Walking Fort Bragg

Greetings from the Frozen North Wet.

2012-01-20T11:40:00.000-08:00

Got a break from Granny Duty

2012-01-16T12:05:00.000-08:00

Lolli and I walked the beach of Elger Bay.

In the evening the unexpected sunset just got better and better!

***

Note: I am currently living in Washington State helping my wife with her 96 year old mother. We are hoping to keep Margaret comfortable and at home during her "end of life" process. Hospice is helping.

Interurban Trail to Everett, WA

2012-01-13T10:54:00.000-08:00

Had a nice but cool bike ride to Everett from Shoreline on the Interurban trail.

23 miles one way.

Then a $1.75 ride return ride on the Swift Transit bus.

Walk on bike racks!!

How cool is that!

Faster than a bicycle!

2012-01-11T21:42:00.000-08:00

I had a treat today. My son Jeff flew up to Paine Field, Everett, Washington to pick me up in his RV7-A; the plane he build and I helped paint.

Here's Jeff arriving and swinging around to park.

What to do? Would we like to fly around the Olympic Peninsula or would we rather fly to Eastern Washington? We decide on Eastern Washington. Jeff picks an airport near Ephrata, Washington and generates a flight plan.

Up and into the air, Seattle in the foreground, the Olympics in the distance.

Mount Rainier with, I believe, Mount Saint Helen in the distance.

28 degrees F at 9,000 feet. Cool!

We are nice and toasty with cabin heat!

East of Snoqualmie Pass hundreds of windmills begin to appear.

The Columbia River.

Eastern Washington.

Ephrata Airport.

Setting up for landing.

Too far to walk to town and the airport "courtesy car" has already been taken so we enjoy lunch at the flight center. Microwaved Top Ramin, juice drinks and chips! Yummy!

Tummies full, bladders empty, we mount up and take to the skies for home.

The Cascade Mountains are really something.

Mount Rainier comes back into view.

Letting down for the west side.

Snoqualmie Falls.

Bellevue in the foreground, Seattle beyond.

Boeing Airplanes at the Everett Factory waiting for finishing.

Jeff drops me off and heads for his home field near Puyallup.

A three hundred mile round trip in an afternoon. Amazing!

The sign says it all, "Thank You, Jeff!"

Stealth Graffiti?

2012-01-10T20:31:00.000-08:00

Painted out or painted in?

Cool!

Interurban North.

2012-01-08T22:53:00.000-08:00

I had some time this afternoon to give the Interurban Trail north of Shoreline a try.

There was some riding along side streets where development removed portions of the old Interurban right of way...,

but soon the route was back on "track".

One highway overpass was high enough above the surrounding city to be able to see the Olympic Range to the west and by turning towards the southwest from the same spot...,

there was Mt. Rainier! (Some telephoto involved)

At ten miles I had just crossed over Interstate 5 in Alderwood and decided to head back but this was my turn around point, the start of a 15 mile section of Interurban that continues all the way to Everett.

Click the photo to embiggen.

On the way back to Shoreline I enjoyed these unusual clouds.

All in all a nice 20 mile, round trip, ride. (click for map of route)

I'm thinking I would like to ride from Shoreline to Everett next time and take the Swift Bus back. That could be an interesting adventure. Stay tuned!

Shoreline YMCA

2012-01-05T17:02:00.000-08:00

Lucky me! The new (only three years old) Shoreline YMCA is a 1.9 mile bike ride away!

I pedaled over and did 36 laps. 1/2 mile.

They have a hot tub next to the lap pool with jets!!

Completed my laps and let the jets pound my shoulders!! Wow!!

How come the V. Starr center doesn't have a hot tub!! :-)

And....

a room full of Exercycles and...

A basket ball court!

Not to mention class rooms and meditation room.

What a nice facility!

http://shoreline.patch.com/listings/dale-turner-family-ymca

Shoreline Interurban Trail

2012-01-03T20:22:00.000-08:00

I rode the blue lines to get to the red (Shoreline Interurban Trail) section.

Then beat feet for the barn due to arriving rain.

End result, damp but invigorated!

2012 Day One.

2012-01-01T16:58:00.000-08:00

What a beautiful, dry, first day of 2012.

I wasn't the only one out there enjoying the afternoon.

I started at Lake Forest Park and almost made it to Redmond before turning around and heading back.

Just over 21 miles round trip. Just under 2 hours. Perfect!

Rails to Trails!!

2011-12-28T20:41:00.000-08:00

Rails to Trails!! Wonderful!

Shoreline, WA

2011-12-26T19:57:00.000-08:00

I'm currently in Shoreline, Washington helping my wife and hospice deal with my 96 year old mother-in-law. She's getting to be a handful!!

I brought my bicycle and to help preserve mental health and physical well being I have been doing some riding. Today I found a way to get to and ride the new Aurora Bicycle path. There was light drizzle coming down, the temperature was 41 degrees but in less than one hour and a 14 mile round trip I was invigorated and ready to carry on.

Bicycling, even on a crappy day......

Good!

Happy Holidaze you all.

2011-12-15T09:26:00.000-08:00

Be safe and sane.

It's getting to look a lot like chrismess

2011-12-13T16:42:00.000-08:00

But not this morning!

2011-12-10T09:36:00.001-08:00

I set my alarm so I will be up in time for this mornings eclipse.

When the alarm went off I discovered our town wrapped in fog. Nothing for it but to roll over and go back to sleep.

