Wednesday's LandLoper's walk

This walk was along the coast between Van Damme Beach and Chapman Point.  A total of four miles.

An enthusiastic turn-out on a day with the marine layer lurking just off shore.  A passing tourist offered to take a shot of all of us.  Thanks!

Off we go under moss draped pines.

To eventually burst out into glorious view and sunshine!

After catching our breath! we head north.

Black Oystercatcher.

A small waterfall with it's water immediately disappearing into the sand!

Old fence left over from the Spring Ranch days.

A clutch of LandLopers.

Harbor Seal.

Another pair with the one sticking it's tail-feathers straight up in the air for some reason.

Chapman Point property.  Keep Out!

Our enforced turn around point.

The marine layer rolled in as we returned to our starting point.  An excellent hike.

If you are interested in joining our Wednesday morning jaunts send me an e-mail and I will let our head guide and instigator, Nancy, know.

We hit the trail  8:30 Wednesday mornings and try to cover six miles in three hours.

Weekend observations

A little north of town this annual event happens this time of year!

Spectacular!!

While just up the street at the Fort Bragg Library another "Tulip Tree" is bursting forth!

I looked Tulip Tree up via Google and ended up with two different trees.  This one and this one.

Beat's me!, but they sure are beautiful.

My friend Pete told me about a Burrowing Owl that has recently been spotted and invited me along for a look.  He/she seemed to prefer standing on one foot and looking the other way!!  Out of about twenty photos this is the only one I caught with the head turned our way.  Cute little guy! (560mm zoom) With the naked eye you would never casually notice him.

Happy Valentine's Day Lolli

Triangle Tattoo did a nice job don't ya think!!

Even is it is only indelible ink

Dare I say, "April Fools!", my love?

Are you ready?

Safeway.

Racines.

Cheshire Books.

Fort Bragg Bakery.

Fort Bragg!!

We got our stuff!

This box contains the "Quilt Kit" I ordered from Ray Jardine.  Ray is a lightweight backpacker guy with new ideas about how to reduce backpack weight.  This quilt should weigh in at 1.5 pounds where-as my old REI down mummy bag I have been toting around weighs 4 pounds!   Today I am going to one of my wife's friends to learn how to sew!  Wish me luck!  I'm getting ready for hiking season!!

Meanwhile, my #2 son got the engine he ordered for the

 RV-7/A he is building.

We are happy guys!

Russian Gulch

We get a notice via the MCLandlopers Yahoo Group: 

Hi Everyone,

Because the waterfall should be quite spectacular now we'll do Russian Gulch State Park with our destination the waterfall. We'll start at the trailhead of the North Boundary Trail at the Park HQ east of Highway 1 and travel east to the junction of the East Trail and the North Boundary Trail. We'll follow the East Trail to the waterfall and then take the Fern Canyon Trail to the North Trail and return via the North Trail to the North Boundary Trail and back to Park HQ.

For those who have never been there, entry to the State Park HQ is on the east side of Highway 1 directly across the entrance to Russian Gulch State Park and Point Cabrillo Road on the west side of the highway.

Meet at 8:30AM in the Park HQ parking area.

And... We did!! 

Someone made a smiley face in the rotted butt of this log.

Lots of "blow downs" from the recent storm.

See us up there?

Pygmy pothole filled with tannin stained water

All in all, most excellent!

Elephant's Breath

That's Elephant's breath

That Rosie Purple color

but I may be wrong

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