Antelope Valley Information

Bicyling Along the Pacific

2009-06-20T15:55:00.001-07:00

IMG_6053
Originally uploaded by PaulT27

Last weekend I took my bike out for a nice ride along the Pacific Ocean. I began at the Santa Monica Pier and rode south all the way to Redondo Beach. I took a short beak at Hermosa Beach to eat lunch and then rode back to Santa Monica. I found the bike path enjoyable to ride with great views of the ocean along the way. The total ride turned out to be 40 miles.

California Poppy Reserve

2008-04-05T15:22:00.001-07:00

IMG_0810
Originally uploaded by PaulT27

Yesterday Becky and I drove out to the California Poppy Reserve to see the blooming flowers. The reserve is located 15 miles west of Lancaster on Avenue I, which turns into Lancaster Road. Driving out there we could see the hills covered in orange. The poppy reserve has seven miles of nice trails to explore and see the flowers up close. This year there are quite a few flowers. The past couple of years have not been to impressive but this year the bloom is amazing. You can see a few more pictures of the poppies I took by clicking on the photo above.

San Diego Skyline

2008-02-28T21:24:00.001-08:00

San Diego Night Lights
Originally uploaded by PaulT27

Coronado is a great place to get pictures of the San Diego skyline. I took many pictures of the skyline including this night shot. This picture was tough to get since I did not have a tripod. By making a few adjustments on my digital SLR I was able to get this hand held shot of the lights. If you click on the picture you can see a couple of other skyline shots I took.

Coronado

2008-02-28T21:18:00.001-08:00

Coronado Beach
Originally uploaded by PaulT27

This past weekend Becky and I visited Coronado. Friday and Sunday were rainy days in Southern California, however, Saturday was a great day to explore the island. You can get to Coronado by crossing the bridge from San Diego. Coronado is about 225 miles from the Antelope Valley. We took the 15 freeway instead of the 5 to avoid traffic and it worked well for us. You can see a few more pictures taken in Coronado by clicking on the picture to the right.

Apollo Park

2008-02-13T20:05:00.001-08:00

Apollo Park
Originally uploaded by PaulT27

Apollo Park in located in Lancaster California just north of Avenue G on 50th Street West. I was taking a walk around one of the ponds when I got this photo. You can see an arial photo of the park by clicking HERE.

Hiking in the Angeles National Forest

2006-10-08T19:42:00.000-07:00

IMG_3122
Originally uploaded by PaulT27.

Today Becky and I got out for a hike in the Angeles National Forest. We hiked in an area about 20 miles east of Palmdale at the northern foot of the San Gabriel Mountains. The Angeles National Forest has many hiking trails and we hope to explore more of them this fall.

John Muir

2006-09-30T08:39:00.000-07:00

Up in the Sequoia National Park there was a lot of information on John Muir. John Muir was a wilderness explorer who spent a lot of time in the California Mountains among other wilderness areas. I saw this interesting book in one of the gift shops that highlights some of his adventures.

Hiking Sequoia National Park

2006-09-26T17:02:00.000-07:00

Sequoia National Park

2006-09-25T17:05:00.000-07:00

IMG_3011
Originally uploaded by PaulT27.

Becky and I took a drive up to the Sequoia National Park this past weekend. The park is located approximately 200 miles north of the Antelope Valley. We have never been there before and enjoyed it very much. There are some monster trees in that park and we were at an altitude of 6,000 feet. Click on the picture to see some more photos of the big trees.

Back from Kauai

2006-05-21T16:14:00.000-07:00

IMG_2516
Originally uploaded by PaulT27.

Becky and I have returned from a wonderful trip to Kauai. This picture here is of some waterfalls in Waimea Canyon. If you click on the picture you will be able to see a few more pictures from Kauai. We have more photos to add but this is a start.

LeBrea Tar Pits

2006-03-19T18:58:00.000-08:00

Well it was another cold and rainy weekend in the Antelope Valley so we escaped down to LA. We stopped by the LeBrea Tar Pits on Saturday afternoon. It was an interesting place to visit. I have found a couple of web sites to get some more information. I did not have my camera with me or I would have some photos to share. There have been over 100 tons of fossils recovered from the LeBrea Tar Pits. The tar pits trapped many prehistoric animals between 10,000 and 40,000 years ago including mammoths and sabre-tooth tigers. You can learn more about the LeBrea Tar Pits by clicking on the following links. Page Museum - LeBrea Tar Pits or clickHERE to learn more and see what the area looked like in 1910.