Later, up and awake, I rooted through my files and found this image. It is a photo I took August 28, at 4:30 in the morning, 2007; our town clock in the foreground.

Good enough.

Happy Holidays!

Let's see if I have this right.

2011-12-07T14:20:00.001-08:00

Approaching the Simpson Lane Crop Circle on bicycle.

What to do? What to do?

Two lanes for cars. No bike lane.

In order to safely negotiate this "crop circle" it is best to take to the sidewalk.

Now here is the Noyo Bridge.

The sign says, "No bicycle riding on the walkway".

In Fort Bragg it is, "NO bicycles on the walkways (sidewalks)".

Tricky bidness riding bicycles round here!

Riding Ukiah

2011-12-03T09:35:00.001-08:00

Did another thing this "Septuagenarian decade" I had never done before. Loaded my bike on the CC Rider for a trip to Ukiah. $5.00 round trip!

I rode around Ukiah looking at and photographing fall color and oddities.

Ah California!!
December 2nd. "What a beautiful day!"

I'm going to have to explore Willits, Hopland, Cloverdale and Santa Rosa with my bike via local transit. Way cool!

Lookie here!

2011-11-12T12:59:00.001-08:00

A new used book store on Franklin!

Use to be on Redwood Avenue but they moved to this building.

As you can see by the clock, you have plenty of time to peruse titles!

Wonderful! Just wonderful!

Thanks!!

Temptation

2011-11-10T10:42:00.001-08:00

Reminder... The the C. V. Starr center is open!!

Well done!!

2011-11-09T16:23:00.001-08:00

Our county voted favorably, by over 75%, to support our libraries!!

And,

Phase two of Fort Bragg's skateboard park is becoming very impressive!

A work of art, I'd say!

What passes for Fall Color on the West Coast

2011-11-06T18:11:00.001-08:00

The invasive Ice Plant!

Spotted this during my walk

2011-11-01T10:30:00.000-07:00

I got about half of them but.

..........there's always a but.

How about you?

Biking to Elk.

2011-10-30T11:06:00.000-07:00

I use to live in Elk. The weather was perfect for a bicycle ride. My friends Ben and Tawny said they would put me up for the night so it turned into a wonderful two day round trip.

Yippee!

Crossing the Navaro Bridge.

I visited my rug weaving friend at the Elk Community Cemetery.

Then, on into Elk.
I noticed the population sign didn't change whether I lived there or not!

Something very "Greenwoodian" about that!!

Arrived at the Elk Store where I visited with Mr. Ben, had some snackage, then walked around town to visit Prue, Charlie, Mary and Jerry and Not Bob. (Mr. Bob was on vacation!)!

Next, the two mile push up Greenwood/Philo Road... Uff Da!!,

to visit Bill and Lydia!

Followed by three more miles out Philo/Greenwood to visit Eduardo and see the new house he is building!

Back to Ben and Tawny's for a shower, pizza, beer, and catching up on our respective lives.
Wonderful!

Next morning a quick breakfast and down Cameron, across the Navarro Bridge and...

the Navarro Grade.

Actually, as is my want, I worried about this grade more than it was worth.

I stopped and posed this shot part way up but was actually able to pedal the whole thing with just a couple of rest stops waiting for a clear shot around blind curves between cars.

Being retired and all, I stopped by Van Damme beach for a wee rest. :-)

Passing through Mendocino I spotted this hawk

and even caught it just as it "flew the coop"! Pretty bird!

Sixty-three miles round trip including "up" Greenwood/Philo and "down" Cameron.

Traffic wasn't too bad this time of year and, did I mention, the weather was perfect!

It was wonderful to finally catch up with all my old friends, see our beautiful coast up close and personal.
A special "Thank You" to Ben and Tawny for their great hospitality.

Lost Coast Culture Machine

2011-10-26T11:33:00.000-07:00

I was highly entertained by this installation at the North Coast Culture Machine.

The artist made a bunch of small red boxes of various shapes and sizes and attached them to the wall, put a dish of various colored "Play-doh" like clay on a table and turned us visitors loose!!

Cool!!

Hard to find? Not really...

Click to enbiggen.

Progress on the Skateboard Park

2011-10-21T10:25:00.000-07:00

Looks like it is going to be fun!

Please!

2011-10-19T10:20:00.001-07:00

Boo!

2011-10-13T11:08:00.000-07:00

Almost that time of year!

Meanwhile....,

Phase Two, "The Half Pipe" is being constructed at the Fort Bragg Skate Park!

And,

Did you happen to notice...,

this "Fat Tire" bike last weekend?

It was built by Nick Taylor and was part of the "Fat Tire Festival" weekend.

Friday, the Poker Ride from Town Hall out the Haul Road and back.

and Saturday the Jughandle Juggernaught east of Caspar.

There was more biking activity Sunday but I was unable to attend. I was busy buying a "Fat Tire" bike so I too can ride our amazing local logging roads and trails!

Whoot! Whoot!

Something different.

2011-10-02T10:40:00.000-07:00

Saturday, October 1st, I attend the Konocti Challenge bicycle ride.

This is the first time I have ever joined a large"group" ride.

I originally planned to ride the 40 mile route but a friend talked me into trying the "Metric"; a clockwise, 65 mile, ride around Clearlake.

In preparation I remove the pannier racks and fenders from my touring bike. Lighter is better, right?

8:30 AM and off into light drizzle. This is much better than the heatwave Clearlake had the week before.

At twenty miles when I am starting to get weary the first rest stop appears. The theme of this rest stop is "Italy".

