Caspar Logging Road

A perfect morning for running or walking, 51 degrees and mostly overcast. We were on the Caspar Logging Road and we had a nice turnout. Welcome to our two guests, Lynn and Peter, hopefully they'll join us again. Also present: Johnny, John L., Nancy T., Megan, Rick S., Toni, Larry, Neil, Jan, Marc, Rod, Gay, Mark, Nancy and Tom (17). As nice as our run/walk was, it wasn't as nice as Roger's. Even though he is in England, he still did his walk this morning and had a wonderful Sunday breakfast. I'm not sure which way blogger will post these photos, there's three of them. Roger named them Bluebells, Friends and Path, and I think you'll figure which is which.

I received the following invite and it may interest you: "Hi Tom, I am an Americorps member with the Watershed Stewards Project. We work in conjunction with the CCC and various professional organizations, DFG, USFS, and Nonprofits. On June 2nd we will be hosting a invasive species removal work day at Russian Gulch State Park. I would like to invite the Fog Dodgers to start their walk at Russian Gulch State Park and help out in this event either before or after the walk. This would be a great opportunity to learn about some native and non-native plants in the local ecosystem and help restore the native vegetation. We will be removing invasive plants (Himalayan Blackberry/Scotch Broom) and working on some trails within Russian Gulch State Park on June 2nd from 10:00 am to 2:00 pm. Breakfast and Lunch will be provided by Piaci's Pizza and Harvest Market. California State Parks will be donating park day passes to all volunteers. Bring work gloves if you have them and closed toed shoes. We will meet at the Recreation Hall at 10:00 am. Signs will be posed at the main entrance booth to guide you. For more information email Rand at Rand.shoaf@ccc.ca.gov. Learn more about the Watershed Stewards Project by visiting www.watershedstewards.com. Please let me know if your club would be interested in helping with this great event! Thanks, Rand Shoaf Americorps Watershed Stewards Project Member Placed at Redwood Sciences Lab 1500 Alamar Way Fortuna, CA 95540 (707) 725-5106 x.261 rand.shoaf@ccc.ca.gov www.watershedstewards.com The Americorps Watershed Stewards Project's (WSP) mission is to conserve, restore, and enhance anadromous watersheds for future generations by linking education with high quality scientific practices. A special project of the California Conservation Corps, WSP is administered by CaliforniaVolunteers and sponsored by the Corporation for National and Community Service." We use these Coastal Trails and it is rewarding to help maintain them. It's also a good, and healthy workout!

NEXT SUNDAY, June 3rd @ 8:00 A.M.: MacKerricher Haul 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.

Russian Gulch

Photo by John L., thank you!

This morning, we went to Russian Gulch.  It was 49 degreees, calm and we were on the edge of the fog.  It was perfect for running or walking.  Present this morning:  Suzi, Fran, Nancy B., Rick, Toni, Larry, Neil, Rod, Joel, John, Orah, Steve, Charlene, Nancy and Tom (15).
  
NEXT SUNDAY, May 27th @ 8:00 A.M.: Caspar 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.

Van Damme State Park

Photo: John L.

 Happy Mother's Day! Two new people joined with us this morning, Jeanine and Joseph, welcome! Also present today: Fran, Nancy B., Rick, Toni, Larry, Cheryl, Neil, Charlene, Ron, Laurie, John, Tanya, Orah, Steve, Rod, Jennifer,  Nancy and Tom (20). It was an overcast morning and 49 degrees, good for running and walking. Fern Canyon definitely looks Spring-like (pretty) and the trail has just about dried out enough that one can avoid all mud.

Next week, try to join us at Russian Gulch, you'll see how nice that trail is now, after our Trail Work Day two weeks ago.

NEXT SUNDAY, May 20th @ 8:00 A.M.: Russian Gulch State Park, 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

Photo from John L.

We were at Big River this morning. It was another perfect morning (these never get boring) for a run or walk. Clear skies with just a little breeze and 46 degrees, just right.

John, Nancy and Tom turned around real early and headed to Boonville for the Boontling Classic 5K. We were joined in Boonville by Marc and Santa Cruz Sarah. Congratulations to Nancy, Sarah and Marc, all First Place winners!! It was pretty warm in Boonville, as far as racing goes, but we all had a real good time. Also present at Big River were: Laurie, Suzi, Orah, Steve, Megan, Rick S., Nancy T., Roger, Neil, Charlene, Ron, Elaine, Fran, Tony, Larry, Tom T. and Bob (20).

