Dang, I "almost" made this ride, but I gotta East that weekend... would have been great. I used to live in Ventura in the 90s (down in the Pierpont Lanes), loved these roads to and behind Ojai. Hey, next time I am definately IN, lots of friends still in Ventura to stay with!
I'm going to make a run tomorrow to look at some logistics.
What I would like to know is this ....
I figure we have 2 ways to do this one...
If we just go from Ojai up to Lockwood Valley Rd and back, it's 75 miles total.
If we take in the "Pine Mountain Club Loop: that would add another 86 miles to it.
Let me know which way you all want to do it.
Ok, I made the run yesterday.
It's looking pretty good for Saturday, 7/12/08.
I drove the whole 156 mile loop in about 3 and a half hours, non stop.
I don't recommend that for a group though.... it was WAY too hot.
I suggest we stop somewhere for lunch, and or a place or two for at least some shade/liquids.
One place is the Pine Mountain Club "downtown area". They have a couple of small resturants, and one taveren. Real nice place.
I saw another place on Hwy 33, about 26 miles into the run called the Pine Mountain Inn.
It wasn't open yesterday, so I can't tell you too much about it, but it looks kind of cool.
About 70 miles into the Pine Mountain Loop, I passed another place that had a sign outside that read... "Wine Tasting, Sat and Sun". I've never been there, but...
AND another place is the "Deer Lodge" in Ojai. It's right near the start/finish of the Dragon, and is a really nice place. Here is the URL for it's web site... Welcome to The Ojai Deer Lodge Restaurant
For future reference, my favorite hike on the road to Ojai is to the Punch Bowls, which are behind Thomas Aquinas College between Santa Paula and Ojai. It is a four-mile hike along the river to get back to the pools, but the reward is a great way to cool off from the summer heat. Here are a couple of YouTube videos: YouTube - Water slide at Punch Bowls YouTube - Punch Bowls
For future reference, my favorite hike on the road to Ojai is to the Punch Bowls, which are behind Thomas Aquinas College between Santa Paula and Ojai. It is a four-mile hike along the river to get back to the pools, but the reward is a great way to cool off from the summer heat. Here are a couple of YouTube videos: YouTube - Water slide at Punch Bowls YouTube - Punch Bowls
I've driven past the College many times. I didn't know anything about the pools though.
They look GREAT!
Unfortunately, with my health, there is no way I could hike back 4 miles though.
Do you know if you are allowed to drive up to the college, to take pictures?
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Sol Owner Squid
OLD IS WHEN:
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"Midnight" Drove her home 28 Feb 2006. Deep/109726/sand and grey interior/silver & blue pinstripping.
Do you know if you are allowed to drive up to the college, to take pictures?
There is a guard at the gate, but his main purpose is to make sure that people hiking back to the pools don't park on college grounds (you have to park along Ojai Rd). If you tell him that you are there to take pictures of the college, and NOT to hike back to the pools, he will probably let you in. The most difficult part of the hike to the pools is the 1/2 mile path up the hill from Ojai Road to the top of the campus -- other than that, the path follows a river and is fairly flat (except for one segment with a couple of switchbacks). Therefore, A LOT of people try to talk their way past the guard to get to an easy start. The last time, I just asked the guard, "Where is the administration building?" and he let me go by, but then someone else stopped me in the parking lot when they saw me get out of my car and head out toward the trail. My guess is that on Sundays, you would have a tougher time getting past the guard.
On a hot July weekend, the pools and slides can sometimes get pretty crazy, especially if gaggles of teenagers happen to choose the same weekend to conquer what is otherwise a very serene place. I have never seen it get this way, mostly bumping into the Sierra club crowd on the trail, but I have heard stories of loud boom boxes and rude drunken teenagers (which is probably another reason they have a guard at the campus entrance).
I can't really recall any good photo spots on campus, at least from the parking areas where you could line up the SKYs and Solstice. The prettiest area might be the wooded area near the entrance to campus. If you want to get a photo of the cars on campus, I am guessing that they would oblige, especially if you called ahead of time so they could let the guard know you are coming.