Each rest stop is sponsored by a different group. They are competing for the most votes from the riders. They really go all out!

Italiano music is playing and the costumes match the theme.

Even the food!

During this rest stop I meet and talk to various riders like this couple riding a tandem.

I hate to say good bye to "Italy" but it is time to hit the road, much refreshed!

Turn-off of HWY 20, into some hills and, Oh boy!, a flat!!

I didn't bring a spare tube with me because these tires are "puncher proof" with Kevlar linings, right! Wrong!

I do have a patch kit so while riders pass by asking if I am okay, I fix the leak, get the wheel on the bike and pump up the tire with my wimpy little tire pump which, in itself, is a lot of work.

Onward.

Only to find, a mile later, my rear tire flat again!

Off with the rear wheel, off with the tire, pull out the tube and this time I can not see, hear, or feel the leak! I decide to stick the partially inflated tube into my water bottle and watch for bubbles. Three quarters of the way around the tube I find the small leak, patch it and, just as I am putting the wheel on the bike a "Sag Wagon" arrives. He asks if I need anything. "Do you have a tire pump? He does! He helps me pump the tire up 80 pounds. Hot and bothered, and way at the back of the "pack" I press on.

And then, just in time, another rest stop! This one staffed by Gypsies!!

Great snackage and drinks and....,

MASSAGE!

A "Gypsy" loosens my shoulders and back!

Revived, once again, back to the road.

More hills. Some I have to get off the bike and push! I'm thinking..., if I had stayed with my original plan I would be done now!
"Snivel."

And siddenly, the third and final rest stop!. A M.A.S.H. unit!!

"Colonel Klink" helps me off my bike and leads me to the recovery tent!

A fifteen minute rest and an bag of I.V. solution, I am ready to roll.

(Just kidding, we staged these photos!!)

They even had a still going! What a fun group. They got my vote.
I'd love to stay but decide I better get rolling; the cut off time is 6:00 PM!

Along the final stretch I spot a heart for my Lolli. :-)

5:15 PM. Made it!

The "Can-Can" girls are still waiting to welcome me!!

A few folks are hanging around enjoying the post ride barbecue and I joined them.

Tired but quite pleased with myself I head home to Fort Bragg.

What a fun event. I just might have to do another one, some day!!

Hike it, Bike it, I like it!

2011-09-29T14:28:00.000-07:00

Next week, October 3 ~ 7 is

International Walk to School Week in the USA

The 2011 Walk to School Day Slogan: "Hike it. Bike it. I like it!"

Wednesday, October 5th parents are asked to form, "Walking School Buses" and "Bike Trains", so children can safely travel to school.

For more information call 961-2877

Let the education begin!!

2011-09-26T19:07:00.000-07:00

The Simpson Lane ~ HWY 1 round-a-bout, although not completed, is now open for business!

Oh Boy!

Work at Bainbridge Park

2011-09-23T09:45:00.000-07:00

Fort Bragg Public Works is removing several of the old pines at Bainbridge Park getting ready for an improved picnic area.

My brother and I are still at it!

2011-09-20T19:26:00.000-07:00

Coupeville, WA

Fort Bragg, CA

Recording our routes using "My Tracks" on our cell phones!

Boys will be boys, even more so in our Golden Years!! :-)

Recent observations

2011-09-13T09:58:00.000-07:00

First off, I spotted another heart for my Lolli!

(Who is in Seattle taking care of her, almost, 96 year old mother.)

I discovered it during this morning's wandering walk!!

A total of four miles connecting Fort Bragg's streets and alleys!

Meanwhile and elsewhere..., recent sightings of construction during these "slow" times.

The future home of European Auto on Cypress Street.

The new apartments across from Social Services on South Franklin are almost done.

A big, new, addition at the Dana Gray High School.

Support columns for a solar panel array at the Middle School on North Harold Street.

And our old favorite! Continued construction of the "Round-about" at the intersection of HWY 1 and Simpson Lane. A friend of mine says he is taking his lawn chair down to watch the fun when it finally becomes operational.

Meanwhile, don't forget this...,

Tune in and pledge!

New app.

2011-09-12T11:13:00.000-07:00

My brother in Coupeville, Washington introduced me to a new app. for smart phones.
It is called, "My Tracks".

It will record my movements when I turn it on and at the end of my walk, biking, ~~swimming~~, I upload the information. The end result is a map of my walk and a page of statistics!

Cool!
Completing this morning's walk to Mckerricher State Park and back my smartphone looked like this.

Here are the uploaded statistics.

"Enbiggen" for a better view.

Yesterday's bike ride around town looks like this on my home computer.

(I was checking out all the dead ends!)

Then my brother e-mailed me a new twist!

HELLO formed by selectively walking some of the streets in Coupeville!!

I am contemplating a rebuttal!!

SF and back

2011-09-09T10:08:00.000-07:00

I had to zip down to San Francisco and back last Wednesday and happened upon this photo opportunity. Just wanted to share it 'cause I think it is pretty swell!

I got back to Fort Bragg in time for Wednesday's Farmer's Market. Bought some sweet corn from Gowan's. I believe our Wednesday Farmer's Market will continue until the end of October. Sure hope so!

Labor Day

2011-09-05T07:54:00.000-07:00

I took an early morning walk around town and got to noticing how our flag was being used.

It soon became a quest to photograph it's many uses.

Today is the Paul Bunyan Parade.

Have a nice Labor Day.

10,700 car tires!