Snowy Hills

2006-03-11T12:19:00.000-08:00

Snowy Hills
Originally uploaded by PaulT27.

When I woke up this morning all the snow had melted near my apartment. I saw that the nearby hills were all snow covered and got a picture of them. You can see the dark clouds rolling in. We may get some more snow today into tomorrow. Hopefully the skies will clear up tomorrow and I can get some nicer pictures of the snow covered hills in the Antelope Valley.

Snow in the Antelope Valley

2006-03-10T16:29:00.000-08:00

Paul in Snow
Originally uploaded by PaulT27.

Today I was getting my haircut and noticed it starting to snow outside! The snow was very light and soon stopped. The other people in the barber shop were all excited about the few flakes of snow that fell. Becky and I took a drive down to Northridge for the afternoon and when we returned to the Antelope Valley it was really snowing. This is a picture of me out in the snow to prove it. If you click on the image you can see a couple of other photos of the snow. As I am writing this the snow has turned to rain and a lot of the snow is melting. If there is still snow on the ground in the morning I hope to get some more pictures.

Find the Value of Your Home

2006-03-04T17:17:00.000-08:00

I came across an interesting website the other day. The website is Zillow.com. Type in your address and see if the value of your home is in its database. If you check out the value of a home in Lancaster, California you will see they average around $300,000.

More Air Show Photos

2006-01-25T19:09:00.000-08:00

I found a website that has more pictures from the 2005 Edwards Air Force Base Open House and Air Show. You can also see pictures from previous years and other air shows. Click HERE to check it out.

Victoria Gardens

2005-12-10T12:11:00.000-08:00

Last week we took a drive out to Rancho Cucamonga to check out Victoria Gardens. Victoria Gardens is a new outdoor mall. It was a nice place to see with all of the holiday decorations including a large Christmas tree with lights. We ate at a restaurant that has outdoor seating and were able to see the Christmas tree from our table. To get to Rancho Cucamonga we took 138 East out of the Antelope Valley and then 15 South. It was about a 70 mile drive. If you would like to check out the directory of stores at Victoria Gardens click HERE. If you are looking for a place to do some holiday shopping online click on the Amazon link to the left.

Air Show

2005-10-24T20:36:00.000-07:00

F-117 Nighthawk
Originally uploaded by PaulT27.

On Sunday a few of us went up to Edwards Air Force Base to check out the air show. It was neat to see all those aircraft up close. We got to see a lot of planes fly over including: F/A 22 Raptor, F-16, B-52, B-2, and many more. This picture here is of the F117 Nighthawk flying overhead with its underside painted with stars and stripes. If you would like to see a few other photos from the airshow just click on the photo to the right.

Rains in the Antelope Valley

2005-10-17T20:59:00.000-07:00

Over the past few days we have had quite a bit of rain. Last night I could hear the rain pouring down during the night as well as hearing some thunder and seeing lightning. The rains started up again during the afternoon and by 4:30 many of the roads in Lancaster were flooded. It was amazing the amount of rain we got considering this is the first real rainfall I have seen since May in the Antelope Valley. There is more rain forecasted for tonight but should be coming to an end by Tuesday afternoon.

Back From Cruise

2005-10-16T20:36:00.000-07:00

Navigator of the Seas Parked in St. Thomas
Originally uploaded by PaulT27.

I have been out of town for the past week on a cruise. We has a wonderful time on our Royal Caribbean Cruise. After leaving from Miami we stopped in Puerto Rico, St. Thomas, St. Maarten, and the Bahamas. The picture here is of the cruise ship in St. Thomas. If you click on the picture you will be able to see more photos from our trip. Currently there are only five photos from the trip but I hope to add more soon.

Edwards Air Force Base Open House and Air Show

2005-09-28T20:48:00.000-07:00

On the weekend of October 22 and 23 Edwards Air Force Base will host its Open House and Air Show. Admission is free and there will be plenty of interesting things to see. Edwards Air Force Base is located about 30 miles or so north of the Lancaster, California area. This is the base where the space shuttle landed in August. I am looking forward to checking out the air show and seeing some of the airplanes that will be on display. I check out their website and it looks like cameras will be allowed so hopefully I will get some nice pictures to share. If you want to learn more about the open house and air show click HERE.