There is a guard at the gate, but his main purpose is to make sure that people hiking back to the pools don't park on college grounds (you have to park along Ojai Rd). If you tell him that you are there to take pictures of the college, and NOT to hike back to the pools, he will probably let you in. The most difficult part of the hike to the pools is the 1/2 mile path up the hill from Ojai Road to the top of the campus -- other than that, the path follows a river and is fairly flat (except for one segment with a couple of switchbacks). Therefore, A LOT of people try to talk their way past the guard to get to an easy start. The last time, I just asked the guard, "Where is the administration building?" and he let me go by, but then someone else stopped me in the parking lot when they saw me get out of my car and head out toward the trail. My guess is that on Sundays, you would have a tougher time getting past the guard.
On a hot July weekend, the pools and slides can sometimes get pretty crazy, especially if gaggles of teenagers happen to choose the same weekend to conquer what is otherwise a very serene place. I have never seen it get this way, mostly bumping into the Sierra club crowd on the trail, but I have heard stories of loud boom boxes and rude drunken teenagers (which is probably another reason they have a guard at the campus entrance).
I can't really recall any good photo spots on campus, at least from the parking areas where you could line up the SKYs and Solstice. The prettiest area might be the wooded area near the entrance to campus. If you want to get a photo of the cars on campus, I am guessing that they would oblige, especially if you called ahead of time so they could let the guard know you are coming.
Thanks, Rich. I appreciate the info. :-)
__________________
SOS
Sol Owner Squid
OLD IS WHEN:
Getting lucky means you find your car in the parking lot.
Honey, I'm home!
"Midnight" Drove her home 28 Feb 2006. Deep/109726/sand and grey interior/silver & blue pinstripping.
I am sorry I can not make this meet. It looks like a great run. I have to work tomorrow.
Sal
__________________ SOL E2D / Sitting Duck / Sal Orlando WCKCC West Coast Kappa Car Club Central CA Dist. Rep Was Vin #2578 now it's a GXP, color COOL, All Options, XM, Splash Guards, Little Chromies, 6" Stubbie Antenea, 3M Clear Bra, Weathershield Car Cover, Kappashield, iPod, ebony leather with cobalt red stiching, accustic headliner, sport matalic peddles, no Onstar. www.WCKCC.org
I drove the whole 156 mile loop in about 3 and a half hours, non stop.
I don't recommend that for a group though.... it was WAY too hot.
I suggest we stop somewhere for lunch, and or a place or two for at least some shade/liquids.
One place is the Pine Mountain Club "downtown area". They have a couple of small resturants, and one taveren. Real nice place.
I saw another place on Hwy 33, about 26 miles into the run called the Pine Mountain Inn.
It wasn't open yesterday, so I can't tell you too much about it, but it looks kind of cool.
About 70 miles into the Pine Mountain Loop, I passed another place that had a sign outside that read... "Wine Tasting, Sat and Sun". I've never been there, but...
AND another place is the "Deer Lodge" in Ojai. It's right near the start/finish of the Dragon, and is a really nice place. Here is the URL for it's web site... Welcome to The Ojai Deer Lodge Restaurant
I have been tossing it around whether or not I was going to be able to make this run, but I figure I rarely miss a run, so no need to start now.
Wonder what point/time I should leave to still make it? Gotta wash my car tonite so I can show off a new toy I got shipped to me today!
Hiya, Nick!
Yeah, you can still make it up to Ojai in the morning, and then if we get off about 11 AM, you can prolly get lunch with us, then head to I -5 and head south.
OR
You can at least make a run to the "top of the mountain" with us, then head back down, and still make the appointment at 4.
I sure hope to see ya there... (wanna see the new toy!) :-)
Joe
__________________
SOS
Sol Owner Squid
OLD IS WHEN:
Getting lucky means you find your car in the parking lot.
Honey, I'm home!
"Midnight" Drove her home 28 Feb 2006. Deep/109726/sand and grey interior/silver & blue pinstripping.
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