WARD AVENUE

On the way to Ward Avenue this morning, John caught a beautiful sunrise.  Thanks, John, for this and all of today's photos.

I think it was 45 degrees this morning, not too bad.  It was nice to not have rain, though we finished just in time to avoid it!  The ocean was beautiful today, great waves!  It was interesting to see Lake Cleone, flooded over the parking lot and over Mill Creek Drive.  There's no getting to Laguna Point for now.  I'm not sure how long it will take to remedy the situation.

The Dead Forest, or what the beetles have wrought

Present today: Cindy, John, Nancy T., Charlene, Ron, Deb, Sam, Cheryl, Neil, Shari, Peter, Toni, Joe,
Nancy and Tom (15).

Where we started, but taken yesterday, thanks John.

NEXT SUNDAY, JAN. 12TH, 8:00 A.M., GROUP RUN AND WALK, BIG RIVER

EVERY TUESDAY AND THURSDAY, GROUP RUN @ 7:00 A.M.: BIG RIVER LOGGING ROAD ON TUESDAY AND HEESER DRIVE/MENDOCINO ON THURSDAY. 

COASTAL TRAIL - SOUTH

A very brisk 47 degrees this morning, as we started on the coastal trail.  At about half way, it started to rain lightly but nice compared to last week.  We had a small group this morning.

Present today:  Nancy T., Nancy B., Toni, Joe, Bob, John, Nancy and Tom (8).  So many Nancys!

photo by J. Loomis

Thanks to John, for all of the pictures today.  He went on the Skunk Train with visiting family and took a few photos and then evidently hung around the harbor long enough to catch a pretty sunset.  It seems that wherever he goes, he finds something worth a photograph!

Sunset from Pomo Bluffs Park, J. Loomis photo

Pudding Creek

NEXT SUNDAY, JAN. 5TH, 8:00 A.M., GROUP RUN AND WALK, WARD AVENUE

EVERY TUESDAY AND THURSDAY, GROUP RUN @ 7:00 A.M.: BIG RIVER LOGGING ROAD ON TUESDAY AND HEESER DRIVE/MENDOCINO ON THURSDAY. 

PUDDING CREEK TRESTLE

Pudding Creek Trestle today

Holy smokes!  What a run/walk we had today! We started out during a fairly good rain but at our backs and not a real problem.  Things went south real fast when we turned around and evidently the front came through.  We had rain pelting us being driven by wind that must have been 40 mph!

Pudding Creek Trestle on a better day

It was actually kind of scary, trying to cross the Pudding Creek Trestle.  Nancy thought she might fly away!

John takes nice photos but the picture taken today of Pudding Creek Trestle doesn't really show how the rain and wind were.






Rainbow over Mendocino, thanks John.


Present at Pudding Creek today:  Charlene and Ron (but they couldn't stay), Joe, Toni, Bob, John, Nancy and Tom (8).

Another interesting and pretty picture from John.  This is the private driveway going out to Chapman's Point, on the south edge of Mendocino Bay.

NEXT SUNDAY, Dec. 29, 8:00 A.M., GROUP RUN AND WALK, COASTAL TRAIL - SOUTH, (Taco Bell)

EVERY TUESDAY AND THURSDAY, GROUP RUN @ 7:00 A.M.: BIG RIVER LOGGING ROAD ON TUESDAY AND HEESER DRIVE/MENDOCINO ON THURSDAY. 

POMO BLUFFS PARK - NOYO BAY

A Christmas Greeting from John L.  Thanks, John for all of today's photos.

We ran and walked at Pomo Bluffs Park this morning, then across the Noyo Bridge and onto the Coastal Trail.

John says that the walkers deserve an extra star today, for walking into the very cold drizzle that started about the same time that we did.

Present this morning:  Geri, Nancy T., Shari, Peter, Cheryl, Neil, Charlene, Ron, Deb, Sam, Bob, John, Nancy and Tom (14).

Coast Guard back from patrol

Noyo Misty morning

Noyo Moon Set

                      

Noyo Bay, mix of weather

After our run/walk, we had a nice potluck breakfast.  It was smaller than most years since some are traveling right now but especially nice since Geri was able to join us.

NEXT SUNDAY, Dec. 22, 8:00 A.M., GROUP RUN AND WALK, PUDDING CREEK TRESTLE

EVERY TUESDAY AND THURSDAY, GROUP RUN @ 7:00 A.M.: BIG RIVER LOGGING ROAD ON TUESDAY AND HEESER DRIVE/MENDOCINO ON THURSDAY. 