Palmdale Fall Festival

2005-09-27T20:12:00.000-07:00

Come and celebrate the 20th anniversary of the Palmdale Fall Festival. This festival will be held on Saturday, October 8, 2005 and Sunday, October 9, 2005. It has a new location this year, Marie Kerr Park. It looks like there is a lot of things to check out including a farmer's market, aerospace expo, and arts & craft show. You can even get your flu shot at the festival if you qualify. There will also be a fireworks show on Saturday night. To learn more about all the cool stuff you can see and do at the Palmdale Fall Festival check out their web site by clicking HERE.

Valyermo Fall Festival

2005-09-26T20:19:00.000-07:00

Yesterday we took a drive out in the desert to check out the Valyermo Fall Festival. This festival is the major fundraiser for a monastery, Saint Andrew's Abbey, located in the high desert of Southern California. I was not sure what to expect but it was a very busy place with lots of visitors. More than 25,000 people attend this Arts and Crafts Festival. In 1969, the monks began to manufacture ceramic artifacts. These were displayed at the festival for purchase. You can also check out these handmade and handpainted ceramics by clicking HERE. It was a nice day at the festival with lots to see. You can also read about the history of Saint Andrew's Abbey by clicking HERE.

Trail Running in the Western United States

2005-09-13T20:10:00.000-07:00

I was just checking out some blogs and came across a good one on trail running. I have done some running here and there but nothing real major. I picked up some trail running sneakers last fall and had hoped to start doing more trail running. I found this blog to contain some good information about the sport and a lot of good links. I am putting this link on my blog to hopefully inspire some new trail runners and also learn more about trail running in the Western United States. Click HERE to check out the blog.

Images of Lancaster

2005-09-11T15:20:00.000-07:00

I was flipping through the pages of the Images of Lancaster book and saw some interesting pictures. During the 1920's the area was mainly irrigated agricultural lands. Alfalfa was the main crop produced in the area and was shipped to dairy farms. I drove by some alfalfa fields east of Lancaster a few months ago and they seemed out of place in the desert. Interesting to learn about the importance of that crop to the area. They also had some interesting pictures of coyotes that were trapped in the area and a hunter in Old Palmdale hunting mainly for bear, bobcat, and mountain lions. It was an interesting book to look through and learn some more about the history of this area. It may be difficult to find if you do not live near Lancaster, California but you can purchase it by clicking on the link below.

John Williams at the Hollywood Bowl

2005-09-09T18:56:00.000-07:00

Over the Labor Day weekend a group of us went to see John Williams at the Hollywood Bowl. John Williams is know as "The Master of the Cinema" since he has written so much music for the movie industry. The Hollywood Bowl is a very interesting place. The seating is built into the natural hillside and provides for a nice place to see a show. The LA Philharmonic was the first to perform at the Hollywood Bowl back in 1922. You can learn more about the history of the Hollywood Bowl by clicking HERE. It was very pleasant listening to the LA Philharmonic play many movie songs. They played two sets each one hour. We heard music from many movies including: E.T., Schindler's List, Indiana Jones, and Star Wars. If you would like to see the September Calendar of events at the Hollywood Bowl click HERE. Read more about the LA Philharmonic by clicking HERE and for more information about John Williams click HERE.

Los Angeles County Fair

2005-09-05T17:37:00.000-07:00

The LA County Fair is going to be opening soon!! The fair starts on September 9 and will run through October 2. You can get more information about the fair by clicking HERE. I am still learning about the fair myself. I hear that it is a very large fair. If I go and check it out I will let you know how it is. I wonder if the Hambone Express Racing Pigs are going to be there?

Visit to the AV Fair

2005-09-03T10:16:00.000-07:00

On Thursday September 1st Becky and I went to the AV Fair with a couple of our friends. We were actually able to walk to the fair from our friend's house. Thursday was $1 admission to the fair day. The AV Fair was a nice fair. We walked all around and got some good food. We also saw the Hambone Express Pig Races. I have seen pig racing back at the county and state fair in New York but nobody else in our group had seen them before. They are kind of fun to watch and a little bit different. The owners make up all kinds of famous pig sounding names for their racing pigs. I think George Bushhog won one of the races beating out Arnold Schwarzenpigger. If you are able to make it to the fair this weekend check out the Hambone Express Pig Races. They have races at 2, 4, 6, 8, and 10 o'clock. We also looked for the rabbits at the fair but I guess it was too hot for them so they were sent back home. The fair will conclude on Monday September 5th so if you get a chance this weekend check it out.

