Bye Bye

Mixed Bag

I'm happy to report the missing Happy Lane sign has been replaced with a new one.

I'm sad to report I drove out to Happy Lane to take this photo instead of walking. For some reason my right foot has been acting up and being sore. My brother suggests maybe I am walking too much but what would a couch potato know! Anyway, I have discovered a sore foot really does govern walking distance!

I'm happy to report the $4.00 price break was broken at our local Chevron during Memorial Day Weekend. Just like I predicted!

I'm sad to report I am leaving for Seattle this week and will be thrust into the experience of filling up three times betwixt here and there.

I'm happy to report I got this award from Mark at Beating the Bounds.

The sad thing is, I got this "award" because my blog reportage has been slipping and, sorry Mark, it will slip even further during these upcoming six weeks my wife and I are in Seattle. Between my sore foot and a 28k phone line at my mother-in-law's house.... well, this "walking" blog will continue to be spotty but don't give up.

Just like I have not given up on:

Suzanne at Strolling Socorro.

And Spike at This isn't Sydney.

Hang in there!!!

Bingo!

As gas prices go up and frustrations increase the idea of going for a walk might become more of an option and, you might be surprised by what you happen to see while walking. For instance...

I love this photo taken by a blogger who walks, photographs and writes (very well) at Beating the Bounds.

Another inspiration, Wandering Around Kansas. Another walker, writer and photographer.

Walking and Gawking. Try it! It is cheaper than Gas!

Whoopie

Woo Hoo! I figured it out! Regular is now only 1.05 per liter!!

During my wanderings I noticed paint marks like these on the various newly installed ADA corners. Had me puzzled for a while but I now think Public Works is getting ready to paint the corner curbs red. Like the Zen Master said, "We'll see".

Updates

A sudden heat wave hit the Pacific coast from Seattle to San Diego last Thursday. Friday the afternoon temperature in Fort Bragg was bumping 90 F but Saturday morning (above photo) the marine layer started to arrive and we are now enjoying foggy overcast and temperatures in the 50's while inland the heat is on!

During my walk I noticed the new lamp post has arrived at the PG&E yard to replace the one that was snapped off by a car at the North East corner of Redwood and Franklin.

Remember the "Hitch-hiker" tree along Main Street?

This is all that remains. It has finally been cut down.

Hurry! Chevron is having a Pre-Memorial Day sale!!

Fellow 'mericans

Hard to believe.

Heat Wave

"We're having a heat wave, a tropical heat wave"!! The past several weeks the temperature at 6:00 AM has varied between 41 and 48. Yesterday it was 41. This morning it was 60!!

"Summertime, Summertime, sum sum summertime". Yeah!!

This vintage toy spotted in one of the antique shops along Franklin Street.

Ten Thousand Step Walk

This Sunday, May 18th, Willits Healthy Action Team (W.H.A.T.) invites you to join us for the first Annual Spring Walk through Willits. The walk is a 10,000 step loop (about 5 miles) that takes 1 1/2 to 2 hours for most people to complete. Walk as much or as little as you would like.

Registration begins at 11:00 AM. The walk will begin at 11:30 AM.

* Where: City Park (across from the Willits Community Center).

* How much: It's free for all.

* Bring: Water, hat, sunscreen.

*Also Bring: Lunch for afterwards. Blanket to sit on. We will picnic in the park.

*Well-behaved dogs on leashes are welcome.

*Prizes are being donated by local businesses.

*We will walk rain or shine.

Who's Behind the Walk:

The walk was developed by a group of local citizens, the Willits Health Action Team (WHAT), who are committed to improving the physical, psychological, social and spiritual health of our community.

For more information contact Jed Diamond (707-459-5505)

**************

I'm going. Anybody wants to ride to Willits with me and do this walk e-mail me at ron@walkingfortbragg.com or call 357-4819. Maybe we can get some ideas for a similar event in Fort Bragg.

Blogging Bog

It seems I have run out of images that spark comment or photos! I'm sure it is just me and not Fort Bragg. I'm just going through a phase but it is strange, why now when sunny mornings have finally caught up to my 6 AM time slot? The flower are in full riot, the birds are carrying on! It is all beautiful but....

