The Conejo Valley Guide "Welcome" blog covers a wide range of topics, local information, highlights of local things to do, compilations and other items. Focus is on information relevant to Ventura County and surrounding areas, including Thousand Oaks, Westlake Village, Newbury Park, Agoura Hills, Calabasas, Malibu, Simi Valley, Camarillo, Moorpark, Somis, Fillmore, Santa Paula, Ojai, Oxnard, Port Hueneme, Santa Barbara and Moorpark.
The Conejo Valley Guide® "Welcome" blog covers a wide range of topics, local information, local things to do, holiday event compilations, announcements and more.
Suzy Demeter of Suzy Demeter Photography and her nephew hiked the steep Chumash Trail in Pt. Mugu State Park yesterday and captured these spectacular shots looking towards the wetlands below on the north and the great sand dune above Thornhill Broome Beach on the south. Beautiful! The Chumash Trail trailhead is accessible off of PCH at this link.
Quite an interesting perspective on the gigantic sand dune below to the south.
Suzy Demeter of Suzy Demeter Photography noticed this bright tangerine colored sunset over the Pacific tonight from her vantage point in Malibu. It started with a simple yellow and ended with blazing fiery red. Welcome to December in Southern California!
Channel Islands seen in the distance
Suzy Demeter of Suzy Demeter Photography found tonight's sunset at the Ventura County Line a worthy subject and I would agree with that assessment. You can see part of the Channel Islands in the right center of the image.
We also enjoyed the oranged-hued sunset here in the Conejo Valley. This one was taken from the top of Tarantula Hill in the heart of Thousand Oaks.
Scattered clouds always seem to make epic sunsets here in Ventura County.
Suzy Demeter of Suzy Demeter Photography captured this photo of the sunset tonight in Malibu. The overlay of clouds across the sun gave it a Jupiter-like appearance. The cropped closer-up image of the sun below shows seagulls taking part in the end-of-day activities.
The real Jupiter for comparative purposes
The Five Man Electrical Band said it best in their 1970 song "Sign" - Sign, sign, everywhere a sign; Blockin' out the scenery, breakin' my mind; Do this, don't do that, can't you read the sign. Some signs provide more comic relief than others around Ventura County.
The Community Pool at Samuelson Aquatics Center is a pristine, 82 degree heated community pool at Cal Lutheran University that is located adjacent to the George "Sparky" Anderson Field & Ullman Stadium. As a result, flying baseballs can be an issue for poolgoers who dare to swim during CLU home games!
Dos Vientos Community Park in Newbury Park is popular with local soccer, baseball and other sports teams. The sign below indicates that perhaps too many local sports enthusiasts were using the walls of the snack bar/restroom facility at the park in their ball playing endeavors.
According to City of Oxnard Ordinance 2708, section 7-86(A), "It shall be unlawful for any person to have in his or her possession any adhesive sticker, etching tool, indelible marker, paint stick, or graffiti stick while in or upon any public facility, park, playground, swimming pool, beach, recreational facility, or other public building owned or operated by the city where signs forbidding such possession without valid authorization are displayed in a reasonable location or locations." So watch your stickers in public facilities in Oxnard! It is unlawful to have one in your possession!
The Rancho Potrero Open Space area is located in Newbury Park off of Lynn Road, just east of the intersection with Rancho Dos Vientos. A short walk up the hill on a clear day like this past Saturday gets you stunning views looking towards Camarillo, Oxnard Plain and the Channel Islands. Bring your lunch, sit on this bench and enjoy the view.
The Springs Fire started the morning of May 2nd along the 101 freeway on the Conejo Grade and burned over 28,000 acres through portions of Camarillo, Newbury Park and the Santa Monica Mountains Recreational Aea until it was fully contained the following week.
Rancho Sierra Vista/Satwiwa and other trails in Pt Mugu State Park were re-opened in mid to late May. It will take time for the vegetation to grow back and for structures that were burned to be rebuilt. One such structure is the bench overlooking Upper Sycamore Canyon. The bench was burnt severely and was rendered unusable. However, lo and behold, the bench has been replaced! Happy trails!
The healthy, new bench overlooking Upper Sycamore Canyon in September 2013
Bench overlooking Upper Sycamore Canyon in August of 2013.
The not-so-healthy looking bench overlooking Upper Sycamore Canyon after the fire.
View from the new and improved bench at Upper Sycamore Canyon Overlook in Sept 2013
Bench at Upper Sycamore Canyon Overlook on May 14, 2013
Bench at Upper Sycamore Canyon Overlook prior to Springs Fire on February 10, 2013
Conejo Valley Guide covers events, activities and things to do throughout Ventura County and surrounding areas.
Conejo Valley Guide® covers thousands of events, activities and things to do throughout Ventura County, California and surrounding areas.
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