James Applebury

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.

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 be interested in such things.

I think the best time to come is a little earlier in the spring, perhaps around the beginning of March rather than early May, which is when I went. Here are all the details:

http://www.parks.ca.gov/?page_id=627

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 stopped to eat here on my way back from Anacapa Island. This place is great. I got my usual, Fish n' Chips. Can't be beat. This place is sitting almost all by itself right along the PCH in between Oxnard and Malibu. I sat with my tasty fish and chips and gazed out at the ocean feeling great. This was a great end to a great day. This place is good and reasonably priced.

http://www.neptunesnet.com/

I live in Los Feliz which is not really close to this place. Thankfully there is another good seafood restaurant right down the street from me. They specialize in fish tacos, hence their name, Best Fish Taco in Ensenada. I love this place. Good, cheap fish tacos. I might go get some right now.

http://www.bestfishtacoinensenada.com/

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 scale this. No thanks.