MANCHESTER STATE BEACH AND THOMPSON HEATHER GARDENS (NEW)

Meet at 9:05 at pullout for Gualala business directory and at Anchor Bay (west side of Hwy 1) at 9:15. Turn toward the ocean on Kinney Road (mm 21.41) and drive to the end of the road, turning right when it ends and driving to the parking area. Hike starts around 9:45. We will be hiking on the dunes until we can get to the beach, then hiking on the beach. The web site for Manchester State Park advises there can be fog in summer and strong winds year round. On this day there is not a low tide, but there aren't rocks to scramble over and Manchester Beach is very pretty. Dogs are not allowed on state beaches to protect snowy plover nesting. We will drive to the Thompson garden afterwards for lunch.
Leaders: Mary Sue Ittner and Bob Rutemoeller
Mileage: approx. 4.8
photos contributed by Steve, Mary Sue and Bob

MANCHESTER STATE BEACH TO IRISH BEACH

Meet at 9:20 at pullout for Gualala business directory and at Anchor Bay (west side of Hwy 1) at 9:30. This hike starts early in order to take advantage of the low tide. We will turn in at Alder Creek Beach Road (mm 22.48), then turn directly left and park on the road that parallels Hwy 1. Hike starts around 10:00. Mary will lead us to a nice view point before we make our way to the beach. Walk north as far as we can and return. We will eat our lunches at the end of the hike on the beach by Alder Creek . This is beach walking, but it's a moderately low tide so hopefully we will be able to walk on wet sand.
Leader: Mary Heibel
Mileage: 5.1
photos contributed by Bob, Mary Sue and Harmony

DMC LOOP #5

Carpool at 9:50 at Gualala Business Sign pullout just north of bridge or meet at 10:00 at Del Mar Center on TSR. Hang tags needed for parking for non Sea Ranch hikers. Walk south on Leeward until you reach the Walk-On Beach access trail and walk on it to Bluff. Turn north on the Bluff Trail and walk north taking the Salal Trail, turning right on Leeward, right on Grey Whale and picking up the Del Mar Meadow Trail at post 67B and back to Leeward and the Del Mar Center. Lunch in the Del Mar Garden or the Secret Place.

MENDOCINO HEADLANDS STATE PARK (NEW)

 

Meet at 8:50 at pullout for Gualala business directory and at Anchor Bay (west side of Highway One) at 9 a.m. to carpool. Anyone interested in this hike from Point Arena north let the leaders know so we can arrange other carpool spots. This hike will be one of the few hikes we do that are farther away and will be a walk on the headlands that surround the town of Mendocino. There will be spectacular views of the Pacific Ocean at every turn. The starting point will be the parking area on Heeser Dr. north of town. We will walk west and then south. Lunch will be at the picnic tables near our starting spot (where there are public bathrooms as well) unless we discover a more scenic spot. Afterwards we'll drive to Frankie's for Cowlick's ice cream before heading home.
Leaders: Mary Sue Ittner & Bob Rutemoeller
photos contributed by Mary Sue, April, and Steve