Day 795:Ventura BMX at Kimball Park

New BMX Track in Ventura!

Day #795 * Hike #996 * New Track #778
Saturday January 19, 2013
Ventura BMX - Kimball Park - Ventura, California
My Tripometer: 1.5 Hours * 2 Miles * +25 Feet

 Trail Junction

Welcome back to Kimball Park in Ventura.  Today I noticed that a new trail was formed in the overgrown grassy area.  A New Hike!!!

I switch backed to the cement trail (a mile and a quarter loop which rounds the entire park)...

 A New Trailhead!!!

This has been in the works for some time and now finally, I can hike along it...

 Cross the bridge...

That guy jogging is our banker for Chill Out!  He was also Alyssa's Soccer Coach a couple of years ago.  And this is where the New Track meets an old track.  All of a one minute walk or 20 second jog, but it connects.  If you search through my blog to the Lost Ring Trail or Ventura Tunnel Trail, I think you may be able to find some photos on the other side.  Finally, the bike trail which starts near Saratoga connects to Kimball Park.  It's about time!  Now they just need to connect the Saratoga part to the west end of Thille, behind the mobile park.  One day.  Today however, I turned around, follow the cement loop and found yet another discovery!

 Ventura has a legit BMX Track!

 Views of Oxnard and Pt. Mugu in the distance...

 This looks fun!

 Topa Topa to the North

 Nice Jump!

I continued my pursuit back to the old familiar spots...

 Wanna go for a swim?

 It's a line drive...

You're out sir!

Just about every outdoor activity imaginable!  Mini Rockets being shot up into the sky, guys like me hiking, bikers, roller bladers, swimming, diving, softball, football and of course, Soccer!  I chose not to capture any motions from the black and white octagon patterned ball.  I believe this blog has enough soccer pics to justify the sport...


Rewinding the Week:

Day #790 * Hike #991 * New Track #774
Monday: Del Sol Park - Oxnard

After work today, I drove down Rose in Oxnard and came across this park.  I ran around the outside dirt trail and then across the grass through the park.  After a thirty minute stay, covering approximately 2 miles in distance with no elevation, I sat my butt in the Chill Out Spot for the rest of the night...


Day #791 * Hike #992 * New Track #775
Tuesday: Port Hueneme

For a small community, the surely is a lot of square miles to cover.  I took back to the streets in the evening hour.  As Jess ran the shop, I flooded the neighborhood near Perkins on the eastern most end of Hueneme.  I trekked two miles easily over 1.5 hours and once again, NO ELEVATION GAIN!


Day #792 * Hike #993 * New Track #776
Wednesday: Southwest Oxnard

Smacking fliers on cars on the streets of Oxnardia, I came across a busy park off Clara.  I snapped some photos from my phone but there's no time to upload them here.  The park is next to some random medical center, which replicates the style of a small school.  The people I did hand the fliers to did not speak any English, yet I continued on with my mission.


Day #793 * Hike #994 * Duplicate Track
Thursday - Arroyo Verde

Ahh, back to paradise.  After work I said forget about it.  Before the sun dropped, I took a slow casual duplicate hike in my backyard.


Day #794 * Hike #995 * New Track #777
Friday - Port Hueneme

TGIF, well, not really.  Before I relieved my wife from her shift, I pranced around the southwestern portion of Port Hueneme.  Come'on down to Chill Out Frozen Yogurt!

Day 789: End Of The World in Port Hueneme

Kid Shaken Up After Accident!

Day #789 * Hike #990 New Track #773
Sunday January 13, 2013
Chill Out Frozen Yogurt - Port Hueneme, California
My Tripometer: Half Day * 5 Miles * +25 Feet

While I was out walking around "Hiking" in the local neighborhoods of Port Hueneme, this random guy was driving around like a Mad Man!  I was nearly back to the store when several police cars zipped down Ventura Road crossing Port Hueneme Road.

I met back up with my wife at the shop and told her that I was going to check it out.  The beach is less than a quarter mile from the shop and this is what I saw:

 Okay, but I also saw this...

There were many onlookers and I asked some of the locals what happened?  They explained that this guy was driving around insanely screaming about The End of the World!  He then jumped the curb, tore up the grass and ended up here.  Fortunately no one was hurt.

I took the opportunity of talking to our new neighbors to introduce myself and Chill Out Frozen Yogurt.  We had only been open one full day and I was handing out fliers to broaden our exposure.