2011-09-02T09:32:00.000-07:00

I was told the asphalt top coat our streets are getting contains ground up car tires!

Ten thousand and seven hundred tires used in the current street work!!

First a layer of chip seal with rock spread on it and then the asphalt topcoat put on top. The end result is quite smooth and nice. But car tires? I had no idea!

Skunk Train in miniature.

2011-08-31T12:13:00.000-07:00

I stopped by the former carpenter shop behind the Skunk Train Depot to see how the miniature layout is progressing. Slow but steady seems to be the course.

Some areas of the layout are coming along nicely.

A lot of work but hey!

It is going to be really special when done.

What's going on?

2011-08-30T10:10:00.000-07:00

I see Fort Bragg Glass has a face lift and redo of the interior. It is hard to tell how big that new front door is in this photo but stop by and check it out, It is massive!!

The house just south of MCTV (footlighters) is being restored after it's close call with fire.

The town is enduring street resurfacing once again but it will be nice when it is completed. Above is Harold Street looking south from the Laurel Street intersection.

And this is looking west down Pine from Harold.

Quite a few streets around town are getting this treatment. Stripping will be next but when it is all done we will be happy again!

Major work is happening at Otis Johnson Park. This is looking at that "always wet and muddy" section of trail going down from the Laurel Street entrance. The "seep" has been redirected and a retaining wall installed.

Down at the bottom there is a new bridge being installed over the small stream.

A second bridge is being constructed over the larger stream in the northern part of the park. There was an earlier bridge, near this area, it has been gone for years.

Otis Johnson Park is a nice cluster of second growth redwood with in walking distance of down town.

Quite amazing. Check it out!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

The whole town is very sad about the recent killing of our friend Jere Melo.

Here is the most recent information.

I'm back!

2011-08-26T10:08:00.000-07:00

Enough bicycle madness.

I'm back and I am planning on getting this blog back on track.

"Ronnie's 70th Adventure" took a big chunk out of this blog but even before that I had become side tracked by walking with a friend. My friend likes to walk a fixed route, three miles, at a fixed time, 6:00 AM. It is nice to have a friend to walk with but 6:00 AM is dark most of the year and doing the same route day after day cut way back on my observations about town. So, now I'm back on my own, wandering around and seeing what's going on in our wee seaside town.

Here is one of the first things I noticed.

See it?

I don't either! In the foreground is where the original "funky" restrooms were located at Bainbridge Park! In the distance is the new restroom facility. That's Wiggly Giggly playground behind the trees.

And here is an interesting fix for graffitti.

The back loading door to Racine's Art supplies was tagged a while ago so they hired a professional to "tag it". Much more interesting.

Whoot Whoot

2011-08-07T12:12:00.000-07:00

Remember the plane my son Jeff spent four years building and I helped paint last summer. Here it is!

I'm on vacation in the north Seattle area so he picked me up at the Arlington Airport.
Click here --> http://www.jbflying.com/080211/080211.htm

Sweet! Very Sweet!

Horray Horray! The first of May!

2011-04-30T17:27:00.000-07:00

This brand new Septuagenarian is ready to hit the road! I became a member of this elusive tribe April 10th.

Can you see where it says Septuagenarian on my safety vest? And where friends and neighbors have signed it wishing me well? Well, anyway....,

I'm taking a break from Walking Fort Bragg and will be riding my bicycle to Canada!

You can follow my adventure via

Ronnie' 70th Adventure

where I will post updates, when possible, via library and internet cafe and maybe more often with my "smart phone" via Facebook.

We'll see.

This afternoon I stopped by Fort Bragg Cyclery to say bye to the guys. This was my last "beta" test ride prior to lift off tomorrow morning, May First!
Whoot! whoot!

Earth Day

2011-04-22T09:05:00.000-07:00

This morning's "Sailor's warning" sky.

Speaking of sailors, check out what Roz Savage had to say about Earth Day on her blog this morning.

She is currently rowing across the Indian Ocean.

http://www.rozsavage.com/2011/04/22/day-10-earth-day-x-120/

Oh yeah!!

2011-04-14T10:07:00.000-07:00

Spring has burst-ed the buds with rain showers!!

Spotted these by the Veterans Memorial Building

70th Birthday

2011-04-11T11:54:00.000-07:00

It all started because of Walking Fort Bragg!

A birthday of Sevens

and

Reflections.

Now this is a pot hole!!

2011-04-04T09:44:00.000-07:00

Discovered while riding my bike out the A&W Haul Road.

Looking for pot

2011-04-02T10:02:00.000-07:00

HOLES!!

Sign of the times.

Yippee!

2011-03-29T10:27:00.000-07:00

A twenty five foot tall Rhododendron! And a break in the weather to enjoy it!

My walking partner told me he recorded six and a half inches of rain in three days!

Unsettled weather

2011-03-19T15:14:00.000-07:00

Last evening the almost full moon.

I took this photo through our living room window while sitting on the couch!

This morning while riding my bike!

Evidence of a passing hail downpour!

And then the sun came out. For a moment.

Spring is here!!

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

Meanwhile,

I just got a photo from my son Jeff. He had a sunny day in Tacoma this morning so rolled his homebuilt airplane out of the hangar for a photo op!

This is the one he and I painted last summer and this is the first photo of it all together. He plans to start the engine for the first time in the next two weeks; still some small items to be finished and a final inspection to be passed.

Wow it sure is a beauty!

More local information about Noyo Harbor

2011-03-13T10:06:00.000-07:00

Click HERE for video taken by MCTV.