Return to Zuma Beach

2005-08-28T18:43:00.000-07:00

Another hot weekend in the Antelope Valley and we again escaped to Zuma Beach. This time we did not take the canyon roads but stayed on the freeway and got there faster!! I would have though sneaking through the canyons would have been faster but going that way has a lot of traffic lights before the canyons. When we got to Zuma beach we drove a little bit more to the north than where we were last weekend. The sand seemed to be a little bit nicer here. The waves were again spectacular to watch. The day seemed a little bit hotter than last Saturday and this time we checked out the water. It was kind of tough to do anything other than watch out for the big waves. The undertow was very strong as well. Another great day at Zuma Beach.

E.T. Movie Night

2005-08-25T18:24:00.000-07:00

Just a reminder for those in the area that tomorrow, Friday August 26, E.T. will be showing at the Palmdale Amphitheater. If you look at my previous posts from August 15th you will see a picture of the large movie screen that they will show the movie on. Admission is free and it is an outdoor show.

Hiking Southern California

2005-08-25T18:07:00.000-07:00

It sure has been a hot summer out here in the Antelope Valley. Hopefully I will be able to get out soon and do some more hiking. I have been looking through my Hiking Southern California book and hope to hike some of these soon. Hopefully I will have some pictures to share as well. Check out the book by clicking HERE.

Antelope Valley Fair and Alfalfa Festival

2005-08-23T18:22:00.000-07:00

The Antelope Valley Fair and Alfalfa Festival kicks off this Friday August 26th and will continue through September 5th. You can check out their website by clicking HERE. To view their arena events click HERE. One of the arena event that caught my eye was the Rural Olympics and one of its events - hay loading. The Antelope Valley Fair Grounds is located at 2551 West Avenue H. I might have to go and check out this fair and I will let you know how it is.

Zuma Beach

2005-08-22T18:38:00.000-07:00

Zuma Beach
Originally uploaded by PaulT27.

This past Saturday Becky and I went to Zuma Beach, located in Malibu. It is about a 90 mile drive from the Antelope Valley. We got to drive through some canyon roads which made for some nice views. We passed quite a few cyclist on the canyon roads which made it seem like I was driving a team car in the Tour De France. It was a great day for the beach. As you can see from the picture not a cloud in the sky. Zuma Beach is known for its big waves. I didn't bring my buggie board though so I will have to ride the waves some other day. It was tough to pack up and leave the beach on Saturday.

Santa Monica Pier

2005-08-21T21:35:00.000-07:00

Santa Monica Pier
Originally uploaded by PaulT27.

Last weekend I went to check out Santa Monica Pier. It was a nice place to check out with a lot of things going on. You can see the big parking lot that fills up quickly in the afternoon. When this picture was taken it was still a bit hazy out but an hour later the sun was out and the parking lot was packed. It was nice walking along the pier and seeing the ocean. You can see that they have many rides at the pier and there are also many games to play. After walking on the Pier you can also walk along the beach on there paved walkway.

Astronaut Bobble Head Night at Jethawks Game

2005-08-20T07:54:00.000-07:00

Last night was Astronaut Bobble Head night at the Lancaster Jethawk's Game. I got mine and enjoyed the baseball game. Unfortunately the Jethawks lost 12-6 to Bakersfield. After the National Anthem they had a jet fly overhead with a former Astronaut in it. Then after the game there was a spectacular fireworks show as well. I remembered halfway to the stadium that I didn't have my camera. I was hoping to have some pictures of the stadium and fireworks show to share. You can check out the Lancaster Jethawks website by clicking HERE.

Flowers in the Desert

2005-08-18T17:54:00.000-07:00

Flowers in the Desert
Originally uploaded by PaulT27.

This past weekend I was taking a walk in a Lancaster park and came across some flowers!! I was surprised to see these wildflowers here in August. I hear the desert is blooming with color in the spring but by August things are desert like. It was nice to see some color out there.

Lake Palmdale

2005-08-16T20:54:00.000-07:00

Lake Palmdale
Originally uploaded by PaulT27.

Heading up 14 North into the Antelope Valley there is a scenic outlook pictured here. You see Lake Palmdale, a good size body of water, in the desert and the California aqueduct in front of it.

