The Fog Dodgers invite all residents and visitors of the Mendocino Coast to join us on our weekly group runs and walks. We have runners and walkers of all abilities (and even some bikers) and we have only one "rule" - we start at exactly 8:00 a.m. on Sundays. Exercise at your own pace (1/2 hour out, 1/2 hour back) and experience the fresh Mendocino coastal air.

Fog Dodgers provides a fun, safe way to explore some of our local trails and back roads and to meet new friends. You can find out where we're going to be by reading the bottom of last week's post, then clicking on the "Our Routes" tab above. We average 15-20 persons each Sunday and typically half will go to breakfast together afterwards at a nearby restaurant.

Sunday, July 27, 2025

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.

Sunday, July 20, 2025

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.

Sunday, July 13, 2025

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.

Sunday, July 6, 2025

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.

Monday, June 30, 2025

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.

Monday, June 23, 2025

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.

Sunday, June 15, 2025

WARD AVENUE

Today we walked at WARD AVENUE, our northernmost route since losing access to the road at Ten Mile. A smaller group than last week was in attendance. Hiking were Jean, Nancy, Tom, Shari, John, Mark, Eric, Toni, Joe, and, briefly, Fran. Sky also came along later.

No breakfast group this time as many were going to the Compche BBQ.

As usual, John sent some pictures:

Mackerricher-Lake-in-June

Mackerricher-Bird-Portrait
Fox-Glove
Fog-Dodgers-on-way-back
Bird-in-the-Bush
Nyes-Organic-Garden 
NEXT SUNDAY, June 22 @ 8:00 A.M.: GROUP RUN/WALK/BIKE, 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.