WARD AVENUE

We lucked out with the weather today at WARD AVENUE. A sunny morning and relatively cool air made for a pleasant walk. Hiking were Sky and his brother, Bill, Diana, Jeff, Kim, Doug, and Bowie, Nancy, Tom, Deb, Sam, Eric, Joe, John, and Pat, with Leon joining us after the walk.

Afterwards approximately nine of us went to Denny's while Joe waited until ten so he could attend the french toast breakfast at the Noyo Center's field station.

John sent me these photos:

Mackerricher-in-August

Mackerricher-young-buck-in-Rut

Mackerricher-Quail

Flower

Rock-for-Sale

Wood-Stove

Peace

And a photo from Joe of the Noyo Center's french toast breakfast 

NEXT SUNDAY, August 10 @ 8:00 A.M.: GROUP RUN/WALK/BIKE, VAN DAMME. 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.

NAVARRO RIDGE

We came back to NAVARRO RIDGE partially to help the grange there, who are having trouble staying open and recruiting new members. Weather was cool and misty at times. We had a healthy turnout: Claudette, Bob, Shari, Diana, Jeff, Joe, Nancy, Tom, John,Sky,Charlene Jean, Pat. Leon joined us for breakfast.

Afterwards twelve of us had the pancake breakfast at the Whitesboro Grange. Very good as usual.

John's photos:

Navarro-Ridge-Barn

Foggy-Fog-Dodgers

Belted-Galloway-2

Turkey-Vultures

Big-River-down-by-the-stairs-low-tide

Presbyterian-Church

Plum Picker

NEXT SUNDAY, August 3 @ 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.

POMO BLUFFS

We hiked under cloudy skies south from POMO BLUFFS to the mouth of Hare Creek. In attendance were Nancy, Tom, Eric, Diana, Jeff, Joe, John, Kelly, Deb, Sam, Charlene, Jean, Mark, and a couple new to our group, Eve and Gary.

Here are John's photos: 

Pomo-North-view

Pomo-Bluffs-Painter

Rock-Rocky-fishing

Hare-Creek-Bluff-House

Hare-Creek

Sam-with-Beach-Finds

Caspar-Ballet-Wizard-of-Oz

Caspar-Gorse-Monster

NEXT SUNDAY, July 27 @ 8:00 A.M.: GROUP RUN/WALK/BIKE, NAVARRO RIDGE. 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.

BIG RIVER

This week we hiked at Big River. The skies were overcast and unfortunately there was no wind, so the mosquitoes were out in force. There were lots of Fogdodgers: Jean, Fran, Kelly, John, Sky, Charlene, Kim, Doug, and Bowie, Pat, Diana, Jeff, Mark, Eric, Joe, Beth, Bob, Nancy, Tom, and Shari. Did I miss anyone?

Afterwards many of us went to Tony's (St Anthony's) for their pancake breakfast.

Big-River-Cruising

Snail-at-Big-River

Big-River-Water-Walkers

Big-River-Low-Tide

Dandy-Lion-Seed-Pod

Big-River-East

Tomato

Plantain-medicinal-plant-edible

NEXT SUNDAY, July 20 @ 8:00 A.M.: GROUP RUN/WALK/BIKE, POMO BLUFFS. 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

It's been a little while since we hiked CASPAR LOGGING ROAD (4/13/25). The weather was nice, cool and a bit foggy. Hiking were Fran, Jean, Eric, Shari, Sky, John, Deb, Sam, Nancy, Tom, Joe, and, a bit later, Pat (sans Leon). Nothing special to report except, perhaps, that the hill seems steeper than it used to be when we were a bit younger. With the summer many of us are taking trips here and there.

Afterward we dispersed with various plans for breakfast, including, for Joe and Shari, a french toast breakfast at the Noyo Science Center's field station in the harbor, where we were joined by Peter. 

 John's photos:

Blackberry-bloom

Cosmos 1

Cosmos 2

Cosmos 3

Plum-Time

Sweat-Pea

Take-a-break

NEXT SUNDAY, July 13 @ 8:00 A.M.: GROUP RUN/WALK/BIKE, BIG RIVER. 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.

It's summer at RUSSIAN GULCH. The blackberries, nettles, wild cucumber, etc. are reaching out into the trail. Hiking were Charlene, Jean, Fran, Diana, Jeff, Deb, Sam, Eric, Nancy, Tom, John, Kelly (toting a pack for extra exercise), Joe, Sky, Beth, and Bob.

On our way down the hill we heard lost of complaints from what sounded like a baby osprey. One of the parents was patiently roosting on the edge of the nest standing guard. Presumably the other parent was out over the ocean attending to breakfast. The nest is at the top of a tall dead pine tree, so have a look if your out that way. The babies should be fledging shortly, but will still depend on the parents for chow for quite a while until they face up to the cold plunge into the ocean to catch their own.

Afterwards ten of us ate at the Good Life cafe. 

John's photos are from Caspar Beach this time:

Blue-Heron-Duo-Accompanied-by-White-Egret (I believe the bricks in the foreground were the foundation of the furnace of the old Caspar mill. Steam powered almost everything in the mill and supplied electricity to Caspar)

Caspar-Bay-June-Low-tide

Caspar-Creek-June-Marine-Layer

Caspar-Point-June

Caspar-Old-Garage-holding-on

Caspar-Old-Hiway-Bull

Caspar-Real-Estate

NEXT SUNDAY, July 6 @ 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.

GLASS BEACH

This time we went to GLASS BEACH. It was a beautiful Sunday and the wind was mild, a relief from the previous days. Hiking were Diana, Jeff, Kelly, Eric, John, Pat (back from Texas, with Leon staying with the car), Nancy, Tom, Kim, Doug, and Bowie, Jean, Sky, Fran, Joe, and later, Beth and Bob.

Afterwards some when to the nearby Denny's while six of us went up to Navarro Ridge to the Whitesboro Grange breakfast. It was encouraging to see that the grange breakfast was very well attended so hopefully they will continue to offer this breakfast option in the future. I am planning the hike for Navarro Ridge on the fourth Sunday in July.

Here are John's photos for the week:

Glass-Beach-Trail-Beggar

Fox-Glove

Glass-Beach-Blackbirds

Greenhouse

Sun

Moon

NEXT SUNDAY, June 29 @ 8:00 A.M.: GROUP RUN/WALK/BIKE, RUSSIAN GULCH. 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.