Palmdale Amphitheater Movie Night

2005-08-15T18:34:00.000-07:00

Palmdale Amphitheater Movie Night
Originally uploaded by PaulT27.

Friday August 12 was the first of three movie nights at the Palmdale Amphitheater. They were showing Raiders of the Lost Ark. This is a picture of the large screen they showed the movie on. It was nice to sit out on the hill at the amphitheater and watch a movie. There are going to be two other movie nights that I am currently aware of. On Friday August 26 they will be showing E.T. and on Friday September 9 they will be showing The Sound Of Music. There is free admission and food vendors will be on site. The ampitheater is located on Avenue P between 25th and 30th West.

Sunset in the Antelope Valley

2005-08-14T18:58:00.000-07:00

Sunset in the Antelope Valley
Originally uploaded by PaulT27.

I have noticed that the sunsets here in the Antelope Valley are spectacular and finally have a photo to show it. This photo was taken on Friday August 12 at the Palmdale Amphitheater.

Dealazon Blog's Author Vacations in the Antelope Valley

2005-08-11T19:16:00.000-07:00

Forbes recently released its best of the web and the dealazon blog is listed as one of the top ten shopping blogs! The blog lets you know about all kinds of good deals offered through Amazon.com. I also happen to know that the author of the blog was recently in the Antelope Valley on Vacation!! He was checking out the high desert area and relaxing by the pool.

Beware of Pit Bulls in the Antelope Valley

2005-08-11T17:42:00.000-07:00

I was looking through a USA Today a few days ago and noticed that the Antelope Valley was mentioned in it. On the page where it lists all of the states the California update was from Palmdale. It says that there have been over 22 pit bull attacks in the Antelope Valley this year so far. That is up from a reported 6 attacks last year. This has cost the area $245,000 to hire more animal control officials. This is a very costly pet to own it seems and unfortunately you do not have to own one to have your tax dollars spent on these issues. I heard on the radio that some areas have outlawed the animals as pets for these reasons. I will be on the lookout for pit bulls the next time I go for jog.

Vasquez Rocks

2005-07-19T17:56:00.000-07:00

Paul at Vasquez Rocks
Originally uploaded by PaulT27.

Vasquez Rocks is located in Agua Dulce, California halfway between Santa Clarita and Lancaster. These rocks got their name by a bandit, Vasquez, who hid out in the caves and caverns located here. You can see these spectacular rocks from the 14 freeway but it is much nicer to check them out in person. There are a lot of trails and a picnic area in this 745 acre park. You may have seen these rocks on TV or on the big screen because many movies and TV shows have been filmed here. Some of them include: Star Trek, Flinstones the movie, the first Austin Powers, and many Westerns.

Wikipedia

2005-07-10T18:20:00.000-07:00

Check out Wikipedia the free encyclopedia. By clicking HERE it will bring you to the page about the Antelope Valley. There is some interesting information about the area on that page. You can also do more searches on the site by using the search bar located on the right hand side of the page.

Universal City Walk

2005-07-02T19:36:00.000-07:00

A group of us got our 4th of July weekend started by heading to Universal City Walk in Hollywood, CA for dinner. It was the first time I have visited Universal City Walk and I thought it was very nice. We went to Buca Di Beppo and got some wonderful Italian food for supper. There is a lot to see and do at Universal City Walk. There are many stores for shopping as well as different games along the walk. One in our group won two stuffed fish and a stuffed frog all at one game. Pretty good. We have some friends that live in walking distance so I am looking forward to going back and checking out more on the walk. If you would like to learn more about Universal City Walk and the stores and restaurants there click HERE. I hope everyone has a nice 4th of July weekend.

Burt Rutan Bobble Head

2005-06-22T18:25:00.000-07:00

On Friday June 17, 2005 a few of us went to check out a Lancaster Jethawks baseball game. They were giving away Burt Rutan Bobble Heads to the first 1,000 fans. We were there in time to get our bobbleheads. Burt Rutan is an engineer, adventurer, and entrepreneur. He designs aircraft characterized by the use of light-weight composite materials. You can learn more about his company by clicking HERE. While I was looking for some information about him on the internet I learned that it was his birthday on June 17. He was not at the game because he was away on business but his brother was there. His brother is a pilot and flys many of the planes that Burt designs. It was a good baseball game and the Lancaster Jethawks won 12-3. I see on their website that August 19, 2005 will be Aerospace Appreciation Night and Astronaut Bobblehead Doll Giveaway to the first 1,000 fans. Check out the Lancaster Jethawks web site. Click HERE.