When I finally arrived back to the shop, I told my wife what happened.  She said, it wasn't a black pick up truck, was it?  I said, Yes!  She explained, that truck was zooming down Hueneme Road and pealing out.  At the time she thought, ooh, you're so cool.  --End of the World, for you buddy!  Not sure if he was drinking, on something else or simply insane.  Either way, end of the world for you.  You're off to jail - See Ya!

 

Oh, the next day one of those guys came into the Fro Yo shop and bought a Panini.  He told my wife that he got the coupon from a guy who used the accident scene to Guerilla Market the biz.  Lol, guess it worked.  Come again soon - Great Panini's and Awesome Fro Yo!

More to Chill Out...

Hueneme Pier

Day #788 * Hike #989 New Track #772
Saturday January 12, 2013
Chill Out Frozen Yogurt - Port Hueneme, California
My Tripometer: 3 Hours * 3 Miles * +25 Feet

 Santa Cruz Island

 Chill Out Frozen Yogurt

***I just launched the website.  Check it out: www.ChillOutFrozenYogurt.com


As you can imagine, opening up a business is extremely difficult.  It's time demanding, expensive and I am completely exhausted!  That said, it presented a unique hiking opportunity...

REWIND:

• Day 782: It was Sunday, my last weekend day before our opening.  The only hike I managed on this chilly day was one with my dogs in my backyard; a duplicate trek at Arroyo Verde Park.

• Day 783 - New Track 769: Monday after work I hiked the streets in South Oxnard on the east side of Saviers near Pleasant Valley.  I covered about 2 miles over a long hour+ tagging fliers on cars and mailboxes.  I figured to start out here because we anticipated opening later in the week and I wanted to work out to in.  Not a very nice neighborhood back here, but I was familiar with it from when I used to collect police donations...

• Day 784: A duplicate walk in the late night hour at Arroyo Verde.

• Day 785 - New Track 770: More street hiking in South Oxanard

• Day 786 - New Track 771: We received our permits and license to open just before 5pm.  We were officially open for business.  We spent hours bringing in the product and setting it all up.  We opened our doors and two customers randomly showed up this night.  Ironically, the second customer found out about Chill Out because they had been following my blog.  They live within walking distance.  How cool was that!  My hike came at 11pm this night.  After we closed, I hiked the streets near Bolker in Port Hueneme to distribute fliers.

• Day 787 New Track 772:  TGIF!  Not really.  There is no escape.  I worked all day at my real job and then sat all night at the Yogurt Shop.  I distributed fliers in the late late hour in the neighborhood behind our shop.  We have not advertised our opening officially so the only source of marketing has come from my hiking expeditions.  This is hardly Guerrilla Marketing but it will have to do.

Saturday Day 788: as seen in the pictures atop this blogpost.  It was a long working day and in the evening hour I hiked through Moranda Park, distributed fliers in that entire neighborhood and then barely missed the sun setting at Hueneme Pier.

***I received a phone call from a TV Station in Rock Hill, South Carolina.  They want to share my blog on their newscast!!!  They randomly came across my posts from when I visited there last month.  Way cool!  I will update this blog to share their site, as soon as I have a moment.  For now, its after midnight and I need some rest.  I have a few pretty decent hikes and pics under my belt since Day 788.  I'm always falling behind, but I will get er done...

Day 781: Matilija Hot Springs

Matilija Hot Springs

Day #781 * Hike #982 New Track #768
Saturday January 5, 2013
Matilija Hotsprings - Ojai, California
My Tripometer: 1 Hour * 1 Mile * +25 Feet

 Park on the side of the road

Directions:
Follow the driving instructions from Day 523-524: Camping on the Matilija Trail.  After you turn off the 33, drive a couple of miles up Matilija past the damn and then park on the side of the road before the road narrows to one lane at the stop sign in the distance, as shown in the picture above.

 Trailhead

There is a tucked away Private Property sign to discourage visitors, but no one appears to notice.  The hike is an easy climb down and within a moment, you are at the springs...

 Ayden noticed that the old guys down there had no pants on

There were many pools to jump into and I felt awkward with the camera because the old men were soaking in their birthday suits.  Instead of jumping right in, we bypassed the springs and hiked this way...

 We tramped over the rocks...

 Sammi found fresh cold water

 This cold water pool is deep!

We explored for awhile and then came back.  You can literally hike all day up and down the fresh water creek.  Back to the sulfur ridden haven of the hot springs...