Found this on the web

2011-03-11T16:16:00.000-08:00

http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/lanow/2011/03/tsunami-docks-ripped-out-in-fort-bragg-fishing-community.html

Getting light out!!!

2011-03-07T09:43:00.000-08:00

6:30 AM as I approach the pool after my walk with the wolf.

Even the Ravens are out and about!!

Happy Birthday Evelyn!!

2011-03-01T10:00:00.000-08:00

Evelyn has been "Walking Fort Bragg" way longer than I have. She too is a morning walker and our paths cross every now and then. I happened upon her "trucking along" this morning so we stopped and talked and she told me she will be 82 tomorrow!! Way to go Evelyn!!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!

The breeze before the storm.

2011-02-24T11:44:00.000-08:00

I happened upon a guy flying his wonderful kite up north by Ward Avenue.

Amazing!

He had his hands full in the fluky off-shore breeze.

Current forecast is for snow. Possibly in elevations as low as the beach by Friday!

We'll see!

New discovery.

2011-02-20T08:48:00.000-08:00

Stopped by the skate park yesterday. MaxJ was skating and videoing what was happening. He gave me the url to his U-tube videos. Great stuff, documenting while skating, then doing the editing, music selection, uploading. He has a bunch of videos. Check 'em out starting here.

Something new arriving!!

2011-02-17T10:29:00.000-08:00

"GONE BUT NOT FORGOTTEN - It is sad but true that there is no testament to the loggers and the railways that ran into the woods to feed the mills that existed at every river between Gualala and Westport in Mendocino County. We, The Mendocino Coast Model Railroad and Historical Society, are trying to rectify the situation by creating a "living history" of the Redwood Empire in the form of a large (G) scale model railway layout."

It should be ready to roll in about three months!

The carpentry "barn" west of the Skunk Depot is the location.

Read all about it at their website.

Summer's over!!

2011-02-15T10:14:00.000-08:00

First major rain in five weeks!

We needed it!

Happy Valentine's Day!

2011-02-14T10:58:00.000-08:00

The Tip Top Lounge

The C.V. Starr Pool!

For MY heart, I chose the pool!!

Check it out!

2011-02-09T09:51:00.000-08:00

Photos take at the Dog Park by the V. Starr Center. A nicely done addition and way to help fund the park.

Meanwhile....

Frosty this morning! Really frosty!

Just in time for all the blooming fruit trees. :-(

Remember when?

2011-02-01T09:49:00.000-08:00

Wow!

The dream did come true!

Workin' it!

2011-01-31T09:23:00.000-08:00

Sunday afternoon at the skate park!

And for my friend Suzanne...

Magnolias are happening!!

Me thinks it's too early.

2011-01-28T09:55:00.000-08:00

Fruit trees are lighting up all over town.

I just know we have months of rain ahead but wow, what a week this has been!

I spotted another pair of love-birds on my way home from the pool this morning.

Lots of grooming of each other. Nice!

Renew!

2011-01-25T11:57:00.000-08:00

I'm so happy to see Jeniffer's used bookstore live on in it's new location right across the street from its previous location.

With bright eyed new owners energizing the place and making it feel like home, it is well worth re-checking out!!

Another older place in town spruced up and ready for sale.

Ravens pair up for life and are territorial. I have see this pair, year after year, residing near the First Baptist Church.

They are an old couple, solid in their commitment, while out along the bluffs you can see last year's young, swooping and diving, showing off in the prevailing wind seeking a mate.

2011 is off to a great start!

Nice write-up about our CV. Starr pool and fitness center

2011-01-19T09:41:00.000-08:00

Click here to read the story.

January 16th

2011-01-16T13:21:00.000-08:00

Just had to stop and document this!!

I'm loving it!

Food for thought and hopefully, action.

2011-01-14T20:41:00.000-08:00

From the CEO of Kaiser Permanente via my brother in law who works at Kaiser:

Thanks Del.

"
It is time to celebrate walking.
There are very few things that we can do that have a more positive impact on our health and our lives than walking.

Walking feels good. Walking cheers people up. And walking has an amazing array of positive results when it comes to our health.
Studies have shown that walking 30 minutes a day, five days a week, can cut new cases of Type 2 diabetes by nearly half.

Our bodies are made to walk. Walking gets the blood flowing through our veins, and changes our blood chemistry to increase the percentage of good (HDL) cholesterol in our bodies.

Walking briskly for 30 minutes a day can reduce the risk of stroke by 25 percent. Walking can also have a positive impact on depression. People who walk report a lower level of depression. One very credible study of women who were depressed and started to walk showed that the women in the depression control group who did not walk had a Beck Depression Inventory (BDI) score of 13.5 points at the beginning of the study, and they still had a score of 12.5 points at the end of the 12-week study.

The women who were depressed and walked, however, had their BDI scores improve from an average of 14.81 at the beginning of the study to only 3.27 by the end of the 12-week study. That is a huge difference.

Another study showed that when people between the ages of 60 and 65 walked on a regular basis, they had a significantly lower risk of developing both cognitive impairment and dementia.

Reducing the risk of dementia is a good thing.

Walking definitely helps prevent heart disease. People have known that to be true for a long time.

What people didn’t know to be true until recently was that walking helped patients recovering from certain cancers survive longer. No one quite understands why this might be true, but the studies seem credible and the results seem clear. For prostate cancer, one study showed that patients who walked 90 minutes a week had an almost 50 percent lower mortality risk. Another study showed that for women recovering from breast cancer, regular walking reduced the relative rate of both recurrence and mortality by about 50 percent. Walking also seems to reduce the risk of colorectal cancer.

