Category Archives: Thousand Oaks

California Dreamer Dailypost Photo Challenge

California Dreamer -Dailypost Weekly Photo Challenge  

As seen at the Ronald Reagan Library

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King Gillette Ranch Part1

Santa Mountains Relief Map

King Gilette Ranch – Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area Visitor Center

While the King Gilette Ranch is a destination all of it’s own the Visitor Center your best resource for learning about trails, activities, history and ecology of the Santa Monica Mountains. The National Park Service, Mountians Recreation & Conservation Authority, Santa Monica Mountains Conservancy and California State Parks jointly manage the Ranch.
Go to www.socalwalkingphotography.com to see the rest of the post.
I have no idea why the link doesn’t show until you hover over it.

La Piedra State Beach Part II

The West end of the beach is rocky cobblestone that forms a natural tide-pool when the tide is out.  Unless the tide is out you can’t get very far by continuing on to the West.  The rocky shore gives way to stretches of sandy beaches.

La Piedra State Beach Tide Pool La Piedra State Beach

 

erosion La Piedra State BeachLa Piedra State Beach BluffsLa Piedra State Beach Bluffs La Piedra steps

Finally, the correct way in and out. Truth be told, the first few steps weren’t much easier that the wrong path I took on the way down.

La Piedra State Beach Bluffs

 

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First time visitors to the beach heading down the path in flip flops. Flip flops are good way to break you ankle as you get close to the bottom.

La Piedra steps

 

La Piedra State Beach

One last look at the ocean before the path back to the car.

La Piedra State Beach

It’s tempting not to pay the parking machine but the Park Rangers make frequent stops.

 

 

Don’t Pick the Flowers!

This is my second post into the Weekly WordPress Photo Challenge Signs.

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It’s okay to walk on the grass, just don’t pick the flowers!

Decker Canyon State Route 23 – Sidetracked

 

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This morning I set out to take Decker Canyon from Westlake Village to the ocean. To the best of my knowledge Westlake Village Blvd. ends at Protero Road. If you keep going straight you are now on Decker Canyon. Portions of the road also is part of Mulholland Drive.

Decker Canyon is not for everyone. The hairpin turns and steep elevation changes make it a favorite for motorcyclist and road cyclists.

IMG_5260Who you gonna call? Not emergency services that’s for sure.

IMG_5263 IMG_5266I am one fr getting out of the car and doing a little exploring. This steep service road led to an amazing view.

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IMG_5289If this little property looks familiar than you may have seen it on an episode of American Pickers. There is a complete mock town in there.

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Deep into horse country.IMG_5304 IMG_5306I did not notice this at first but there are two small signs to either side of the gate. The sign on the left is a gun and it reads we don’t call 911 and the one on the right is a torso head target image that read there is nothing inside worth diving for. It is riddled with a few bullet holes.

IMG_5308 IMG_5317 IMG_5321The Backbone Trail crosses the length of the Sana Monica Mountains. The trail is broken down into multiple segments. One day I might try and do the trail. Today was not that day.

IMG_5326 IMG_5328 IMG_5332As Yogi Berra was quoted “When You Come to a Fork in the Road, Take It!“. I stayed to the left on Decker.

So why was the trip to the Pacific Ocean via Decker Canyon sidetracked? I saw a sign for Charmlee Wilderness Park and my ADD licked in and went in a different direction….

This is the first time I have linked my WordPress site to Facebook. I hope it works right! 🙂

 

The Strong Little Bridge

This is my post into the Weekly WordPress Photo Challenge Signs.IMG_5563This little bridge is on a fire road so it capable of supporting much more than it seems capable of.