California Walks 2023

The week of August 21st is the last week of training before starting the 700-kilometer Island Walk on Prince Edward Island in eastern Canada. Sunday’s hike (Aug 20) was 11 miles with my full backpack (16 lbs). I journeyed from home to the Ventura Harbor, about mid-way and came back a different route. Tropical Storm Hilary caught me on the way back—I got good training putting on my pancho. You can see the fierce clouds at the Marina. I’m posting a few pictures just for practice.

Three of us (Ana and Joe Alcantar and Kurt Buckley) on this pre-hike encountered 10 stream crossings on the way up to Danielson Ranch (20 for the round trip). They're not unlike what you might encounter on a Camino. We crossed these streams using trekking poles and hiking shoes as well as my (Kurt's) usual Ecco sandals. The attached pictures describe the situation.

Although canceling this hike was an option, we decided that the three of us will still proceed with the hike next Saturday (as per final instructions) and give each of you the option of cancelling individually--although we would love to see you. If you decide to come, consider bringing an extra pair of footwear to slip into at the end of the hike. Trekking poles are a must to ford the streams.

If you cancel, we'll understand--but please reply to this email letting me know your name. You can also message me your cancellation at 805-218-1286.

Our group of about 30 walkers began our hike at about 8:00 AM at the Channel Islands National Park Visitor Center at 1901 Spinaker Drive, the far end of the Ventura Marina. However, we first  met at the Museum of Ventura County Parking Lot at 7:30 AM to arrange for transportation to the Marina.

We proceeded to walk around the Marina and picked up Anchor's Way on the Marina's north side, then meandered around the Ventura Keys and ended up walking north on Pierpont Blvd until reaching San Buenaventura State Beach. We continued the trail until reaching the Ventura Pier (incidentally, the largest wooden pier on the California coast from 1938 to 1995, at a length of 1,958 feet).

The Promenade took us from the Pier another mile up to Surfer's Point, then along the Ventura River (that was raging due to the recent rains) up to Main Street where we turned right and headed toward the Wall Street Murals via Ventura Ave. (aka the Avenue) and up Ferro Dr. (one of the three ways to hike up to the Cross). After a brief photo op at the Cross, we headed down a different way that took us behind the Ventura City Hall and down Main Street to the Mission, ending at Peirano's for lunch.

About 30 of us had lunch at Peirano's Restaurant after the hike, and then we conducted a book signing of The California Mission Walk, The Hiker's Guide to California's 21 Spanish Missions Along El Camino Real (a fully-revised second edition)--all six of us who authored this Guide were there.