Fire Velo Cyclists Riding through Malibu This Morning on Fire Service Cancer Awareness Bicycle Ride

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A post shared by Conejo Valley Guide (@conejovalleyguide) on Aug 24, 2019 at 11:44am PDT

I was in the right place at the right time to catch this group of Fire Velo riders on the final 50 mile stage of their 7-day, 500+ mile 2019 Fire Service Cancer Awareness Bicycle Ride from San Francisco to the Santa Monica Pier. This footage on southbound PCH was taken at 9:30am just north of Zuma Beach. They were escorted once again by Malibu Fire Station #99, the westernmost fire station in Los Angeles County.

Fire Velo is a fire service based cycling club with a focus on cancer awareness within the fire service and raises funds for various firefighter cancer support organizations. More info at www.firevelo.com.

A Flock of Pelicans Performing in Malibu Last Weekend

I could watch this all day...flocks of pelicans hovering together above the waves in Malibu. These particular pelicans were flying at El Pescador and La Piedra State Beaches, which, along with El Matador, form a triage of "pocket beaches" along the west end of Malibu that constitute Robert H. Meyer Memorial State Beach.

More on these and other beaches in Malibu, stretching to Oxnard, at THIS LINK.

Annual 4th of July Fireworks Display in Thousand Oaks 2019

For those who missed the local fireworks, here's about 13 minutes of the 20 minute show hosted by the Conejo Recreation and Park District and City of Thousand Oaks, set to patriotic music. This footage was taken from the vicinity of Lynn Road and the 101.

For Independence Day events and activities on the 244th birthday of the U.S., visit THIS LINK next June.

Annual Hay Bale Sighting in Hidden Valley

Every year in the May/June time frame we are greeted by this display of hay bales on the farms lining Potrero Road in Hidden Valley. This annual sight reminds us that we are about to enter the summer months.

SWIMMING AND WATER PLAY IN VENTURA COUNTY

LOCAL AREA BEACHES IN MALIBU TO CARPINTERIA

SUMMER FAMILY MOVIES IN VENTURA COUNTY

Annual Bloom of Matilija Poppies at Conejo Valley Botanic Garden in Thousand Oaks

The Conejo Valley Botanic Garden in Thousand Oaks is home to thousands of Matilija Poppies and they are blooming like crazy right now!

The Matilija Poppy bears the largest flowers of any California Native plant, up to 9" in diameter. They bloom in late spring to early summer.

The Chumash enjoyed this plant that was named after Chief Matilija and his tribe in the early 1800s. Matilija is pronounced ma-til-a-hah (not jah).

The genus of this plant is "Romneya," named after Irish astronomer John Thomas Romney Robinson. Romneya produce the largest flowers of any members of the poppy family.

Go check em out!

Katy Perry's Latest Single "Never Really Over" Filmed at King Gillette Ranch in Calabasas

Katy Perry announced her new single, “Never Really Over,” yesterday at katyperry.com. Those of us that live here in the Conejo Valley and nearby areas in Ventura County may recognize the surrounding in that video.

Yes, this video was filmed at King Gillette Ranch in Calabasas. This 588 acre gem in the Santa Monica Mountains is maintained by the Mountains Recreation & Conservation Authority. The property was owned and developed by razor blade kingpin King C. Gillette. Also located here is the Anthony C. Beilenson Interagency Visitor Center - believe it or not, in what was formerly the horse stable for the Gillette Mansion.

Screenshot from video shows the entrance to King Gillette Ranch in Calabasas.

King Gillette Ranch entrance on a recent spring day.

Another snapshot from the video shows the actual Gillette mansion in the background, situated on King Gillette Ranch.

A similar view from the expansive, beautiful lawn at King Gillette Ranch.

Oakbrook Regional Park in Thousand Oaks Back Open to the Public Post-Woolsey Fire

Oakbrook Regional Park sustained quite a bit of burn damage from the Woolsey Fire of November 2018 and was closed to the public for a number of months. The popular replica Chumash village was destroyed by the fire.

The good news is that the park is now back open and most of the trees, many with visible blackened trunks, are recovering and showing distinct signs of regrowth.

Docents from the Chumash Indian Museum are organizing an effort to rebuild the popular replica village and are raising funds on a GoFundMe page at www.gofundme.com/chumash-indian-museum-wildfire-fund to support this effort. They are also seeking volunteers to help place the tule (plant used for Chumash house structures) on the aps (traditional Chumash houses).

New Chumash houses (or “aps”) in process of being built.