President’s Message
January 25, 2025
Dan Horn
Welcome to 2025 and Happy New Year:
With our Executive Board staying the same as it was in 2024, we started the New Year with the Unit’s monthly meeting which is on the 3rd Tuesday of every month. After covering the monthly reports from the Units Secretary and Treasurer, we began discussions about plans for 2025.
One thing that has been a goal for several years is to hold a monthly Unit Social Ride to involve more members, so the first of these rides is planned for February 15th (11 am) at the Upper Lone Rock Trailhead on Rockpile Road, Lake Sonoma (weather permitting).
On the subject of monthly ride, we are in need of someone to take on the task of Activity Coordinator. This position would only be responsible for picking a trail head, setting the time and date. Please help us out by stepping up to fill this slot.
We have several work projects in the works for this year, the first is scheduled for March 1st and 2nd . We will hold a Unit Campout at the Lone Rock Horse Camp Lake Sonoma. The project is to install a new hitching rail that was donated by Sonoma County Barns. The location is on the Bummer Peak Fire Road at the intersection with No Name Trail. Friends of Lake Sonoma set a picnic table at the intersection and ask us to install the hitching rail. Dinner Saturday Night is still up in the air (more to come later) but the Unit will provide breakfast on Sunday morning. Arrive Saturday morning, work party right after lunch, ride the afternoon away. Dinner around 6 pm. Breakfast at 9 am Sunday morning, free riding afterwards. Of course all of this is depending on rain, and the road being dry enough to get out to location with a truck. We will be sending flyer in February.
Somewhere in late March or early April we will be doing our annual cleanup of the Lone Rock Horse Camp (depending on rain). Mowing, weed eating, just a general shine up. Whether we make it a camp out or just a day trip is up in the air. Sometimes horses do just fine with mowers and weed eaters LOL. Flyer will come later.
We also are working with Friends of Lake Sonoma to purchase and install a 4 ft diameter culvert to repair Old Skaggs Springs Road. Years ago we built a Work Camp and installed a 1200 gal water tank out at Skaggs Springs. The west side of the Lake is so far out that doing any trial work out there is very difficult because it is about 3 to 4 hours in from either Lone Rock Trailhead or form the South Trailhead above the Marina. There was a water trough at road edge and running water in camp area. The Camp itself is small (maybe 4 rigs) but the road right above has lots of room. This Camp is only a Work Party Camp but is a nice location right along the creek. We have to make a lot of special arrangements to use this Camp. Lots of Camp out work to do on that side.
Big disappointment to all of us, we will not be able to use the Potter Valley Ranch for our Spring Ride this year. James Kelley is in charge of finding a new location. If anyone has any contacts, please contact James and let him know.
We are always looking for more members to get involved. Our Monthly Unit meeting is the 3rd Tuesday of every month at 7 pm. We use the Driving and Riding Club House at the rear of the Fairgrounds in Santa Rosa. Entrance is off Aston Ave at intersection with Linwood Ave. Contact us for Gate Combo.
Please come join us
Dan Horn
North Bay Unit President