Our bodies clearly function better when we have walking as a regular part of our lives.

Another entirely unexpected benefit from walking is that it can help prevent the common cold -- and another credible study done at Appalachian State University reported that people who walked benefited by having their cold symptoms for as much as 46 percent less time than non-walkers who also had colds.

Again, no one really understands all of those benefits or why they happen.

The researchers from the cold symptom study theorized that walking makes the blood flow faster, so it is possible that increased blood flow brought the body’s natural immune system cells to each of the actual virus sites more often.

Over time, very smart people will figure out why those benefits exist.

Is it better to run or walk? That has been a topic of debate over time. People take both sides. What we know to be true is that both are extremely beneficial to our health, but walking is generally much easier on the body. Walking a mile and running a mile burn about the same total number of calories. All of the health benefits that I just mentioned are triggered by walking. So walking works as well as running, and walking does less incidental damage.

Walking tones muscles and makes them leaner and more efficient. Walking also can create feel-good chemicals -- endorphins -- in the brain.

Walking often creates a very nice set of experiences. We can walk in groups. Walking can be very social. We can walk to explore and we can walk to learn.

I love walking through neighborhoods and cities because I see the world around me much better and more completely than the world I see when I just drive by in my car.

Walking has given me the gift of my town.

Walking is a good thing.

George "

A bit long winded but, you get the drift!

Breaking the code.

2011-01-12T10:14:00.000-08:00

Each morning during my walk I pass by Cotton Auditorium and almost every morning the lights are on in a different configuration! I've mentioned this before but now I have compiled some results!

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* - * *

* * - -

- - - -

Here! You figure it out!!

Tough times in Fort Bragg.

2011-01-11T09:39:00.000-08:00

Not only has the Fort Bragg Bakery closed until February....

Understuff is out of clothes!!!

A new day!

2011-01-10T09:32:00.000-08:00

The cloud formation caught my eye! Plus that interesting red streak?

Perfect!

Tree Report!!

2011-01-07T10:39:00.000-08:00

Remember when the trees along Franklin Street were planted in April 2008?

Nice little baby trees?

Well, here it is January of 2011 and most of them are well on their way!!

Some shed their leaves.

And some don't. Different varieties.

They are looking good!

Sunday/Monday 2011

2011-01-03T09:46:00.000-08:00

View from the Pudding Creek Trestle New Year's Weekend!!!

Ah! California!!

Sue Larkin's exercise class Monday morning at 8:00.

Sun shining in the windows. What a great way to start the year!

Wishing you.........

2010-12-30T10:06:00.000-08:00

Another day dawning on the V. Starr Center.

I hope more people take advantage of this wonderful fitness center.

One year ago I was able to swim two laps.

This morning I did my daily mile!!

It is amazing how much better I feel by finally getting off the couch!

I hope you resolve to get off the couch too!!
Come on in! The water's fine!!!

Yo!!

2010-12-23T16:44:00.000-08:00

Have a great holiday and...., onward!!

Into the New Year!!

Lunar Stolstice Eclipse Plus!

2010-12-21T12:31:00.000-08:00

I noticed the full moon out the window last night reminding me there was going to be a special Lunar Solstice Eclipse in a few hours.

This lunar eclipse was to be the first to fall on the winter solstice since 1638. The next solstice eclipse won't be until 2094!!

Question being, with all the rain squalls, would it be visible here in Fort Bragg?

Yes!! At 11:10 PM I got a break through the clouds!

The earth shadow well on its way to covering the moon.

That was it for me. The clouds returned and I went to bed.

In the morning I discovered Cotton Auditorium's marquee in total eclipse!!

Coincidence? I think not!!

Can you believe it!!

2010-12-19T11:50:00.000-08:00

Finally, a port-a-pot at the Pudding Creek Beach.

For years folks thought the building to the left was a facility. NOT. It is a pumping station for sewage.

For several years I have been asking why there isn't a toilet and a garbage can at this popular beach and was told; the beach belongs to State Parks and other folks said it belonged to the city of Fort Bragg but mainly, the problem seemed to be, if those items were installed, someone will have to maintain them.

I don't know who stepped up, parks or city but it is about time. Good Job!

Photo Fun at the pool.

2010-12-16T10:44:00.000-08:00

By the way, the pool lives on, for now.

Last rose of summer?

2010-12-15T09:25:00.000-08:00

Probably. At least on this bush.

I couldn't pass up this photo opp. Very Fort Braggian.

By the way. There was a new combination this morning, Two in the middle lit and the two outriders off!

Rainy Morning Walk Observing the Yellow Red and Green

2010-12-14T09:09:00.000-08:00

Shredding at the new skateboard park!!

2010-12-13T16:07:00.000-08:00

Gnarly dude!!

Aha! And then there was one!

2010-12-09T08:31:00.000-08:00

Now all four are lit!

2010-12-08T11:33:00.000-08:00

Exciting! No?

See! See!

2010-12-07T10:20:00.000-08:00

I told you something was fishy with the lights! This morning there were three lit!

That's my walking partner Elias in the foreground.

Hey! Finally an update!!

2010-12-06T10:34:00.000-08:00

This here is a conundrum. Part of my early morning walk takes me past Cotton Auditorium. Some days all four marquess lights are on. Other times, one or three or, like this morning, just the two center ones. I can't believe there are individual switches for each light and I can't believe they burn out that often and of course, being a guy, I don't ask anyone about it. So, stay tuned. I will keep checking and "documenting".

