In Ventura, a Big Chill; In Simi, Few Like It Hot

An exasperated Don Thrush asked aloud, to no one in particular, why his iced tea was so long in coming.

Seventh in a line of cars idling in the drive-through lane at a Simi Valley McDonald’s, the 33-year-old landscaper felt his patience evaporating about as fast as a puddle in Tuesday’s triple-digit heat.

“When you spend too much time out here, it gets easy to lose your temper,” he said, wiping a trickle of sweat from a flushed cheek.

Less than 40 miles away on the beach in Ventura, Jean Bricker folded her arms across her chest in an effort to stay warm.

Her 11-year-old son, Jeff, sat next to her, his teeth chattering, and her 4-year-old son, Jordan, dragged his boogie board out of the waves and rolled in the warm sand--trying to get the water’s icy edge out of his bones.

“This is a good place to come when you are sweating,” said Bricker, smiling and relaxed. “But it’s gotten a little chilly--it keeps fogging over.”

Simi Valley and Ventura may be in the same county, but during these dog days of summer, they might as well be as far apart as Nome and Timbuktu.

Downing an icy glass of tea was about all Thrush and many other residents of east Ventura County could do Tuesday to stave off the hellish heat, but it was a vastly different story for Bicker. She and other coastal residents gave nary a thought to the mercury as they basked in balmy temperatures that made the day, well, heavenly.

The temperature reached a high of 103 in Simi Valley, breaking a record for the second straight day. A high of 101 was recorded in Thousand Oaks, with 99 in Ojai and 93 in Moorpark. On the coast, highs peaked at 75 in Ventura and 79 in Oxnard.

“The coastal areas didn’t come close to breaking any records. Mainly it was the valley areas that were hot,” said Stuart Seto, a weather specialist for the National Weather Service.

Seto said a marine layer is expected to move inland Thursday morning, dropping temperatures a few degrees in the eastern part of the county. The cooling trend is expected to last through the weekend, he said.

Today, coastal cities are expected to have highs in the upper 70s and lows in the mid-60s. Thousand Oaks and surrounding communities should see some morning low clouds and fog, with highs in the upper 90s and lows in the low 60s. Ojai is expected to be clear through Thursday, with a high today of 103 degrees and an overnight low of 59, Seto said.

But the predicted cooling trend was of little benefit to those in Simi Valley on Tuesday as they wiped drenched foreheads across soaked shirt sleeves and resigned themselves to having to wait for relief.

“What’s really bad about all this is having to dress up for work,” said Donna Premble as she bolted from an air-conditioned convenience store on Tapo Canyon Road to her car with a cold bottle of water.

“Men think they have it bad, having to wear a tie and all, but let me tell you, there’s nothing worse than wearing hose in heat like this. Nothing.”

Marcus Childers and Russ Harder said they had underestimated Tuesday’s temperatures when they stepped out for a brisk walk. Within about a minute, they said, they were covered in sweat and so uncomfortable they decided to forgo the exercise for a day of lounging in front of the television.

“We’re taking a break right now,” Harder said as they sat under a tree at Berylwood Park.

Although a breeze blew through Simi Valley all day, it did nothing to take the edge off the heat. Rather, it felt as if some giant being had aimed a blow-dryer at the city.

In Ventura, the breeze felt more like a cool fan.

Dogs frolicked in the ocean waves, and women strode purposefully along the beach promenade, appearing invigorated by the bracing sea air.

Drivers on Los Angeles Avenue in Simi Valley tapped impatient fingers as they waited at stoplights--their windows rolled up tight and air conditioning cranked up against the heat.

In Ventura, passengers clad in string bikinis and flowered surf shorts hung their elbows lazily out car windows. Drivers sang along to the radio as they headed for the shore, surfboards strapped to the roof.

On Seaward Avenue, Tom Germack and Mike Neumann, who trim trees, kicked back and downed a brew--or two.

“Our days off, we stay within a mile of the coast and drink Steinlager,” Neumann said, grinning. “Generally, the west county is about 15 degrees cooler. Coming over the [Conejo] grade--it’s like someone is turning on the air conditioner.”

* MAIN STORY: A1