Thursday, July 31, 2014

MENDOCINO COAST BOTANICAL GARDENS



photo credit: Bob Rutemoeller
photo credit: Gary Levenson-Palmer
 
photo credit: Bob Rutemoeller

photo credit: Bob Rutemoeller
photo credit: Bob Rutemoeller


Meet at 8:20 at pullout for Gualala business directory to carpool and at 8:30 at Anchor Bay (west side of Hwy 1) to carpool to the Mendocino Coast Botanical Gardens, Fort Bragg.  This is a LONG drive for us so be forewarned. Hikers north of Anchor Bay should call the leaders ahead of time if you want to be picked up along the way. There is an admission charge for the Gardens unless you are a MCBG member or a member of a reciprocal garden. Bob and Mary Sue are members and the charge for our guest non members will be $6. This garden includes 47 acres of manicured gardens, diverse plant collections, forests, streams, fern canyons and bluffs. We will walk out to the Cliff House and see spectacular views of the Pacific Ocean along the Coastal Bluff Trail and visit the vegetable garden where a lot of produce is grown and donated to the food bank.  Perennials, heathers, dahlias, fuchsias, and roses should be in bloom. Dogs are welcome on leash. Those who want to can eat at Rhody's Cafe where you can get fresh made sandwiches and salads, homemade soup and desserts, coffee, drinks, and Cowlick's ice cream. Please let the leaders know if you plan to come and eat at Rhody's so we can warn them ahead of time. Rhody's isn't  open until 11, but perhaps we can do a loop through the garden and order and see other parts of the garden while they prepare the lunches.
http://www.gardenbythesea.org/site/assets/files/1855/rhodys-menu_05-30-2014.pdf
It's also fine to bring your lunch if you prefer.
Leaders: Harmony Susalla,  Bob and Mary Sue

Thursday, July 24, 2014

UP & DOWN FROM OHLSON RANCH CENTER

Photo Credit: Bob Rutemoeller

Carpool at pullout for Gualala business directory just north of bridge at 9:45 a.m. Start at Ohlson Ranch Center at 10:00 a.m. Hang tags needed for non Sea Ranchers. Cross Highway 1 and walk along the water treatment plant and up the ravine toward the forest and White Fir road. Unit 29A was planned in the 1970s. The 4 model homes #2, #3, #4 (Yuen), #5 as well as a few cabins were completed in 1972. Continue walking on the road catching the trail at post 115, waking north to #119 and then south down to post 266. Cross the Highway at Vantage Road, turn south immediately and down to Blufftop Trail and back to White Barn and Ohlson Ranch Center. Leader's choice for lunch spot.
Leader: Theresa Yuen

Thursday, July 17, 2014

KOLMER GULCH TRAILS, FORT ROSS

All photos by Mary Sue Ittner

Carpool at 9:15 at pullout for Gualala business directory north of bridge, and at The Sea Ranch Lodge at 9:30. We will park the cars and start the hike across from the Old Russian Orchard on Fort Ross Road at 10:00. We will be hiking the Lower and Upper Kolmer Gulch Trails. These trails are not well maintained and indistinct in places and there is a prairie portion on one of them with nice views where we'll be walking through tall grass. Except for that part, the trails are mostly shady. We'll walk to the Kolmer Gulch Camp before returning and searching for the hidden picnic table at the end of the hike for our lunch spot.
Leaders: Bob Rutemoeller  and Mary Sue Ittner

Thursday, July 10, 2014

HOT SPOT PICNIC AND HIKE

All photos by Bob Rutemoeller

Meet at 9:35 at pullout for Gualala business directory north of  bridge and at 9:50 at the at end of Verdant View near Twofish Baking Company. We can park along the cul-de-sac by the building supply. Sea Ranch members please bring along extra hang tags for non Sea Ranchers. Carpool to the Hot Spot and start from there at 10:00. Walk up the Hot Spot Loop Trail to River Beach Road to Deep Woods to East Ridge Rd catching the Ridge Trail from 101 to 102, exiting at Sorcerer Wood and picking up the Spring Meadow Trail at 314 to 316 and then circle the airport (Sea Ridge Rd, trail to Timber Ridge Rd. ) Walk down River Beach Road entering the San Andreas Fault Interpretive Trail at post 304 and following it to post 305. Continue on River Beach Road, catching the old road (now closed) to return to the Hot Spot for lunch. Lunches can be left in the car as we'll eat at the end of the hike. Walking sticks advised for this hike.
Leader: Linda Kennedy

Thursday, July 3, 2014

NORTH FORK GUALALA RIVER/ELK PRAIRIE


photo credit: Bob Rutemoeller
photo credit: Bob Rutemoeller
photo credit: Bob Rutemoeller
photo credit: Bob Rutemoeller
photo credit: Bob Rutemoeller
photo credit: Bob Rutemoeller


This hike is our once a year hike on Gualala Redwoods lands and is a new suggestion from Henry Alden that we have never done before.  Meet at the back part of Gualala Arts parking lot at 10:15. We will carpool on logging roads (vehicles with high clearance best ) through Elk Prairie to our starting point and then hike along a road that follows the North Fork of the Gualala River so will have glimpses of it from time to time. The hike will be mostly shady and relatively, but not completely, flat. We plan to have lunch at Peach Tree Flat, an area that is open next to the Gualala River (http://gualalawatershed.wordpress.com/2012/03/09/peach-tree-flat/) and will have an opportunity to see how Gualala Redwoods has modified roads to prevent runoff and added large pieces of wood to the river to create pools for fish.
Leaders: Mary Sue Ittner and Bob Rutemoeller