Meanwhile, the walking part is still happening. I'm still getting up and out the door in the early morning. And, I have a new goal. My goal is to do a two week backpacking hike in the High Sierras this Fall with some avid high Sierra hiking friends. They have been doing it for years. This will be my first time. So, I need to build up my strength, start carrying a pack with progressive weight. I need to learn about light weight foods that contains a lot of energy. I really want to go but I also want to be able to do my part and not be a drag. And....

Lolli and I are going to the Pacific Northwest for all of June and half of July to visit relatives. Since I am not a great visitor I am taking my kayak along! My plan is to keep walking and get in some quality kayaking on Puget Sound between visits!

So...,

This blog will cover all these upcoming events but on a more leisurely summer like schedule.

I hope you will check in now and then.

Ron

Belated

Higher and Higher

Meanwhile...

Here are two photos I took during our recent Spring Break trip to the East Mojave. This one of the sun setting beyond the Tehachapi Mountains....

and this of the moon rising just behind us! I included these photos for Sky Watch Friday a blog location containing links to amazing sky photos.

P is for Pot Hole

Our tactile experience has now been visually enhanced!

I found these specimens along Whipple street.

Some of the pot hole shapes are quite interesting.

This is looking east on Winifred. Nice.

At the East end of Maple I noticed this coincidence.

Returning on Franklin I found these signs I had been told about.

They could qualify for my Fort Bragg Oddities brochure!

Its About Time

I noticed the town clock is back. Fully repaired and painted. It looks Great!

More progress on sidewalk installation and ADA corners. This is a new section along Redwood Avenue.

This work is along Sanderson. The hydrant was also relocated.

And this is along Maple and involved building up the backside quite a bit like a bulkhead.

My sister combined a couple of photos from previous blogs and e-mailed it to me noting how humans and birds sometimes cluster. The top photo Cedar Waxwings, the bottom photo the opening of the Pudding Creek Trestle.

Regarding yesterday's blog. Dogs. What's not to love?
Note: This is a friend's dog and photo but you get the idea!

Mental Gyrations

Monday I had to make a trip to San Francisco. As I left town I noticed this Memorial/Shrine at the corner of Harrison and Oak. I noted the skateboard and thought, oh god!, I hope it wasn't some skateboard kid got hit and killed at this intersection.

When I got home in the evening I asked my neighbor if he had heard anything about some kid getting hit on Oak Street. He has a scanner but he said he has been too busy to listen lately.

This morning, during my walk, I made sure to include the shrine for a closer look. That is when I noticed the word, "Princess". Oh no! A girl skateboarder!! Damn!

C&G market was open across the street so I went in and asked the counter person if she knew anything about the shrine. She said, "Somebody's dog got hit."

Oh.

Monday Morning Observations

The sun rising through the marine layer.

Some fool has already torn the top off of one of the newly planted trees on Franklin.

Weekend sidewalk art.

Another new length of sidewalk plus an ADA corner.

Okay.

Peace.

Saturday Morning Conflab

The corner of Harold and Cedar these guys were clustered up and enjoying the rising sun.

Not saying much. Just hanging around and waiting for me to leave.

I just got an e-mail: "Looks like Ron has spotted the cedar waxwings at Cedar and Harold streets. Two years ago this time of year (2006) there were about 250 of these guys hanging out on the wires for a couple of weeks. They raid the formerly huge but now trimmed back holly tree on Laurel just east of Harold."

I'm not sure what these are but they sure are beautiful. The only place I have noticed these are in a yard on Brandon Way.

Also, on Brandon Way is this house with an unusual chimney. I had included this one in my photographic collection of chimneys I did in June 2007 .

A friend of mine recently e-mailed me the history of this chimney:

"The bricks were recycled (in 1911-14) from the original Union Lumber Company powerhouse. That's why the bricks are white, pink and black. The black bricks were crystallized by the heat from the 24/7 powerhouse."