Walking Fort Bragg

Hump Day

2008-08-20T08:42:00.001-07:00

A waning or Gibbous moon peaking through the Marine Layer.
A mnemonic that works for me....
Lit on right... Rising.
Lit on left... Leaving.
bye-bye.

I'm happy to report our town clock is back on track!

I received this bit of information from my friend Mary:

At the corner of West and W Fir Streets are two Victorians (circa 1904) that are mirror images of each other. Although I have not been able to verify this, local lore has it that the builder of the Guest House built these two houses for his daughters, and one of our City employees says that her great uncle built them. I have also heard that the high schoolers, when driving north on West Street, call it, “Passing through the vortex” .

During this morning's walk I checked it out and here they are!

The sun cleared the coastal hills at 6:45 AM.

Observing Time

2008-08-18T08:49:00.000-07:00

I see the Town Clock has stopped again.

Time's up for this bird and the patience of a bird lover.

This rose looks to be at the peak of it's life cycle.

Time to stop by Mendocino Coast Television in the former Footlighters Building on Laurel and pick up your hubcap.

The moment before flight.

A Fun Friday for Fabulous Fotos

2008-08-15T08:31:00.001-07:00

Just get in the truck!

Downtown Wilderness

2008-08-14T18:30:00.000-07:00

Less than half a mile from the corner of Franklin and Laurel is Otis Johnson Park. Deep wilderness almost in the heart of Fort Bragg! I parked my camera on various stumps and rocks to take photos of me hiking around in this "wilderness" to give scale to the redwood trees and surroundings. Quite amazing.

I had to take this photo to point out something only my friend Ed will understand!

This is a burnt redwood stump from the "good ol' days".

There are some rather steep trails I am using to help prepare me for the upcoming backpacking trip to the High Sierras.

You can't see it in this photo but there is a small burbling stream coming down this gully.

All this inside the city limits! Nice!

Scenes and Signage

2008-08-13T08:34:00.001-07:00

And I'm pleased to see the ravens are eating their fruit and not just junk food.

And so it goes

2008-08-12T11:26:00.001-07:00

It was a fine three day weekend of radio controlled model airplane flying at Klamath Glenn. A nice turn-out of pilots. Great food and decent weather. Perfect!

Each morning I did my one hour walk using the levee that surrounds and protects Klamath Glenn. There were other walkers that used this nice hiking path provided by the Corp of Army Engineers!

Yesterday, Monday, I had to drive over to the Ukiah Courthouse for Jury Duty. After being included in the first pool of fifty potential jurors it was announced our trial was settled out of court! Cool! Back to blogging.....

Sunrise clearing the coastal hills later and later each day. I wouldn't doubt ol' Orion is starting to show up in the evening sky. Bummer. Fall is on the way.

Oh yeah, Fall is definitely on the way!

But the fully mature flowers are spectacular.

Nice!

I have been reluctant to mention "it" because mentioning "it" on my blog sort of turns "it" into a commitment made to a wider audience than just myself. If I would just keep "it" to myself I could always change my mind and nobody would ever know but..., well....

So..... what is "it"?

"It" is a eight day backpacking trip in the High Sierras with my friend Pete. I have been thinking about doing this since Spring Break last April when Pete first offered to show me around "up there" in return for me showing him around "down there" in the deserts. Since then I have been just sort of dancing around the edges of the possibility but recently I have started to prepare my body as my mind has come to accept the idea. You see, I have not gone backpacking since my hike to Panamint City and that was for only two nights two years ago. And..., I'm getting older.

I dug out my old Kelty backpack and have gradually been adding books and potatoes and water and Petanque boules as dead weight and going for short hikes. My pack it now up to 33 pounds but I need to be able to haul at least 35 pounds, maybe 40. Recently I started hiking up and down and all around Otis Johnson Park. Otis Johnson is the only place within walking distance that isn't flat! I know hiking at sea level isn't preparing me for McGee Pass which is around 12,000 feet but.... well, I'll just have to deal with that when I get there. Our trip is set for early September. Stay tuned.

Flying Weekend

2008-08-07T07:29:00.001-07:00

I'm going to take a little break and attend the Klamath Fun-Fly Weekend in northern California. It is a three day event for us radio controlled model airplane enthusiasts. Camping and flying! Woo hoo!

I am taking three of my planes but none of them are the size of this Ultimate biplane!

These photos are from the last time I was there, two years ago, when I tripped and broke my arm. I'm going to be a lot more careful this time. :-)

I'll be back to blogging next Monday. Have a great weekend.

Opps!

2008-08-06T08:40:00.001-07:00

Remember yesterday I pointed out this graffiti and said it was on the restroom at Otis Johnson Park? Wrong!

This restroom is in Harold O Johnson Park and the graffiti has been painted over. Well done, Public Works!

