Not Really sure what I can add here. I feel lucky to have witnessed this event. I was the only one left in the park at this point. I'm glad I stayed. It was windy all day but it died down just in time for me to enjoy the show without being shoved around by the atmosphere. Of course I was walking around with my big pack on, which essentially acted like a sail during a hard gust. It made walking...difficult. … (0 comments)
I am not a huge fan of the Wizard of Oz. I prefer to watch it with Pink Floyd doing the soundtrack. (This works by the way.) Anyway, not more than 90 minutes from Los Feliz lies the Antelope Valley Poppy Reserve. I came a little late in the season but was still able to find some large clusters of California Poppies. I was blessed with a reasonably windy day. The antelope valley can be windy enough to tear the paint off your car and wreck your windshield too, which is a Frank Zappa reference for those of you who might … (3 comments)
Lots of fun hikes in these mountains. This mountain chain sits in between the 101 and PCH and has been mostly untouched over the years. With no traffic you can make it here from LA in about 45 minutes. A little touch of wilderness next to the big city. Here is the official website: http://www.parks.ca.gov/?page_id=614 Here is another link to a site I love which includes some pretty detailed trail information. I want to be your source of outdoor activity info. Who wouldn't want to live here? http://venturacountytrails.org/TrailMaps/MalibuCreek/AreaTrails.htm
I just want to reiterate that these cliffs are serious. I hope you like to climb stairs. This is the easiest way up I am sure. I mean, I'm no Chumash, but jeez, under no circumstances would I try to climb up to the top of this chunk of rock in the middle of the water. If it weren't for the stairs I would be happy to remain blissfully ignorant of what might be atop the cliffs. I am afraid of heights. I get enough cardiovascular exercise from the panic attack I have at the thought of having to … (0 comments)
One of the most challenging parts of my Channel Islands trip was getting on and off the boat. I am a "prepare for the worst" type who decided to bring about 65 pounds of extra gear in my pack. I had extra everything-food, water, clothes and various survival paraphernalia. You see, the cliffs of Anacapa are so sheer they prevent any kind of normal boat landing. The very capable captain of this vessel reverses the boat up to a rusted ladder which you must climb up or down to embark or disembark. This was challenging to do with a … (0 comments)
The small blobs you can see down on the rocks are actually Sea Lions. This is as close as I could get. I have included this picture to give you an idea of just how steep and high these cliffs are. There are no water sources on the island so it was never a permanent home to the Chumash Indians, the first settlers of the Channel Islands. However, there is evidence on the island of human activity, which would suggest that the Chumash would come here to hunt and forage. That means they would have to paddle here … (2 comments)
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