NEXT SUNDAY, 5/13/12 @ 8:00 A.M.: Van Damme State Park, 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.

Russian Gulch State Park

Photo from John L.

Another perfect morning for running and hiking. We met at Russian Gulch under clear, calm skies with the temperature at 51 degrees. Present were: John, Johnny, Joel, Bob, Jan, Marc, Cheryl, Neil, Dorothy, Fran, Shari, Peter, Nancy and Tom (14). After the run/walk, 6 of us hung around and helped the State Park Foundation's Park Champions Program do trail work on the Fern Canyon Trail. We were all really happy with the improvements that we were able to accomplish. We will be able to use this trail more often now and keep our feet clean!

The new State Parks Administration is now willing to allow us, the Fog Dodgers, to do minor trail maintenance on these trails that we run and hike on. I would like your name if you are willing to volunteer periodically for "light" trail work. I need names because we need to go to the S.P. Area Office at Russian Gulch to sign up and get briefed before they will "turn us loose". John DeLuca, Supervising Ranger, is willing to meet with us all at once or two or three at a time and it won't take long to do it. Please send me your name, triley(AT)mcn.org .

NEXT SUNDAY, May 6th @ 8:00 A.M.: Big River Logging Road (see "Our Routes" above). Five or six of us will turn around early and head to Boonville for The Boontling Classic, 5K Race/Competitive Walk, which begins at 10:00. If you haven't been there and done that, it's a fun one with lots of Raffle Prizes!

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

Thank you, John L.

It couldn't get much better! It's Springtime here but it looked a lot like summer. Along the coast and in the river canyons lie a thick blanket of fog. Driving up Navarro Ridge, we broke into sunshine and bright blue, 50 degree skies, just a hundred feet west of the Grange. Our walk/run along the ridge just couldn't be better. It was a beautiful morning, enjoyed by: Nancy T. and Roger, Tanya, Bob, John, Nancy B. and Rick, Cindy and Jim, Fran, Dorothy, Nancy and Tom (13). Seven stayed on for breakfast at the Grange.

For next week, please read last week's blog entry regarding volunteer work at Russian Gulch State Park. For those interested in helping our State Parks, you could stick around after our run/walk and do a little work. Also, please note in that same blog entry, that I would like names of Fog Dodgers that would be interested in helping to maintain the Russian Gulch trail. This is in addition to the one day effort next Sunday. Please send your name to me at triley(AT)mcn.org . We have a "core" group already, made up of those that run Russian Gulch each Tuesday but would like more names, doesn't matter whether you run or walk. Do you prune?

NEXT SUNDAY, April 29 @ 8:00 A.M.: Russian Gulch State Park, 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

Another great day on the coast and another good turnout.  It must be spring!  Tom tells me it was 47° when we started - while the rest of were just excited that we didn't have to face that strong wind that often funnels along the Big River.

There were 21 of us this morning, plus 3 dogs.  Tom & Nancy, Nancy & Roger, Nancy & Rick, Marc & Jan, Larry, Toni, Peter & Shari, Tom T, Fran, Neil, Joel, Ron & Charlene, Bob, Elaine, and John L (with thanks for the photo of Mendocino early this morning).  Breakfast for 12 followed at Davids where we apparently helped train their new chef!

The letter below is from John Deluca, Area Superintendant of State Parks. If any of you would be interested in doing a little volunteer work on the trails at Russian Gulch, please let me know at triley@mcn.org. I will be contacting John about what all he has in mind and what time is best for a meeting. I don't know if we all will have to attend a meeting or if Nancy and I can represent us. At this time we are just interested in seeing how many of our group would be willing to help. 
Tom

Hi Tom,

I wanted to give you a heads up for a volunteer work day that is scheduled for the end of the month. The California State Parks Foundation’s Parks Champions Program will host a volunteer workday that will focus on the Fern Canyon Trail at Russian Gulch. The workday is scheduled for April 29, 2012 from 9am to 1pm. Advance registration is required and this can be done on line by following the link below. Please spread the word to Fog Dodger members.

Also, I would like to sign up interested Fog Dodgers as State Parks volunteers so we can start planning regular work days to improve the Fern Canyon Trail at Russian Gulch. Please let me know if there is a date and time that would work best for your group to meet at the District Office to start the sign up process.

http://calparks.org/programs/volunteer/park-champions/

Take care,

John De Luca

NEXT SUNDAY, April 22nd @ 8:00 A.M.: NAVARRO RIDGE (with breakfast at the Grange)
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.