BIG RIVER ROAD (a.k.a. THE RON JAHELKA TRAIL)

 It's a good time of year to hike Big River: no mosquitos; nice and cool, but we were spared the icy winds; and the road is in pretty good shape. This time we had a new hiker, Mark Alexander, who was trying out Fogdodgers. Besides Mark, there were Deb, Sam, Bob, Charlene, Shari, Nancy, Tom, John, Sky, Joe and Kim, with a very confused Bowie, looking for his other master. There has been a lot of work at the old quarry on the north side of the road. On returning from the hike we were greeted by Sam with libations: samples of his home pressed cider. Quite a treat!

Afterwards eight of us went to the Good Life Cafe where a couple of us tried one of the specials, huckleberry pancakes.

John's photos for the day:

Sams-Open-Bar-Apple-Juice

Big-River-Road-Patterns

Big-River-Looking-west

Fog-Dodgers-Head-of-the-pack

Patterns-on-a-stone

Big-River-Nov.-Morning

Blue-Greens

NEXT SUNDAY, November 12 @ 8:00 A.M.: GROUP RUN/WALK/BIKE, PUDDING CREEK TRESTLE (HAUL ROAD). 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.

COASTAL TRAIL-SOUTH

It was a beautiful day on the coastal trail if a bit chilly and a little windy. We started at the south end and hiked north up past the Crow's Nest. Present were Nancy, Tom, Diana, Jeff, Cindy, Eric, John, Fran, Jean, Kim, Doug, Bowie, Sky, Toni and Joe. Cheryl and Scott came by a little later as well.

Afterwards seven of us went to breakfast at the Laurel Deli.

Here are John's photos for the week:

Halloween-Moon

Morning-Moon-Set-Noyo

Noyo-Out-to-Sea

Noyo-Bridge

NEXT SUNDAY, November 5 @ 8:00 A.M.: GROUP RUN/WALK/BIKE, BIG RIVER ROAD (a.k.a. THE RON JAHELKA TRAIL). 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.

JSF ROAD 450

It was rainy at the start of today's walk at Jackson State Forest Road 450 and the rain picked up as we walked. However this didn't stop a decent sized group of determined Fogdodgers. Hiking were John, Charlene, Eric, Nancy, Tom, Deb, Sam, Diana, Jeff, Shari, Toni, and Joe. And, to her credit, Fran showed up but decide to bail as the path was looking slippery.  In spite of the rain everyone seemed happy to have come.

After the walk 11 of us went to breakfast at the Homestyle Cafe amid rumors that it will be closing soon as the landlord is planning to raise the rent too much. In spite of the restaurant being crowded to the point that some of us had to park way down the street, the staff fairly quickly found a place for us and we all enjoyed a nice breakfast.

Here are John's photo for this week:

Nancy-at-Angelo's (in memory)

Hummer

Georgetown-Halloween

Begonia

Pumpkin-Patch

Princess-Flower

NEXT SUNDAY, October 29 @ 8:00 A.M.: GROUP RUN/WALK/BIKE, COASTAL TRAIL - SOUTH (Taco Bell). 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.

CASPAR LOGGING ROAD

Last Sunday several Fogdodgers were away on various adventures (the Fleet Week adventure sounded like a lot of fun - wish I had joined). This Sunday most of the adventurers were back and attended the hike at CASPAR LOGGING ROAD. It was a cool, foggy morning, great for walking, but a little scary for driving. Hiking were Nancy, Tom, Deb, Sam, Fran, Jean, Charlene, Sky, and Joe. In addition to the hike, there were cucumbers and pears available for those who wanted.

It being a sports day, the breakfast crowd was thin, just three of us went to Denny's.

An update added on Monday, 10/16:  Fran texted Nancy Banker's son, Sam, after hearing from Deb and Sam of a confusing Facebook message regarding Nancy Banker while on our walk this past Sunday.  Fran's message for all Fog Dodgers is:

"Nancy Banker died on Saturday. At some point there will be an informal ceremony to inter Nancy’s and Rick’s ashes at the Caspar cemetery. Sam will let me know when."