I see folks are starting to peek inside these bags. Looks like kid toys to me. It sure congers up a story.... "I've told you for the last time Tiffany to clean up your room!! Now I'm going to do it for you!!"

I see "P for Pothole" is getting more defined. What I would call, "Value added"!

I took this photo especially for a friend of mine. A way to find out if she is still reading my blog! Heh. Heh.

Another Mixed Bag

2008-08-05T09:03:00.000-07:00

The chicken BBQ is over.

The geese are starting to gather and fatten up for that ol' Zugunrhe feeling.

Graffiti wanabees practiced on the restroom wall at Otis Johnson Park.

Moving day? Could be a sad story.

United States of America Viet Cong?

Oh look Marge! Gas is back down to four fifty-five!

***********
Excuse me. It is sort of a weird day. I'm in need of some sunshine or, better yet, this reminder from the Solitary Walker.

First Friday Art Walk

2008-08-04T09:17:00.001-07:00

Finally! My turn to mark up the streets!

The idea was to help guide folks to the various galleries and shops participating in "First Friday".

Part of Laurel Street was blocked off for special events.

You had multiple choice.

Folks could participate doing chalk art.

There was poetry and story reading in the alley beside Cheshire Books.

Interesting and sometimes amazing art in the various galleries.

Many surprises with what was found inside.

There was even belly dancing!

First Friday went on into the evening with a really good turn-out. What we call in this little town, "A success"!

Two out of Three!

2008-08-01T07:52:00.001-07:00

Remember when this lamp was vandalized last November?

Well, it is now repaired and the globe replaced!

And remember the lamp post that got knocked out of alignment near Purity Market?

It is now straightened!

But the lamp post to replace this one that was knocked off by a drunk driver last Thanksgiving still lays on a pallet at the PG&E yard. I understand the hold up is a pissing match between the City and PG&E about who jackhammers up the sidewalk to replace the mounting studs.

Meanwhile, this photo was taken Wednesday.

The same view this morning.

More Street Art

2008-07-31T09:05:00.001-07:00

Remember my "P is for Pothole" series?

Well, imagine my excitement when I spotted these on North Harrison, Whipple and Corry!

I have no idea what Public Works is up to but asking would take all the mystery out of it!

I would call this one a "two-fer".

Sort of makes me think of money!

Subtle but it is there if you look at the lower / left of the photo! Kinda goes nice with the Hydrangeas, I think! :-)

Meanwhile, here is this morning's photo shoot of the Mill Site.

Lots of coming and going.

Progress

2008-07-30T08:55:00.001-07:00

Yesterday.

Today. And, some sunrise for a change!!

Here's the, posted in the window, proposal of the new two story building to replace....

This one story, false fronted, building. The upper story windows are painted on. That's Marilyn Monroe second from right!

Old 45 is getting up a head of steam for todays Skunk Run.

This Friday. Be there. I will.

Chickens?

2008-07-29T09:06:00.001-07:00

I have been hearing rooster crowing when walking past the Catholic Church this year. Now I know why!

Monday.

Tuesday!

Whistle blowing!

I understood the clean-up process at the mill site required keeping the roads watered during operating hours for dust control.

Monday Monday

2008-07-28T08:18:00.000-07:00

This fine old house on North Main Street got a brighter paint job last week!

And I am pleased to see the vandalized fence slats are finally being replaced.

I spotted this pillow in the Paws Pet Store. Definitely food for thought!

I understand the building debris has to be handled as hazardous waste because of accumulated years and years of lead based paint.

You may notice the marine layer is back. We did have some "sun breaks" during the weekend.

Main Street Re-do

2008-07-25T08:58:00.000-07:00

There have been a few setbacks but progress is progressing.

I understand the "grinder" hit some of the wires for the traffic light controller so repairs are under way.

Meanwhile other portions of Main Street / Highway One are being ground down and prepared for asphalt.
Someone commented on Wednesdays blog that those trucks I was following might be hauling "scrapings" inland. I talked to one of the CalTrans guys and he said all the removed material is being hauled to two holding sites north and south of Fort Bragg. None are going inland. The material will be used as road side fill and not re-mixed into the new layer.

I noticed that the destruction of some of the main buildings on the Mill Site property is finally underway.

It doesn't look like a salvage operation.

Maybe the metal will be recycled.

Thursday Morning Walk

2008-07-24T08:34:00.001-07:00

The forest fires still burning north of Fort Bragg caused a very unusual sunrise.

There are a few yards around Fort Bragg that are mostly flowers and "leastly" grass!

This one on Fir Street was spectacular last year and is again this year. Definitely worth a look. Located between Harrison and McPherson. Well done!

These are in front of the temporary CalTrans office on McPherson.

I spotted these bumper stickers. Cool!

Just as I suspected!