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas round here.

While in other parts of town it looks like Fall.

I couldn't pass this up. Remember my shopping cart series?

Making progress at the V. Star Center! We are 1/3rd of the way to the $300,000.00 needed by the 15th of this month! Currently at $105,000.00.

And finally....

I'm up to something. I got a plan!!

And a new website.

Here we go!

2010-11-30T09:41:00.000-08:00

Donation tracker as of November 29, 2010
Will we pull together to help save the swimming pool?
We'll see!
Donation Form

Happy Thanksgiving!

2010-11-25T09:41:00.000-08:00

I'm very THANKFUL for our
C.V. STARR COMMUNITY CENTER AND SPATH AQUATIC FACILITY.

May we never see it dark, except on Holidays!!

Coldness

2010-11-24T09:48:00.000-08:00

That's ice! Yep, a frozen puddle where the SoundWaves building used to be.

It was 28 degrees and frosty during this early morning walk.

Nothing like the snow and ice they have north of here in Oregon and Washington State but, for sunny Fort Bragg, located beside the Pacific Ocean, it is rather unusual.

Auto Focus

2010-11-19T09:49:00.000-08:00

One or the other!

This is the favorite perch of our local hummingbird.

The other day I happened to notice the alignment of him and the moon.

Trying to capture them my camera would select one or the other.

By the time I change the setting for maximum depth of field it was too late.

The hummer was gone. Of course. :-(

Sad news

2010-11-17T09:35:00.000-08:00

Jim Hurst
MCRPD Executive Director

For the past nine months I have been serving as the volunteer Administrator of the Mendocino Coast Recreation and Park District and Manager of the C.V. Starr Center. Considerable progress has been made by staff and Board Members to reduce District operating expenses and increase revenue and donations. One year ago the District’s negative cash flow was $100,000 per month. Today it is $50,000 per month.
The Mendocino Coast Recreation and Park District will not have sufficient cash reserves to continue operating beginning January 2011. I recommended that unless the District has six months of operating capital available or otherwise committed by December 15, 2010, the Board of Directors should consider the possibility of suspending all program operations in Fort Bragg and Mendocino and “mothballing” the C.V. Starr Center until such funds are available.
Currently property taxes cover a little more than half of the $600,000 annual negative cash flow leaving the balance of about $250,000 a year to come from donations. Unfortunately donations and SCORE commitments (Starr Center Operating Reserve and Endowment fund) have not been enough and property tax reserves have been used to cover the negative cash flow between last June and now.
I also recommended that the MCRPD aggressively continue the process to either establish a Benefit Assessment Tax District or ask voters to approve a Parcel Tax in June 2011 to increase property tax funding for the District. The first step is a survey to determine what voters in the District will support. Only 25 to 30 percent of the District’s operating expenses are covered by property taxes. The appropriate level is between 50 and 75 percent.
Here is how you can help avoid a closure of these two vital facilities. I am asking the MCRPD staff and you to obtain 300 to 500 commitments and pledges of $100 per month for 12 months to cover operating expenses through June 30, 2011. Pledge cards and more information are available at the Starr Community Center and the Mendocino Community Center. Donations will be held in a special account until the six month goal is reached.
I deeply hope suspending district operations and “mothballing” the C.V. Starr Center can be avoided; however, we cannot ignore the fact that the MCRPD will be out of money by the end of December.
Jim Hurst
MCRPD Executive Director

Here is a PDF file for a SCORE card if you would like to help.

95th Birthday!

2010-11-12T08:16:00.000-08:00

To keep from burning down the house we only used nine and a half candles!!

Perfect!!

Nice to have a hobby

2010-11-10T11:04:00.000-08:00

My mother-in-law and I have been building model airplanes in the living room while my wife is attending a weaving conference in Peru. Margaret will be 95 (tomorrow). I am only 70 (coming April) so I do all the work and she supervises! We are a good team.

This is our, just completed, L-19 Bird Dog. Hopefully it will be calm this afternoon and we can go to the Fort Bragg Fog Buster's flying field out Little Valley Road and give it a trial flight. We'll see.

Who'ed a thunk it! I may live to see the day!

2010-11-08T15:25:00.000-08:00

Monday, November 8, 2010 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

City of Fort Bragg Awarded $4.8 Million Grant for Construction of the Fort Bragg Coastal Trail Fort Bragg City Manager Linda Ruffing announced today that the City of Fort Bragg has been awarded a $4,850,000 grant for construction of a Coastal Trail and other park facilities on 92 acres of coastal parkland that was acquired by the City earlier this year with a $4,165,000 grant from the State Coastal Conservancy.
Proposition 84 - the 2006 Safe Drinking Water Bond Act - provides funding for park development in critically under served communities throughout California. This first round of funding awarded $184 Million through the “Statewide Park Program.” Competition for the funding was fierce with over 400 agencies submitting grant applications.
The Fort Bragg Coastal Trail project includes development of 4½ miles of multi-use trail along the coastal bluffs plus stairways to pocket beaches in two locations. Nearly 45 acres of pavement will be removed from the former mill site property and restored to native coastal habitat. The project also includes development of two parking lots, access roads, three restroom facilities, picnic areas, benches, interpretative signage, fencing and other improvements.
“The City is very fortunate to receive this funding. The Coastal Trail will connect our town to its spectacular coastline for the first time in 100 years. It will draw visitors to Fort Bragg and the Mendocino Coast, and it will provide a fabulous recreational experience for local residents and visitors alike,” said Fort Bragg Mayor Doug Hammerstrom. “The Prop 84 grant will enable our community to realize its dream of continued public access along the entire coastline of Fort Bragg. In these difficult economic times, we are thrilled to receive funding for construction of the Coastal Trail project, and we expect it will contribute significantly to Fort Bragg’s ongoing revitalization.”
There is still much work to be done. The City has been working for the past three years on the conceptual design and construction documents for the Coastal Trail and parkland facilities using a $750,000 federal appropriation secured by Congressman Mike Thompson. An Environmental Impact Report for the Coastal Trail project is being prepared and will be issued for public review early next year. Once the environmental review and permitting processes are completed, the City will put the project out to bid.
According to Fort Bragg Community Development Director Marie Jones who authored the successful grant application, “It is anticipated that construction will begin in 2011, and the Fort Bragg Coastal Trail and Parkland will be open for public access some time in 2012.
Until the grand opening ceremony in 2012, the parkland may not be accessed by the public except on docent-led tours conducted by the City.”

