Moments in Dirt and Ink

McKinleyville Parks and rights of way McKinleyville Land Trust ( map link ) All the rain that came through has brought the Mad River to a level not seen at any time last year. Admittedly, it stopped and the water has dropped back down a bit. That has allowed the little creeks started to run clear again. It's prettier when it all runs clear. I decided to go out and visit the river in its long run from getting almost to the coast (near the old railroad bridge) to actually breaking through to the ocean waves over 3 miles to the north. This time I would use the more common path on the McKinleyville side of the river rather than the long sandbar . There's a lot more places one might start such a trip and I've marked all the spots with public parking along the route. I actually started at the aforementioned bridge, the southern terminus of the Hammond Trail. Feeling a kind of tunnel vision at the southern terminus of Hammond Trail. The Mad River is still muddy on its

McKay Community Forest ( map link ) I was battling the "but I've already been"s when I visited the newly opened section of McKay . The north end is well used, but not expected to open until the coming summer. (The previous section was aiming at the summer, too, but got the fall.) It's hard to just leave it when seeing so many people enjoying the area. I broke down and went for a look. The main entry into the north end of McKay Community Forest should probably be locked I wandered in under the trees along the road, then nearly immediately turned off onto a well used trail heading east of the road. I was struck by how much more open the forest is in this area. It doesn't hurt that the day was nice and sunny without having to wait for it. Trail among the trees leaving and ferns that haven't been stomped A small stream comes down the hill