2008-07-23T08:40:00.001-07:00

On Highway 20 yesterday I ended up behind two tractor/trailer rigs hauling away hazardous material from the GP mill site. In my previous blog I made the observation these HazMat truck drivers must be laughing all the way to the bank. Well, folks, I was amazed by this photo opportunity, that is a Brinks truck following them!!!

Shooting through the fence

2008-07-22T08:38:00.000-07:00

And then there is the fence around the old mill site which I can only shoot through since I'm not allowed to walk that part of Fort Bragg, yet.

Stuff is happening and money is being spent.

These guys must be laughing all the way to the bank.

Signage

2008-07-21T09:31:00.001-07:00

This sign was taken apart and completely refurbished last week which got me to noticing other "signage" during my "marine layer" shrouded morning walk this morning. By the way, the morning temperature was a cool 52 degrees this fine "summery" day of the twenty first of July!!

I've never stopped in this establishment. I thought about getting one while in the Navy but those days are long gone.

I hear this is really good and quite pricey. Never been.

Get here early or stand in line. Eggs Benedict!! The best anywhere!!

I like their sign holder. Makes sense to me!

Highly recommended.

I love their sign. They recently moved from Redwood to Laurel.

The only cut-out metal sign I have noticed outside of weather vanes.

And finally, I noticed the Laurel Street "signage" is being refreshed.

Top Side

2008-07-18T15:19:00.001-07:00

This is what the top side of the Marine Layer looks like! I drove my wife to the San Francisco Airport last night. During my morning return I stopped to take this photo from the high point where highway 20 crosses over the coastal range between Willits and Fort Bragg.

I only post photos of what I find during my walks and gawks but please excuse this exception; it's the marine layer thing.

Observations

2008-07-17T09:51:00.001-07:00

I went for a walk last evening and happened to see the almost full moon peeking through the brief break in the marine layer.

This morning I decided to head for the Trestle Bridge. Along the way I noticed the flowers dropping from this bush reminding me that this year is more than half over! Already!!

Along Glass Beach Drive I was intrigued by these flowers. No idea what they are though.

(In the comment section Angela tells me this is called "Fairy Wand". Dierama pulcherrimum)

This is a nice example of the Marine Layer I keep mentioning. That strip of light beyond the barbed wire is a regular, sunny, summer, morning!

I was surprised to discover Pudding Creek is "Bermed Up"! Incoming Pacific waves push the sand in and Pudding Creek, during the rainy season, has enough volume to wash the sand out, keeping a channel open. During the summer Pudding Creek's flow is too low to overcome the ocean's effort so a berm is built causing Pudding Creek to back up and form a lake. I happened to meet fellow walker and Fort Bragg old timer Don McDonald on the Pudding Creek Trestle and he stated he had never seen Pudding Creek backed up this much before.

This is Pudding Creek's "Pond" looking upstream towards Fort Bragg.

Walking home I passed the Cal Fire station and noticed the information board posted by the curb.
The daily posted map shows current fire situations. The City of Fort Bragg can be seen in the lower left of the white area. The closest active forest fire (marked in red) is eighteen and a half miles north of Fort Bragg.

Main Street Mumbo

2008-07-16T09:02:00.000-07:00

'Nuff said. !!

July 15th!

2008-07-15T08:41:00.000-07:00

Hi Kids! Six weeks of sloth in Seattle is over. I'm back in the saddle again! Back to my morning walks around Fort Bragg. It is time to see "What's going on"!

Remember P for Pothole on Perkins? Well, the P and the Pothole is still there but the P is phading phast!!

I see the kids have just a bit over a month of Summer Vacation left.

The "oldie but goodie" trailer on Harold Street has been repainted. I liked the Cream and Purple color scheme a lot better.

Swinging by Safeway I see the parking lot full of equipment from Marin County. As you may know there have been major forest fires in California and there are still fires burning here and there in the coastal range.

These units were parked by Coast Tire.

Out of town firefighters are staying in motels all around town. I'm walking around town between 6 and 7 AM. I'm sure all this equipment will be back at it by 8:00 AM.

"Signage" is up at the north and south end of Main Street announcing the repaving project but so far I only see the storm drains plugged off...

and the ubiquitous markings for sewer, water, power and other things that lurk under the street.

And, Good News! The vandalized trees have been replaced!! This one on the corner by the Post Office.

You may have noticed in these photos that our Annual Summertime Coastal Marine Layer is in. When it gets hot inland we get cool!

*******

The New York Times had an article about the fires that featured my friend Charlie Acker who lives in Elk, just 25 miles south of here.

Laurel's blog MendoCoastCurrent has been featuring a lot of news about the fires. Scroll down for previous stories.

And here are some amazing fire fighting photos.

Bye Bye

2008-05-29T08:52:00.001-07:00