Swimming pool face-off

2010-11-03T10:06:00.000-07:00

Granny and the lifeguard face off at the CV.Starr Pool while I do 18 laps!

Looking for Yellow

2010-11-01T18:12:00.000-07:00

My wife has gone to Peru for a weaving conference leaving me to be the primary caregiver of her 95 year old mother! So, what do I do with "granny"? Today I took her for a wheelchair ride looking for Yellow. She always keeps an eye out for Yellow when traveling between Seattle and Fort Bragg, Yellow cars in particular so, today we upped the ante!

Yellow house.

Yellow Jeep.

And...., a yellow Bikini!!

Whoot! Whoot!

Halloween decoration!

2010-10-27T15:51:00.000-07:00

A nice touch to a brand new boat.

Read about this latest creation from Van Peer's Boatworks!

Awesome!

What happened?

2010-10-26T09:25:00.000-07:00

This year.

Previous years!

Still raining

2010-10-24T11:15:00.000-07:00

Pretty exciting after months and months of no rain.
My garden rain gauge has collected four and a half inches so far from this event!

A perfect occasion to stay dry and work on my flying boat!!!

Raining today

2010-10-23T10:57:00.000-07:00

Rainy day, great for sitting around rooting through my archives. Anyone remember ROADCOW?

Down to Cabo San Lucas. Up to Prudhoe Bay! We did it all....

Prudhoe Bay, edge of the Artic Ocean

If it is raining where you are and you are not a Giants fan. Here is my account of our trip to Alaska.

Meanwhile

2010-10-22T10:05:00.000-07:00

Since I can't swim (until next Monday) my walking partner has been showing me various exercises he does at the V. Starr Center.

Not pretty but hey! I'm doing it!!

Still kicking!

2010-10-19T13:27:00.000-07:00

The view from the VA cafeteria!

Another heart shaped rock for Lolli! This one I couldn't carry!

Incoming!

Just in time for Halloween Holiday Sales.

Hmmmm.

Tourists in a tunnel by the Sutro Baths. She is taking a photo.

After my "procedure", on my way to my sister and brother-in-law's for a little nursing, care and recovery, I had a flat tire!! I had it changed in twenty minutes and didn't pull any stitches!!

Just a small incision anyway.

Didn't keep me and my sis from Walking and Talking and Gawking!

Sis shooting lichen.

I even flew my electric sailplane!

Thanks for the great time D&D.

Now I am back in Fort Bragg, Walking and Healing. I will be able to resume swimming in about two weeks!

A different adventure!!

2010-10-15T11:25:00.000-07:00

It was time for me to get my heart monitor implant at the VA Hospital in San Francisco. I had to arrive one day early to have an EKG, some blood draws and an oral history interview about family heart issues. (None except for my Uncle Vic years ago.) Then I was free to walk along the coastal trail and take in the views.

Evening sailboat regatta!

I spent the night in my Vanagon in the RV parking lot the VA provides; listening to the various tones of the fog horns through the night. Nice.

Then we got down to business.
You can just see my head to the left of the technician's waist; I'm giving a thumbs up.

And no, that is not a catheter coming out from between my feet!! That is warm air being blown in under my covers to help keep me warm; the room is kept quite chilly.

Everything went well. The implanted heart monitor (about the size of a "thumb drive") has an internal battery that is good for three years. I can resume swimming in about two weeks.

Note: I have been having little "events", about every six weeks for over a year now. A sudden sensation that feels like my heart has come loose in my chest and is flipping/flopping! It last only about fifteen to twenty seconds but I get dizzy and light headed and have to sit down for about fifteen to twenty minutes for it to pass. Then I feel fine, but it is rather scary when it happens. I have had multiple EKGs, a stress test, echo cardiogram, wore a Holter Monitor for 24 hours but never caught an "event" happening. Wearing this inserted monitor that is good for up to three years will surely catch an event which can then be downloaded and analyzed to determine what is going on. Quite remarkable.

Bits and pieces.

2010-10-08T10:57:00.000-07:00

The last of the mural at Soundwaves. Goodbye keyboard.

Tricky re-bar work at the new skateboard park.

Fog Busters! Ever hear of the Fort Bragg Fog Busters? A local Radio Controlled model airplane group that has been flying in Fort Bragg since 1982! We fly Saturday and Sunday mornings before the wind comes up. Our latest hoot has been SlowStick Pylon Racing!!