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.
After a brief late-February heatwave, today it is noticeably cooler, with the clouds coming in. Was a great morning to make my way to Boney Peak.
Looking down on Newbury Park from Boney Peak
Clear view of the Channel Islands from Boney Peak
I was joined by these experienced hikers on Boney Peak
Hidden Valley is not so hidden when you're looking down from Boney Peak
Click this link to find out how to get up there!
I could be wrong, but having driven through Hidden Valley hundreds of times over the years, I'm about 99% sure that this recent Progressive Insurance TV commercial entitled "Chick Flick" was filmed right here on Potrero Road in our very own Hidden Valley in Westlake Village.
Hidden Valley view on a sunny day
Paul Simon's touching rendition of "The Sounds of Silence" at the 2011 10th Anniversary 9/11 Remembrance Ceremony at Ground Zero.
The world's most valuable car, the 1936 Bugatti Type 57SC Atlantic, is on display again at The Mullin Automotive Museum in Oxnard. The 57SC Atlantic is on loan to the museum from its unnamed owner, who purchased the car for somewhere in the range of $30 to $40 million in 2010. There is some interesting information about the 57SC Atlantic at www.supercars.net/cars/2705.html. The Mullin Automotive Museum is a "must see" activity for anyone in the area. The cars in the museum are historic works of art and you can see them in person right here in Ventura County. Trust me, you won't regret it.
The last few years I've had several home remodeling projects managed by Sean Tohill of All Trades Ready Construction. Sean's a really nice guy and he and his team did some great work at my house.
Sean frequently mentioned his wife, Lisa, had a passion for unearthing fossils out in Bakersfield and that they spent many a weekend up there. But we never talked about it in detail as cabinetry, mirrors, tiles and bath fixtures represented the main topic at hand.
Two weeks ago he told me, "Make sure to watch 'Sharkzilla' on the Discovery Channel's 25th Anniversary Shark Week! You and the kids will get a kick out of it!" The Sharkzilla episode first aired this past Monday night. I recorded it and watched it the next day. HOLY MEGALADON! He didn't tell me that he and Lisa would be PROMINENTLY FEATURED in the show! They were great!
Shark Week 25th Anniversary sign and massive 6 foot tall megaladon fin temporarily on display at the Tohill residence in Wood Ranch!
Sharkzilla features the cast of Mythbusters and a team that constructed a MASSIVE 52 foot long megaladon shark that lived 15 million years ago. This gigantic creature wiith 8 foot wide mechanical jaws was brought to the sand next to the Ventura Pier to a cheering crowd.
So, where did Sean and Lisa Tohill come in? The Mythbusters team learned that the Tohills own an 85 acre White Whale Quarry in Bakersfield. Yes, 12 to 15 million years
Yes, here in Newbury Park you can pretend you are in heaven on an overcast morning. All you need to do is find your way up Boney Mountain, up above the clouds that keep the air so cool below. The way to get there is a bit of a challenge but can be done if you're up for it. First make your way up to the Danielson Cabin Site. That alone is plenty challenging.
From there, the unofficial "Upper Canyon Trail" will get you up there. it is extremely steep and rocky in various sections, deep, challenging crevices that engulf the path, and tight, winding, spider web covered trails to the top. But trust me, once you make it to the top, it's all worthwhile. See for yourself in the video below.
One of my very favorite female recording artists, Linda Ronstadt, turns 66 years old today, July 15, 2012. Ronstadt, a top-selling artist in the 1970s-1980s, released 27 studio albums, 63 singles and has won 11 Grammy awards among accomplishments. She popularized many songs originally written and sung by others through her vocal talent, range and interpretation.
Five of my Ronstadt favorites are embedded below. Happy birthday Linda!
Perhaps my all-time favorite Linda Ronstadt song, this performance of "Long, Long Time" in 1970 makes me sit and watch over and over in awe of her voice and interpretation.
"When Will I Be Loved," written by Phil Everly and a 1960 hit by The Everly Brothers. Sung by Ronstadt, it reached #2 on the U.S. charts in 1975.
Here's a funky version of her #1 hit "You're No Good" that was originally written and performed in the early 1960s.
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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