Peaking in from the outskirts

 

Ayden soaking in his private tub

 

Another family showed up.  Them too I believe was discouraged by the exhibitionists.  Moreover, the father couldn't take the fumes from the sulfur.  It was strong but not enough to warrant an early departure for.  We remained there till sundown and then snuck away before the crazies came out. 

 

Overall, I prefer the long hike to the Sespe Hot Springs over this spot.  I've been to Sespe twice, but zero times since starting this blog.  I owe the world to share what may be my best hike yet to come...

 

 

Day 781: West Fork Camp - Lion Canyon Trail - Rose Lion Connector Trail - MOUNTAIN LION!

Day #781 * Hike #981 New Track #767
Saturday January 5, 2013
West Fork Camp - Lion Canyon Trail - Ojai, California
Rose Lion Connector Trail - MOUNTAIN LION!
My Tripometer: 2.5 Hours * 5.25 Miles * +725 Feet

 Trailhead

Directions:
Follow the driving instructions from my earlier hike, Day 781: Rose Valley Falls.  This was our second hike of the day, and it was a good one!  From the parking area, follow the trail in front of your car, walk to the left and begin...

 Alwayd cool to see snow on the trail, even if it is just a dusting

 Cool area

 Sammi found an unmarked fire pit down there...

The first half mile or so of this hike is a gradual up hill.  The elevation is around 3500 feet and you will gain about 300 feet total before you begin heading back down.  We ran into another family who warned that they encountered a small mountain lion by these trees in the pic below:

They guy said that the cat growled at them.  He was walking with two young kids.  My concern is that I am with two dogs and they may begin to chase the feline.  Ayden was scared and I was prepared with a rock in one hand and I was looking for a durable stick for the other.  I never did find a worthy stick...

As we approached the sector, I shot this pic.  The trees looked like a good place to just hang out.  Instead, we walked tepidly to just get past this spot.  Keeping the dogs close and Ayden even closer, we walked past this spot with no siting.  HOWEVER!  I zoomed in on this pic from home just to see if I could possibly see something.  Take a look:

 Same pic, look at the tree on the right

 SuperZoom!

Do you see it?  The cat is right there looming at me while I am taking a random picture.  I figured that the other family would have scared it off but I guess he stayed.  I'm surprised that my dogs did not sense it.  It doesn't look very big, but his head is about half the size of the width of the tree.  He appears curled up back there.  More about the cat later...

 Walking away from the danger zone

 Ah, refreshment for the dogs...

1.6 miles in, trail junction.  Turn Right...

If you go left here it's 1.3 miles to Middle Lion Camp.  I hiked from Middle Lion many years ago and passed this junction.  I remember it well.  It was part of a 30+ mile, three day hike with Domino.  We climbed up by Hines Peak which tops out at 6716 Feet.  From there, we lowered down to less than 3000 feet, visited the Willet Hot Springs Area and then finally hiked back by Piedra Blanca and then back up to my car.  This was a two night adventure, something that I would love to do again real soon!

 Following those familiar footsteps...

 It's a new track as far as these 1000 Days are concerned

 0.6 miles from the last junction, here we are

Last time I hiked past this junction to climb the Lion Canyon Trail to the tippy top.  Today, I turned right to visit West Fork Camp where the trail dead ends in 0.4 miles.  East Fork Camp on the left dead ends in 0.5 miles.  I figure that I will come back here some time to hike here from Middle Lion...

 West Fork Camp

 Running Water!

 How bout some lunch

 Chill Out with a stick...

It's always nice to hike in, find a great spot, light a fire and east lunch.  Today's trip defines what hiking is all about!  This really is a perfect spot for someone looking for an easy spot for an overnight trip.  The round trip is only 3.4 miles if you leave from Middle Lion and the elevation gain is very minimal...

 Hiking back, at the Fork Junction

 Passing the Mountain Lion Trees

Look at it, a perfect ambush.  You are forced to walk beneath the trees.  They should call this Mountain Lion Canyon.  I stopped by the trees and swear I saw a long tail trail into the trees.  I wasn't sure if I was just seeing things or what but after what I've seen from the film, I was only a few feet away from the cat.  Damn, I wish I got a better pic.  I should have just run into those trees, huh!

 LOOKOUT!!!

Nah, I forget why he did this but it wasn't a mountain lion...

 Food!

Just before heading back to the car, we saw this open area to the right.  We walked by a fire pit and then...

 Sammi jumped into Upper Rose Lake

 She's not the most graceful swimmer

 Back to the car...

Driving out down Rose Valley Road...

 

Ah, but the day is not over yet.  One more to come...