OCEAN RIDGE, BOWER PARK AND AIRPORT

 

We will meet at 9:45 at the Gualala Business Directory to carpool and at 10:00 at Ocean Ridge Park (38381 Ocean Ridge Drive) by the information kiosk (parking area is to the left of the kiosk when you enter from ORD). There is a sign for the park at the Ocean Ridge Drive entrance off Old Stage Road closest to the park (the Ocean Ridge Drive turn closest to Highway 1) and a sign at the park entrance (first driveway on the right after turning onto Ocean Ridge Drive). We will do a loop of the park perimeter and then cris-cross through the park to highlight key features. We'll then journey over to Bower Park and loop through its key features before walking along Old Stage Road to the Ocean Ridge Airport (E55). We will walk adjacent to Runway 31 and past the Pilot's Lounge, then walk along Ocean Ridge Drive to the "shortcut" back to the Ocean Ridge Park. We will loop through the park again past the Petanque court following some of the disc golf holes, back up the driveway to the meadow for lunch at the picnic tables. The hike is a little under four miles but it is a little hilly in sections (no major incline/declines but a good bit of up and down due to the terrain).
Leader: Beth Roland

Links: 

Ocean Ridge Park:

Ocean Ridge Park (managed by Redwood Coast Recreation Center or RCRC): http://rcrcoceanridgepark.org/

There are photos of the pavilion we would like to build, historical and other information (including photos of Petanque balls) and there is a link to donate if you are so inclined (it is a non-profit). There are also secure donation boxes on site (at the Bower Park entrance/first hole of the Disc Golf course and also now on the information kiosk in the meadow).

 

The RCRC Facebook group if you want to follow for announcements and updates: https://www.facebook.com/p/Ocean-Ridge-Park-RCRC-100054822247054/?paipv=0&eav=AfbK4SMM1EEMND4pMY6OxDfbO4vFRWK4L74aG0cZcMmh5EB39PA4JzdS7M2n-8L4NrY&_rdr

 

The listing for Ocean Ridge Park on Disc Golf Scene: https://www.discgolfscene.com/courses/RCRC_Ocean_Ridge_Park

 

Mendocino Coast Recreation and Park District: https://www.mendocoastrec.org/

 

Bower Park:

Also the “Fix Bower Park” Facebook group if you are interested in joining that one: https://www.facebook.com/groups/564047289043197

There was an update from the meeting with the county in last week’s ICO.

 

Mendocino County Parks: https://www.mendocinocounty.org/departments/general-services/parks

Bower Park falls under the jurisdiction of the county while Ocean Ridge Park is part of the Mendocino Coast Recreation and Park District (but is a non-profit entity that is run by the RCRC board which is comprised of local members).

 

Airport:

E55 (Echo 55) is the numerical representation of Ocean Ridge Airport. The website history section has some interesting information and the blog portion has current info. There is also a link to donate (not a non-profit so not tax deductible but it does help keep the airport open and running) – also an appeal from when the closure was threatened in 2014 (and the value add to the community, which we saw in action in January when it became a mobile operating base for PG&E to restore power to the community).

https://oceanridgeairport.org/

 

Also the webcam for several of the local airports including E55: https://www.webcamwx.com/index.php

You can scroll through different angles. Checking multiple local areas gives good insight into the current weather conditions/patterns (very useful for pilots).

 

Flight Aware: https://www.flightaware.com/

If you know a plane’s tail number (which is prominently displayed) then you can enter it into Flight Aware and track basic information and flight info:

E.g. N1484S is our plane’s tail number (and Mike usually flies in Thursday evenings and out on Sunday or Monday) so you can see recent flight history and registered (public) information about the aircraft.

(note: the live flight tracking is useful for commercial air travel as well!! https://www.flightaware.com/live/  It’s also just kind of fun to see air traffic in different areas.)

OCEAN RIDGE PARK (NEW)

 

Meet at 9:50 at the pullout for the Gualala business directory and at 10:00 at north side parking lot of Bower Park. This is a different type of Rambler’s hike as we will wander Ocean Ridge Drive, the trails and paths in Bower Park and will zigzag through the disk golf course of the Redwood Coast Recreation Center. We will end up having our lunch at the picnic area of Bower Park. 

Leader: Dona Dougherty

photo credit: April Paula & Phil

OCEAN RIDGE DRIVE-BOWER PARK-BULBS

Meet at 9:50 at pullout for Gualala business directory north of bridge to carpool and at Mary Sue's house at 38240 Ocean Ridge Drive at 10:00. (Turn left off Old Stage Road past Pacific Woods going north.) Hike on Ocean Ridge Drive and on informal trails surrounding Bower Park and the area for the proposed recreation center. Try and see if you can discover if you are retracing your steps or covering new ground as you leader tried to focus on where she is going. End back at Mary Sue's garden where there are bound to be some bulbs in bloom. Lunch optional or eat your lunch in Mary Sue's garden.
Leader: Mary Sue Ittner

Not RAINED out

Despite waking up to a downpour and thinking the hike would be rained out we did not feel one drop as we walked through Bower Park and toured Mary Sue's incredible garden. The 4 brave souls were also treated to another contest this year -- first to spot the "blue airplane" won a potted Star Lily.
I once again forgot my camera so these pictures are compliments of Mary Sue. The Pin Cushion Flower (Leucospermum) is from Mary Sue's yard and the Wisteria entwined in the Huckleberry was in Bower Park. It was a lovely rain-free hike.