COASTAL TRAIL MIDDLE

OK, where was everybody?  There were 4 intrepid Fog Dodgers at the trail this morning.  It was foggy/misty and 51 degrees when we started out.  By the time we were headed back to the parking lot the sky was growing lighter and there were patches of blue.

Franklin Street Decorations - John L.

It was a very nice temperature for a walk or run.  It wasn't windy and as always, the views were spectacular.  The four of use who made it were John, Sam, Deb and Nancy T.

Ho Ho Ho - John L.

 Thank you John, for the photos.  It's great to see the Christmas spirit in Fort Bragg.

Laurel Street Decorations - John L.

NEXT SUNDAY, Dec 15th @ 8:00 A.M.: Pomo Bluffs Park

Pot Luck Breakfast after the run/walk, at the Riley's.

EVERY TUESDAY AND THURSDAY, GROUP RUN @ 7:00 A.M.: BIG RIVER LOGGING ROAD ON TUESDAY AND HEESER DRIVE/MENDOCINO ON THURSDAY.

Thankful for being a Fog Dodger, Caspar Logging Roads

Caspar Logging Road

The Caspar logging road provided an ideal winter setting for a morning walk or jog. The road was blanketed in Redwood and Fir needles telling of recent gusty winds. Today however was calm and peaceful with no wind and only a hint of sprinkling for a brief moment at the start.

Caspar swirling clouds

The temperature, a mild 51 degrees, was a pleasant change from the low 30's that frosted the coastline the previous mornings. Some Fog Dodgers, dressed for colder weather, were soon peeling off a layer of outer wear to keep from over heating.

Caspar pond

We bent Tom's rule of starting at exactly 8 AM. For reasons unknown a few were eager to get moving so we set off 30 seconds early. I don't think anyone got left behind. 

Caspar sheep ready for shearing

The attendance was good, culminating an extended holiday with family and friends. 
Present were John, Sam, Deb, Ron, Charlene, Toni, Bob, Shari, and Peter with son and daughter-in-law Ben and Erin.

Botanical Garden rainbow

  A visual reward presented itself as we were           driving away and nearing highway 1. A full 
 rainbow appeared to the west over the village of   Caspar. 
 No it was not the Botanical Garden.




All of the wonderful photos are from John Loomis. My favorites are the swirling clouds and Caspar sheep.
Thank you John.





NEXT SUNDAY, DATE @ 8:00 A.M.: Coastal Trail-middle (behind fire station)
EVERY TUESDAY AND THURSDAY, GROUP RUN @ 7:00 A.M.: BIG RIVER LOGGING ROAD ON TUESDAY AND HEESER DRIVE/MENDOCINO ON THURSDAY.

NAVARRO RIDGE ROAD

Navarro Redwoods, J. Loomis photo

We returned to Navarro Ridge Road after a long absence.  It was, as we all remembered, hilly and beautiful.  I think it was 41 degrees at start time with a slight breeze and mostly sunshine.  John's photo above shows how the fog forms in the river canyons.

Navarro Ridge Road, J. Loomis photo

The photo above, shows how pretty the road is as it goes thru some very large second growth redwoods.

There's almost always some wildlife to catch your attention and then there's the old barns and farms.

Only eight of us could make it this morning, but we enjoyed it enough that I think we won't stay away so long from now on.  The Grange volunteers made us feel welcome and it's hard to beat an $8 breakfast!

Present today, John, Nancy T., Deb, Sam, Joe, Bob, Nancy and Tom (8).

We will have our annual pot luck breakfast on Dec. 15th.  It will be at the Riley's.  You can bring anything edible or drinkable, or if you can't do that, just come!

Sunday, 12/1 Caspar Logging Road
Sunday, 12/8 Coastal Trail - Middle (Behind Fire Station)
Sunday, 12/15 Pomo Bluffs Park, Pot Luck Breakfast after the run/walk, at the Riley's.

NEXT SUNDAY, Dec. 1st @ 8:00 A.M.:  CASPAR LOGGING ROAD

EVERY TUESDAY AND THURSDAY, GROUP RUN @ 7:00 A.M.: BIG RIVER LOGGING ROAD ON TUESDAY AND HEESER DRIVE/MENDOCINO ON THURSDAY.