Ave.

Sun. July 26th, 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.

Jackson State Forest Road 450

It was a typical summer morning for the coast - a bit overcast, though it was a very pleasant 55° and no wind. Not only is it a happy Father's Day for all our dad's, but a special day for Tom celebrating his birthday.  However, it wasn't because of sleeping off the after effects of a birthday party, but he and Nancy are collecting their new RV (which, I understand is large enough to hold the Fog Dodger's next pot luck).

It's also the summer solstice, so today we have the most daylight hours for the year.  A great day for a barbeque.  For those that were awake during the short night (like John), may have seen the sliver of the solstice moon last night.

There was a great turnout for today's walk, including - Gay, Mark, Peter, Shari, John, Rick, Nancy B., Charlene, Ron, Toni, Joe, Geri, Tom T., Syd, Lisa & Tabi with Linaea and Zaviar (who had the easiest walk), Michael, Zelda, Roger, Nancy T., Cheryl, Neil.

Neil, living the closest to the walk, proved the empirical law, that arrival time is inversely proportional to distance traveled!

Nine of us enjoyed great company and a good breakfast at David's.  We were lucky to get a table as the line was way down the sidewalk when we left, and the Dad's even got a free cup of coffee.  Thanks Kira.

Again, many thanks to John and Google for the photos.

NEXT SUNDAY, June 28th @ 8:00 A.M.: Big River Logging Road
Sun. July 5th, Caspar Logging Road

Sun. July 12th, Russian Gulch

Sun. July 19th, Ward Ave.

Sun. July 26th, 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.

Van Damme State Park's Fern Canyon

The outer reef at Little River, J. Loomis photo

John was in Santa Cruz this morning but he thought enough of us to send me a few of his Van Damme photos.  Thank you, John.

Great Blue Heron, J. Loomis photo

 It was 49 degrees with overcast and it was calm, perfect for a run or a walk.   Present today:  Cindy, Jackie, Fran, Nancy B., Rick, Toni, Joe, Charlene, Ron, Melissa, Katie, Roger, Jennifer, Shari, Peter,
Nancy and Tom (17).

Little River anchorage, J. Loomis photo

Van Damme State Park's Fern Canyon used to be the favorite trail for many of us.  Due to neglecting trail maintenance by Department of Parks and Recreation, I know of several from our Fog Dodgers Group  that no longer come to Van Damme.  Besides the mud holes, there's the stinging nettles, poison oak, fallen trees and as my stitched hands can attest, rocky trip hazards.  The trail could be a real jewell, instead, it is an embarrassment to California.  Sorry for the editorial.

Snowy egret, J. Loomis photo

Upcoming dates and venues:

Sun. June 21st, Jackson State Forest Road 450 (that's the one out Simpson Lane)
Sun. June 28th, Big River Logging Road
Sun. July 5th, Caspar Logging Road

Sun. July 12th, Russian Gulch

Sun. July 19th, Ward Ave.

Sun. July 26th, Pudding Creek Trestle

NEXT SUNDAY, June 21st @ 8:00 A.M.: Jackson State Forest, Road 450, see "Our Routes" above.  Hint:  It's out Simpson Lane.

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.

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.