Stunt Road Near Mulholland

My perfectly purple trek poles

To begin with... So what if I don't really need these, they are great for rhythm.

And I love them.

Everyone needs a little motivation and a plan

Mulholland Road, the straight part, this is one of the first views that you see when you reach the first plateau.  It's so nice, to feel that you are not in a car, but on the trail.  Today the weather was perfect.

 Dry salami, crackers, applies with the one I love.  Today, there were no big topics other than enjoying the terrain.  The little creature comfort of a table was sweet and welcome.  Part of me wanted to stretch out on the table top and take a nap in the sun.

 Matchy match.  Girls gotta love her options.

The geologist comes out in me and I wonder ...Who was this little guy and I feel lucky that I get to see him

Rounding the corners, we have shade, geological wonder, pretty amazing hike at Stunt Road

 We reached a dark cave, a few partiers beat us here but didn't do too much damage. If I were an Indian, I'd park it here for a season. In a land were we are having restrictions imposed every day, we hike and have freedom, we respectfully stay on the trails but not because there is someone there to remind us that we have to.  We choose to, because of the respect of the beauty.
Stunt road get an A+, loved the length, the diverse terrain, the trail, the picnic table and the views.  A happy day with the one I love. Gratitude was the topic of this day.

Hillcrest North Ranch Hike

View from top of Hill looks into North Ranch and Oak Park, beyond are Simi Hills. This is simply a small view of what you see, you can spin around 360 and get a full view each direction atop this hill.  Who wants to see Thousand Oaks, Westlake Village, Lady Face Mountain, Moorpark, North Ranch and Oak Park in one spin?  Try this hike

Kinda some boring fire roads, which I prefer, because then you can walk side by side with the one you love.
(See Below)  :) 

I am gung ho, is this how you spell gung ho? anyways, I'm all for hiking in the great outdoors when a topic is in need of dissecting.  This time, we were making some financial decisions and needed some clear uninterrupted time to put it all into perspective. 

Gorgeous!  Love Love Love!  They're so fluffy, I could just die!

This is looking north east into Thousand Oaks and just beyond.  

How can we be so lucky to live here? Looking southeast at the Simi Peak, Agoura just to the right.

We saw this car over the cliff and thought that it might have just happened. Upon closer view, it had been there for a decade or so, with some animals taking up residence there. We made up stories about a driver who reported his car stolen after driving off the side of the hill, then Jim said that he actually knew someone is High School that did something similar.  

I'm standing at the summit where you can spin around 360 and see clearly in all  directions.
This would be a great point for a group walk to give a poignant talk on the perspective of life, or whatever.  He he

Lang Rang Hike was a beautiful hike.  This begins off of Westlake Blvd, near the Avenida de Los Arboles Rd.  Turn onto Lang Ranch Pkwy and park along street, it is a residential area.  We passed the hallowed remains of a once Ranch house, we walked up the steps of what was only to be imagined of the proud owner of beautiful Lang Ranch.  Kinda makes you wonder what they would think of us now, walking past along a dirt trail linked up to a service road which is used by fire trucks.  They'd probably tell me, "put more clothes on and what ya using those metal walking sticks fer?"

Scrub oak line the path, I always have to get the path shot!
Where we have been OR, where we are going.. Who's leading, who's following.

Together for 28 years, learning every day to talk to each other not at each other, hiking in God's beauty, makes this more possible and more obvious that the quality of communication is better with less distractions.

The temperature dropped considerably in this shady meadow, it was brisk and sweet!

Around a fw more corners and this beautiful view comes into sight, around the bends and the ups and downs in life, it is always nice to have a love or a friend or BOTH, to watch out for you, see below...

Behind me is Thousand Oaks and way back there is the Los Padres Mountains.

Lang Ranch Hike.

China Flats via King James Court

Park at the end of the cul de sac on King James Court in Oak Park.  The first 30-4- minutes there is no shade, you're basically hiking up to the peak that is visible from Agoura/Oak Park.  Once you reach the top, careful if it's a windy day, at the top it will be whipping the dirt in your face.  Fortunately, our day was perfect.  This view is 3.4 of the way to the top looking back over the local area.  I can't quite see my house. 