Earthquake Felt in Southern CA

2005-06-17T17:32:00.000-07:00

So after arriving in California six weeks ago I feel my first Earthquake. I was sitting at a desk in Hollywood, CA just before 2pm on Thursday June 16, 2005 when I felt the ground shake a little bit. At first I thought it was a big truck going by then I heard somebody say "earthquake" and realized that is what it was. People who were walking down the hall did not feel it though. I was sitting and it kind of felt like a small wave went under the chair. It was a 4.9 earthquake centered just outside of Yucaipa, CA. You can read a news article about it by clicking HERE and see where Yucaipa is located click HERE. I also found some interesting information about how to protect yourself during an earthquake, click HERE to check it out.

Sunset in Ventura, CA

2005-06-12T19:26:00.000-07:00

June 10 Sunset
Originally uploaded by PaulT27.

On Friday June 10th Becky and I took a drive to the ocean. This picture here was taken in Ventura, California. Shortley after taking this picture I proposed to Becky on the beach. If you click on the picture you will be able to see a couple of pictures of the ring.

Mountain Lion Country

2005-06-08T20:35:00.000-07:00

The past couple of hikes that I have gone on I noticed warning signs about mountain lions. I have never hiked in mountain lion country before so I did some research about them. One website mentions that in the past 100 years there has only been 13 fatal attacks in North America. There are still some precautions that you should take in mountain lion country. Here are a couple of links to mountain lion information web sites. The first one is How to Survive an Encounter With a Mountain Lion. This second web site is called Living with California Mountain Lions. Check out the two links. There is a lot of interesting information on them.

Saddleback Butte State Park

2005-06-05T20:46:00.000-07:00

Saddleback Butte 1
Originally uploaded by PaulT27.

Today Becky and I check out Saddleback Butte State Park located about 20 miles east of Lancaster, CA. To get there we headed East on Avenue J. Driving there we could see the mountains off in the distance that we would soon be standing on. The elevation at the summit of Saddleback Butte is 3,651 feet. This stands 1,000 feet above the bottom land of the Antelope Valley. From the parking lot it is 1.6 miles to the summit. The hike starts off on flat land for about one mile then it starts to head up. This hike must be real nice in the spring when all of the wildflowers display their colors. Today there was not too much color out there. It was a nice hike though and we had plenty of water with us. The picture to the right show Saddleback Butte in the background. I really enjoyed seeing the snow capped mountain to the south. It is a strange feeling to be hiking in the warm desert and seeing snow capped mountains in June. At the top of Saddleback Butte it was very windy. We checked out the view and got a couple of pictures and then headed back. If you click on the picture to the right you will be able to see the seven other pictures I took on today's hike.

Paso Robles Wine Country

2005-05-28T16:02:00.000-07:00

Heading to and from San Simeon State park we drove through the Paso Robles Wine Country. This is a beautiful area and has more than 70 wineries and more than 200 vineyards. We drove through this area on highway 46 and there is a group of wineries on this stretch that have joined together to form a passport promotion. This passport promotion includes 17 wineries along highway 46. After you taste wines at the participating wineries they will stamp your wine passport, which is available at the wineries. Check out the passport promotion website to get more information. You can also check out their home page to get more information about the wineries on highway 46. This is a real nice area to drive through and stop at wineries along the way. Those who were not driving on our trip got to sample some wines at a few different wineries in Paso Robles Wine Country. We stopped at Bonny Doon Vineyard, Peachy Canyon, Castoro Cellars, and Mastantuono Winery. I have linked their websites to their names so check them out. Now, only being in California for three weeks, I would have to say that highway 46 is a real nice view with beautiful rolling hills and vineyards. At one section of highway 46 you can see the ocean and Morro Rock. I was not able to get any pictures since I was driving. It would have been difficult to get all of the stunning countryside into a picture.

Antelope Valley Links

2005-05-27T09:51:00.000-07:00

I just came across another website with some information about the Antelope Valley. Click HERE. I also found a website with some more information about the communities in the Antelope Valley. Click HERE to see that page. There is also a website with frequently asked questions about the Antelope Valley that looks like it has some interesting information. Click HERE to see the frequently asked questions page.

Moonstone Beach

2005-05-27T09:43:00.000-07:00

Moonstone Beach
Originally uploaded by PaulT27.