John is experimenting with his new iPhone. Here are his photos for the week:

Buck-on-Simpson-Lane

Caspar White Egret

Halloween-Pic-2

Skunk-Train-Bicycle-Cars

NEXT SUNDAY, October 22 @ 8:00 A.M.: GROUP RUN/WALK/BIKE, JACKSON STATE FOREST ROAD 450 (1.9 miles up Simpson on the left). 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.

WARD AVENUE

Many regular Fog Dodgers were off traveling and visiting on this day.  Fortunately, Sky, and three others, Fran, Shari and Eric (4) were able to get the hike in, and keep our 25 year streak alive!  Thanks, Sky, for taking roll and also for taking these nice photos of the day.

                                           A fog bow at MacKerricher State Park

You know what this is.  Thanks Sky for the photos.

Canada Geese at MacKerricher State Park

There was mention last week of the large number in attendance and maybe a record.  Nope, not even close.  On 6/30/2013, we had 37 Fog Dodgers present!  I'd be surprised if we ever came close to that again.  Things are different now and we've all grown wiser, and maybe a little slower, perhaps older.  Whatever, it's a great group.

It's been 3 months since we've hiked or ran on the Caspar Logging Road.  Hopefully, I'll see you there next Sunday!

NEXT SUNDAY,  10/15/23 @ 8:00 A.M.: GROUP RUN/WALK/BIKE,  CASPAR LOGGING ROAD. 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.

Perhaps a record number of Fogdodgers showed up for the hike at Glass Beach. Present were Nancy, Tom, Diana, Jeff, Sky, John, Jean, Fran, Eric, Shari, Deb, Sam, Kim, Doug, Bowie, Cheryl, Scott, Charlene, Toni, and Joe. It was feeling like fall - nice and cool, overall a beautiful morning. The air had been cleared by the recent light rain and the surf was up but the winds were light.

Afterwards several Fogdodgers went to Denny's for breakfast.

Here are John's photos for the day:

Haul-Road-Ground-Squirrel

Early-Morning-Laurel-Street

Frolic-Rendition

NEXT SUNDAY, October 8 @ 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.

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

Quite a few Fogdodgers showed up at the Inn at the Cobbler's Walk for the SPRING RANCH hike this Sunday. Hiking were John, Sky, Eric, Jean, Charlene (who walked form her house), Fran, Shari, Deb, Sam, Nancy, Tom, Diana, Jeff, Toni and Joe. The trail made its way winding through the woods for quite a ways (lions and tigers and bears, oh my!) emerging onto the bluffs overlooking the Pacific. Lots of bull kelp is starting to come back - a good sign. Many pelicans were gliding low over the water, riding on the ground effect. The sky was dark in several places, promising rain. Several of us went over to look at the blow hole which is set back a fair distance from the shore. The hike was not too long but it felt good to be walking on earth, though the trail was eroded a bit deeply in places. This is not a good trail in the spring, when it tends to be muddy, but very nice in the fall. I hope everybody checked themselves for ticks (though Toni and I did not find any).

After the walk five of us headed way down to the Whitesburough Grange for their pancake breakfast with the local blackberry syrup, flavorful and not overly sweet. Another group went to the Good Life.

John got a chance to take lots of photos. He will be switching to an iPhone 15 to avoid having to carry his heavy camera.

Spring-Ranch-Blue-Sky

Spring-Ranch

Spring-Ranch-View

Spring-Ranch-View-of-Mendocino

Spring-Ranch-Pelican

Spring-Ranch-Oyster-Catcher

NEXT SUNDAY, October 1st @ 8:00 A.M.: GROUP RUN/WALK/BIKE,COASTAL TRAIL - NORTH (GLASS BEACH). 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.