 

 

 

You can see the weather was near perfect, even though it was the fall, here in SoCal, it felt like Spring.  At this point there weren't yet many trees, but as we hiked along the top and down over the other side, we came upon.....

A grove of oaks.  My pics don't do it justice, there were hundreds of oaks.  My husband thought he remembered hiking here as a young scout and camping in this flat area.  We enjoyed a lunch break with not too many bugs. My variety of pics were pretty bad with this hike. It is a great hike and has expansive views and cool shaded areas too. These trails connect with many coming from Simi, Westlake, and Chesebro areas. This area was once a cattle ranch. Loving the simple pleasure of the freedom of walking in beauty with a loving hubby.  About 2 1/2 hours or all day if you want.  800-1000 elevation.



Lang Ranch

Why am I always in these shots, proof that I was out there enjoying myself?  Proving to myself, Hey look at me in the beautiful outdoor sunshine, and not in my dark office like I am right now recording all this.  I do feel like I am in that constant battle or balance with my life.  I love to get out and see the views, look at rocks, wonder what tree that is, be amazed at the rock formations.  How did this lava end up right next to these rock with sea shells.  Okay, well, I could take some Geology classes, but I'll just be amazed and continue to enjoy the wonderment.  And then I love to organized things, so after the grand outdoor hikes, some fulfilling exercise, I can organize my pics and journal it all.

Take Westlake Blvd to Lang Ranch Pkwy.  You'll park in a residential area and follow the signs.  We walked past the hollowed out ruins of what we imagined to be Mr Langs Ranch house oh so many years ago.  Walked up the stone steps which was pretty much all that was left.  Must have been a beautiful ranch with a proud ranch owner. 

The light is bright at the end.  Hiking is great for communication.  A bit of honest perspective smoothes out the kinks of distraction. Problems are conquered and solutions are endless.
 

A simple tuna sandwich can be absolutely delicious. We have a deal, that's what you do when you've been married 28 1/2 years, make deals.  We are always responsible for our own camelbacks, but we take turns making the lunches and snacks for each other.  This hike it was my turn and I made tuna! 

It seems like every hike in the Malibu area and Conejo Canyon area always has a magic forest, where the temp drops and the air is refreshing

Can you see the bench?  This bench is virtually at the top, pic below is behind this shot. I did enjoy putting my feet up here without having to sit in the dirt to do so.
 

We gazed at this for a long time. I wanted to sprout wings and soar over this.  So I just looked and imagined

Behind me is the Moorpark/Fillmore area

This hike was about 2 hours with about 600 elevation.  This hike had a bonus, as soon as we were just about out and getting to the car, my friend called me about gave up her Donny and Marie Christmas concert tickets to me and my daughter!  Home to shower just in time to drive downtown L.A.

Bulldog Trail Malibou Lake

To start Bulldog Hike, drive to Malibu Lake, park along Crags Road and walk to the end of the road. From what I remember, take these choices of forks in the road, right, left left and then right, haha. Your goal is to get your way up the the peak, so just shoot for that. Beautiful creeks, ravines, nice wide paths that you'll share with the occasional horseriders. Just the perfect blend of flat walking and uphill hiking.
 

 

Running water creeks in November after one rain, in this grove of trees, it is refreshingly cool. "Nothing more mezmerizing than a babbling brook" ~ my hubby said this haha

Stoney peaks in the background on this beautiful day. My hubby and I have great talks while hiking. This has become my favorite "date". Long uninterrupted talks, inspirational views, the occassional widelife brings a sense of calm and "all is right with the world" feeling.     Close-up of Rocky Points, next hike I hope to photograph these points as the sun is hitting the face of these peaks, @ 9am.

Reward! You'll come out of this hike on Lookout Drive and these ponies are waiting for attention! A paved street takes you back around to Crags road. The perfect hike! 1 1/2 hours 600 ft elevation.