A few miles south of San Simeon State Park is Moonstone Beach. This is a very nice beach as well. The nice thing about this beach is that it has a boardwalk all along the beach. Along the boardwalk there are a lot of nice flowers as well so it makes for a very nice walk. As we got to one part of the beach we noticed a bunch of seals out in the water. They were sunning on the rocks near shore.

Morro Bay

2005-05-25T16:06:00.000-07:00

Morro Rock
Originally uploaded by PaulT27.

On the Saturday of our camping trip we decided to check out Morro Bay. We passed this area on our way to the camp site and saw a huge rock just off shore called Morro Rock. We took a little drive to the area and to my surprise you could drive out to the rock. We parked the car and checked out the area. There was a surf competition going on so we watched that for a little while. The surf competition was on the north side of the rock. To the south side of the rock there were a bunch of smaller rocks, relatively speaking, that broke the waves. This left a nice calm area for people to kayak on that side of the bay. Check out this picture of the waves hitting the rocks. Click HERE. We did notice a lot of signs stating no rock climbing on this massive rock. It must be a real nice view at the top but I guess the view is left for the birds. I was not able to get a picture of the entire rock but click HERE to see one. You can also check out the web site for Morro Bay to learn more, click HERE.

Trail in San Simeon State Park

2005-05-24T09:54:00.000-07:00

Trail in San Simeon State Park
Originally uploaded by PaulT27.

This picture was taken on the trail in San Simeon State Park on Willow Bridge. This picture was taken at Fern Gully just before we entered into the pine forests. It was very interesting to hike along these trails in the forest so close to the shore.

San Simeon State Park

2005-05-24T09:50:00.000-07:00

San Simeon State Park
Originally uploaded by PaulT27.

This past weekend a group of us went camping at San Simeon State Park. This park is located about 215 miles northwest of Lancaster, CA. It is located on the central coast of California about 35 miles north of San Luis Obispo. It was a very pleasant drive out to this state park from the Antelope Valley. We took 138 to 5 to 46 to scenic Highway 1. The ride along 46 was also very nice with all of the rolling hills and vineyards. This picture was taken just behind our campsite and is located a mile from the coast. At our campsite we could hear the ocean as well as coyotes at night. The sounds of turkeys gobbling woke me up in the morning. It was a very nice time camping there. With the shore only a mile from the campsite it was nice to walk down there. The shore was a mix of dirt and rocks but nice to walk along. There are also trails inside the park that take you through pine forests. It was strange to see a sign warning us about mountain lions but luckily we did not see any of them. We did see a couple of deer on our drive out of the park Sunday morning. I think they were black-tail deer. You can learn more about the park by clicking here.

Sharing Photos

2005-05-23T11:24:00.000-07:00

As you can see I am able to share my digital pictures with you on this blog. I am using Flickr to do this. If you would like to set up a free Flickr account click here. There are security settings you can set so your photos can not be seen by everyone. In order to attach a photo to a blog the photo must be public though. The process is easy to get your photos on Flickr. You will just need to upload the digital photos. There are a lot of great features Flickr has to offer and I am just beginning to learn them. Check out this blog post I came across about features of Flickr.

Hermosa Beach Cam

2005-05-23T11:13:00.000-07:00

Hermosa Beach Cam
Originally uploaded by PaulT27.

While we were at Hermosa Beach the other day some fog rolled in around lunch time. We heard about a beach cam located near Good Stuff Restaurant and thought that would be a good place to grab a bite to eat. While waiting for our table the camera got a picture of us. The Strand Cam archives the photos on the internet so if you go see if it got your picture. It is a great place to grab some food and has a nice outdoor dining area. After we ate our delicious lunch the sun returned.

Hermosa Beach

2005-05-23T10:40:00.000-07:00

Hermosa Beach
Originally uploaded by PaulT27.

One of the great things about California is all of the beautiful beaches. A beach that is listed as a wonderful beach to visit in a lot of books is Hermosa Beach. Hermosa Beach is located about 80 miles south of the Antelope Valley. It is a nice sandy beach with sand volleyball courts. There are also surf shops and other shops to check out along the beach.

