Beach Views at Mussel Shoals in Ventura

Driving the 101 through Ventura towards Santa Barbara, we all pass through Mussel Shoals and see the man-made Rincon Island off in the distance, but we're usually either rushing through to get to our destination and stuck in traffic! So we decided to stop by and actually check out the beach in person.

Mussel Shoals is a small beach community with around 50 homes. There are about a dozen public parking spots along Old Pacific Coast Highway, paralleling the 101, The Cliff House Inn is a quaint hotel with spectacular ocean views. Dine at their Shoals restaurant and relax with the waves breaking on the rocks below.

Rincon Island was built in 1958 for well drilling and oil and gas production, so it's not open to the public. But the kids and I fantasize about having our own island like that, with palm trees growing. Here's a closer look, thanks to the person who shared it at Wikipedia. Looks like an electric guitar to me.

DIRECTIONS TO DOZENS OF LOCAL VENTURA COUNTY AREA BEACHES

100 Year Old Joyce From Newbury Park Fulfills Her Dream of Meeting Alex Trebek

"We're going to be all over social media" says Alex Trebek as he slowly walks 100 year old Joyce Pesner of Newbury Park back to the audience.

The Dream Foundation grants wishes for terminally ill adults, and Joyce's wish was to meet Alex. She has watched Jeopardy! every night before bed since the show has been on the air.

(Fellow Conejo Valley inhabitant and friend L David Irete was the lucky person who shot this video.)

More: www.jeopardy.com/jbuzz/features/dream-foundation-100-year-old-fan

Sauces Canyon Bald Eagle Footage on Santa Cruz Island During April 5 Earthquake

There is a live cam in place in the Sauces Canyon of Santa Cruz Island that allows researcher and the general public to observe a bald eagle nest. This nest was in for some action today as a 5.3 magnitude earthquake originated just south of the island! 

Watch the video feed below for live action.

Multiple Myeloma Awareness Month at Amgen "Spotlight Myeloma" Skylight in Thousand Oaks

On Monday night I noticed a skylight in Newbury Park and assumed it must have related to a business. I tried to track it down but decided it was too late, so I went home.

Tuesday night, March 6th, I noticed the same skylight, a bright blue line that could be seen from the 101 in Thousand Oaks. At first I thought it was coming from Brendan's Irish Pub off of Ventu Park Road, but to no avail. But I followed Ventu Park up towards Amgen and, wallah, I managed to track down the light. It was coming from the roof of a parking structure.

I learned from an Amgen friend that this was part of a month-long multiple myeloma awareness initiative at Amgen in March. 

According to Amgen's BloodCounts.com website, "Blood Counts is a national effort to raise awareness about multiple myeloma through the sharing of personal stories. Through real-life accounts of persistence and hope, Blood Counts aims to shed a light on what matters most when it comes to treating blood cancer."

Multiple myeloma, also known as plasma cell myeloma, is a cancer of plasma cells. There are no cures for this cancer that affects about .7% of the U.S. population. Without treatment survival rate is typically seven months. With current treatments, survival can be four to five years.

Two Views From Conejo Valley Trails the Weekend of February 10-11, 2018

We're lacking rain this winter in Southern California once again (last year was a different story) so our trails in the Conejo Valley aren't as green as they should be in mid-February. But nonetheless, they are still beautiful. Here are a couple views this weekend; one from the Potrero Ridge Trail and the other from the Rosewood Trail in Newbury Park.

For over 50 over trails and hikes throughout Ventura County and adjacent areas, visit THIS LINK.

Spectacular Sunset From the Conejo Valley Towards the Channel Islands on November 25, 2017

After several days of heatwave weather through Thanksgiving Day and Black Friday 2017, the temperatures are gradually cooling off and tonight we're seeing the cloud cover creeping up the Potrero Grade. I had the good fortune of witnessing tonight's beautiful sunset from Newbury Park, looking towards the Channel Islands. These images are captured in this video.

Beautiful Rainbow Brightens This 1st Day of August 2017 in the Conejo Valley

It was cloudy and relatively cool this morning and then we saw hot and humid monsoonal weather the rest of the day, this first day of August 2017 in the Conejo Valley.

The temperatures gradually cooled as the clouds built up again in the late afternoon to early evening, when we were greeted by this beautiful rainbow around 7pm tonight.