September 06, 2014

2014 Pepperdine University Waves of Flags Display in Honor of 9/11 Victims

September 06, 2014/ Conejo Joe

Once again, Pepperdine University students and volunteers have staged a display of nearly 3,000 flags in honor of each of the victims of the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks. The display is at Alumni Park, at the corner of Pacific Coast Highway and Malibu Canyon Road. Each victim is memorialized with a flag reflecting their nationality.

August 15, 2014

Help Track Recovery From Springs Fire in Point Mugu State Park and Rancho Sierra Vista with Your Cameras

August 15, 2014/ Conejo Joe

If you're out and about in Rancho Sierra Vista/Satwiwa and Point Mugu State Park, you may come across one of these photo stands on the trails.

The sign, sponsored by the National Park Service and California State Parks, says the following:

Much of Point Mugu State Park and Rancho Sierra Vista burned in the May 2013 Springs Fire. We are monitoring how the ecosystem responds. YOU CAN HELP!

Place your camera or camera phone on the L-shaped bracket and take a photo of the view (no zoom or filters).

Post your photos using hashtag #springsfire__ to Twitter and flickr.

Photos will be used to create a time-lapse of the recovery. See your photos come to life on our Springs Fire Recovery Map!

While I don't know exactly how many of these photo brackets are out there, I've come across three of them on the Hidden Valley Overlook trail in Rancho Sierra Vista/Satwiwa.

View from SpringsFire03View from SpringsFire04

I'm not the only one that noticed these contraptions. Some folks have posted photos to Twitter already. Like these #SpringsFire04 photos.

June 25, 2014

Funny Bunnies on a Conejo Valley Trail This Overcast Late June Morning

June 25, 2014/ Conejo Joe

With the name Conejo Valley, I guess one could assume there are a lot of conejos, or rabbits, in our midst. One would be correct in that assumption, at least based on my own experience.

This morning, under foggy, cool, skies, the bunnies were out in force. They didn't seem to be foraging for food, however. They were playing, goofing off, annoying one another.

They looked like they were playing tag. Whatever it may be, they were quite involved in this activity, as I was able to stand there, not much more than 10 yards away from them, camera in hand, capturing some of their frolicking.

Speaking of trails, here's a nice compilation that will keep you moving over the coming summer months. And when you're tired of running around and it starts getting hot, try this list of summer free and $1 movies around Ventura County. Or hop on over to a local gym/fitness facility.

Last but not least...watch out for those coyotes!

June 20, 2014

Ventura Beach This Past Father's Day

June 20, 2014/ Conejo Joe

Local realtor Jeffrey Diamond shared these great images at Ventura Beach from this past Father's Day weekend. Great colors!

For more on beaches within close range of Ventura County, check out these highlights of beaches in Ventura Harbor to Carpinteria, Oxnard to Malibu and the Santa Barbara area.

April 27, 2014

Spring Is In the Air at the Palo Comado Canyon Trail in Oak Park

April 27, 2014/ Conejo Joe

The 4.4 mile Palo Comado Canyon Trail runs from near the Cheeseboro Canyon trailhead to the China Flat trailhead in the Simi Hills, about a 1,200 foot elevation gain. But you don't have to hike the whole trail to enjoy it. One nice entry point to the trail is on Doubletree Road in Oak Park, most easily accessed via Sunnycrest Drive off of Kanan.

Today was a perfect day for a hike. With temperatures in the low 70s and a cool spring breeze in the air, not to mention some springtime colors on the hills thanks to some recent, albeit brief, rainfall.

More on Cheeseboro/Palo Comado Canyon, part of the Santa Monica Mountains National Recreational Area, at THIS LINK.

March 17, 2014

Post-Earthquake Moonset This Morning From Malibu and the Conejo Valley

March 17, 2014/ Conejo Joe

Suzy Demeter of Suzy Demeter Photography caught this "moonset" of last night's full moon from Malibu this morning, about 30 minutes after most of us were jolted awake by a 4.4 magnitude quake at 6:25 a.m. The moon did not feel the quake. I asked him. But the rest of us sure did! The quake was centered somewhere between Encino and Westwood in the Santa Monica Mountains. Kind of a rude awakening to St. Paddy's Day and 20 year, 2 month (to the day) anniversary of the Northridge earthquake of 1994.

That full moon was shining bright up here in the Conejo Valley too, dodging around the early morning fog that soon burned off as we said our final goodbyes.

January 19, 2014

Another Dramatic Sunset This Third Sunday of January 2014

January 19, 2014/ Conejo Joe

Suzy Demeter of Suzy Demeter Photography captured another nice sunset tonight in Malibu around 5:30 pm, which coincidentally is about the same time I captured this sunset photo from near CSU Channel Islands in Camarillo.

And a little bit closer.