Antelope Valley and Beyond

2005-05-22T20:46:00.000-07:00

I have just changed the description of this blog to "Information about the Antelope Valley and Beyond." It was previously "Information about the Antelope Valley and moving across the country." Although I have moved across the country I think this blog will be more like this new description. These past couple of weekend I have traveled outside the Antelope Valley and would like to inform you not only of the Antelope Valley, where I now live, but also the surrounding areas and the beautiful things to see and do in this part of the country. I have some good materials to share with you in my upcoming posts so check back soon. It is hard to believe I have been in the Antelope Valley for over two weeks now.

Rabbit in the Prime Desert Woodland Preserve

2005-05-12T12:36:00.000-07:00

Rabbit
Originally uploaded by PaulT27.

Attached here is a photo of a rabbit that I saw while walking in the Prime Desert Woodland Preserve. There is a lot of wildlife to see on these trails. I have seen mostly rabbits and this one allowed me to get a picture. They move quick heading towards cover. There are also a lot of birds in the preserve. Yesterday I saw two big ravens but didn't have my camera. It is nice to see all this wildlife a short distance from the urban area of Lancaster, California.

Prime Desert Woodland Preserve

2005-05-12T12:30:00.000-07:00

Joshua Tree
Originally uploaded by PaulT27.

The other day I was exploring the area and I came across a nice nature preserve. The Prime Desert Woodland Preserve is located in Lancaster, California where K8 meets 35th St. West. This is a nice area with nature trails and information posted along the trail about the surrounding ecosystem. It is a nice place to go for a relaxing walk and enjoy nature. The two main plants in this preserve are the Joshua Tree (see picture) and California Juniper. It is rare to find these two plants growing in the same area since they have different growth requirements. The rainfall and soil conditions in the Antelope Valley, Western Mojave Desert, allow the Joshua Tree and California Juniper to both grow here. The Joshua Tree is found only within the Mojave Desert. Technically it is not a tree but rather a part of the agave family. The Joshua tree is an important part of the high desert ecosystem providing food and shelter for birds, reptiles, insects, and small mammals. If you are in the area I would suggest you check out this nice preserve. There are a couple of looped trails to choose from.

Finding Hikes in the Area

2005-05-10T14:55:00.000-07:00

One of the things I like to do in my spare time is go for a nice hike. Now that I am in a new area of the country I have to find out where to go. I found a website that will help me out. Localhikes.com You can simply enter in your zip code and a list of hikes in your area will appear. The zip code for Lancaster is 93534 if you want to see the hikes nearby.

Arrive in the Antelope Valley

2005-05-09T09:00:00.000-07:00

I have arrived in the Antelope Valley. I flew in on Thursday, May 5th. I had a nice flight out although when I arrived in LA it was cloudy and raining a little. When I arrived in Lancaster I was tired from the day of traveling and had a lot of unpacking to do on Friday. Saturday and Sunday were nice days and I began to explore the area a little bit. I have a AAA Tour Book for Southern California and it says that Lancaster has a population of 118,718. The elevation of Lancaster is 2,355 feet. It is so nice to see the big mountains that surround the area. I can even see snow capped mountains in one area to the south. The Antelope Valley is located between the Sierra Madre & San Gabriel Mountains, south of here, and the Tehachapi Range Northwest of here.

Location of the Antelope Valley

2005-05-01T15:53:00.000-07:00

The Antelope Valley is located an hour to an hour and a half north of Los Angeles, California. The two main cities of the Antelope Valley are Palmdale and Lancaster. You can view a map of Palmdale and Lancaster by clicking on their links. You can also view satellite images of the areas through those links by clicking on "satellite" which will show up on the upper right hand side of the page. There is some more information about the area click Here.

Ripley Desert Woodland

2005-04-28T11:12:00.000-07:00

P&B
Originally uploaded by PaulT27.

Last summer we went to California for a week. Check out the photo of us at Ripley Desert Woodland.

Welcome to Antelope Valley Information Blog

2005-04-27T22:38:00.000-07:00

Hi, my name is Paul. On May 5, 2005 I will be moving to Lancaster, California. I use to live in Agawam, MA so this will be an exciting move. My girlfriend, Becky, is already out there. This is going to be a new area of the country for us to explore. I am creating this blog to share information about the Antelope Valley of California with you. I have added some links to this blog already. Dealazon is an internet site with all kinds of good deals. We may need to get some things off that site for our apartment. AV-Today is a website I found today about the antelope vally and the other link there is about the state parks in the area we will explore. I hope to share all kinds of information about the area that woud be helpful to other people new to the area, tourist, or just anyone wanting to learn more about the area.