The Sun Was Beaming on the Thousand Oaks Civic Arts Plaza Today

Local resident Sarah Roth was visiting the beautiful Gardens of the World with her family today when she took this photo of the Thousand Oaks Civic Arts Plaza across the street. It looks like a sunbeam coming out of the sky! It was a perfect fall day after a night of light rain, with highs in the mid to upper 60s. Yet another great day to be out and about in the Conejo Valley.

Malibu Sunset Last Sunday

The same day I ran the Malibu Marathon last Sunday, November 14th, Personal Trainer BB of B Fit By BB took this neat picture of the sun setting in Malibu while traveling on PCH. Kind of looks like a big shiny star. To contact BB, call 805.607.7194.

Love This Logo Rainbow

I recently argued with a friend over the value of a logo. He thinks a logo doesn't make a difference. I think a good logo leaves a digital imprint that provides a reminder of the products and services a company has to offer. In any case, this logo rainbow put together by Dan Meth I thought was quite cool looking and with his concurrence I present it here for all of you.

Speaking of logos, I should have asked Dan why he neglected to include the world famous logo of Conejo Valley Guide in this rainbow.  It would have been dead center! Maybe next time...

Halloween is Near, Black Cat Has No Fear!

I came across these really neat photos via a friend in Facebook. Los Angeles based digital special effects designer David Ridlen was outside his home a few weeks ago and noticed his neighbor's cat Lucy was perched on top of their chimney. And the moon floated directly above the fearless feline. Amazed at what a great image that was, David scrambled and grabbed his HD video camera and snapped these still shots.  Though the resolution of the shots is not high, it certainly turned out some really cool shots for this home stretch into Halloween! I love these pics!!

 

 

For nearly 40 things to do through Halloween weekend, CLICK HERE!

Wagon Wheel Motel, Restaurant and Bowling Alley in Oxnard

The Wagon Wheel Motel and Restaurant complex used to stand at the corner of the 101 and PCH in Oxnard at the northern edge of a 64 acre plot slated to be redeveloped into a European-themed development with 1,500 residential units and retail space. The distinctive western-themed office, motel and restaurant were originally built in 1947. The restaurant closed in 2005 and the motel closed in 2006. Built in 1953, the Wagon Wheel Bowl finally closed its doors in May 2015. The bowling alley was designed by Arthur Froehlich, who also designed Hollywood Park Racetrack and Hanna Barbera Studios in 1962.

This motel was built when western movies were at their peak popularity. My kids would have loved this place with rustic wood beds, chairs and lamps, windows made out of wagon wheels, lamps made out of branding irons and spurs, etc.  Even the street names in the area are western-themed...Pettitcoat Lane, Winchester Drive, Saddle Ave, Spur Drive, etc.

Previous update: On 10/25/10, the VC Star reported that final briefs have been filed by the San Buenaventura Conservancy, which would like to preserve the complex as a historic site. Though it seems many people want these dilapidated buildings torn down to make room for 1,500 homes and commercial space, some would like to preserve it.

Wagon Wheel Office and Restaurant Before Closure in 2005

Local Nature Photographer Says Winter Sunsets Are The Best

Ventura County is so close to the ocean, yet most of us don't usually get down to the beach often enough. Now, with winter bearing down on us, we surely won't make it down to the beach.  That's too bad, because winter sunsets are the best according to local photographer Greg Clure.

Why winter?  Ventura County beaches are mostly south facing, which means during the summer when we are more likely to be at the beach, the sun is difficult, if not impossible, to include in your sunset photos. The sun is too far north.

With the approaching Winter Solstice (December 21st) the sun's path across the sky travels a more southerly route. As each day goes by up to this date as it reaches its southern most path and then begins to move north each day thereafter.  As a result, you will be much more likely to capturing a beautiful sunset photo during the winter. Winter also means fewer people at the beach, so you'll likely have your favorite beach all to yourself.

Clure shares three of his local sunset images taken during winter below.  Greg adds, "When taking sunset images that include the sun, be sure to meter the bright sky near the sun but don't include the sun and you will generally get the best exposure for the entire scene."  If you would like to see larger versions of the images below or other fine art images of nature, visit Greg's website at www.gregclurephotography.com.

30th Anniversary of Channel Islands National Park This Year

So close, yet a world away, Channel Islands National Park marks its 30th anniversary as a National Park this year, but its isolation and the fact you can't drive to the park means it is one of the least visited parks in the national park system. Late summer and fall are great times to visit the park as temperatures are generally moderate and rain is not likely. 

 

A great location for hiking, camping and kayaking, the eight Channel Islands span 160 miles off the coast of Southern California. There are four northern islands - San Miguel, Santa Rosa, Santa Cruz and Anacapa, and four southern islands - San Nicolas, Santa Barbara, Santa Catalina and San Clamente. Channel Islands National Park consists of the four northern islands along with Santa Barbara Island.

 

For more travel information on the islands or to book boat transportation to an island, check out Island Packer's website at www.islandpackers.com as the only licensed tour operator to the park. They visit all are five islands with seven destinations available for you to visit in the Channel Islands National Park, leaving out of Channel Islands Harbor in Oxnard or Ventura Harbor in Ventura. Island Packers lands at Anacapa Island’s Landing Cove, and two destinations on Santa Cruz Island, Scorpion Anchorage and Prisoners’ Harbor, year round. During certain days of the year with very low tides, Frenchy’s Cove at Anacapa Island can be visited for tidepool exploration. They also offer trips to the more remote islands, referred to as the outer islands due to their increased distance from the mainland, these trips are seasonal. Trips to the outer islands, Santa Barbara, Santa Rosa and San Miguel, are scheduled when ocean conditions on the outer waters are likely to be optimal for traveling. Trips to Santa Barbara Island operate from April to October, landings at San Miguel are scheduled May to October, and on Santa Rosa from April to November.

The islands rose from the ocean millions of years ago and were born of plate tectonics, volcano activity and fluctuating sea levels. During the ice ages the northern four islands were once connected as the polar ice caps expanded. Also during this time, the islands were most accessible to the mainland’s flora and fauna. When the seas rose again it created the islands and isolated them to evolve separately from the mainland as well as one another. The Channel Islands are home to over 2,000 terrestrial plants and animals, of which 145 are found nowhere else in the world. A few good examples include the Island Fox, which appears half the size of a mainland fox and the Silver Lotus Plant, found only on Santa Cruz Island’s highest peaks.

 

Earlier this year, Greg Clure, a local nature photographer, went on a 16 mile weekend backpacking trip across Santa Cruz Island, landing at Prisoners’ Harbor and hiking to Scorpion Anchorage. A few of his images from this trip can be seen below and you can check out all of his images from this trip by visiting his Channel Islands Gallery at www.gregclurephotography.com/channelislands