Malibu

Far Away Dreaming

Dolphins joyfully play,
as the Sun
slowly melts the day away

"Malibu was originally settled by the Chumash Native American Indians whose territory extended loosely from the San Joaquin Valley to San Luis Obispo to Malibu, as well as several islands off the southern coast of California. They named it Humaliwo or the surf sounds loudly. The city's name derives from this, as the Hu syllable isn't stressed."

Thoughts of days long ago mingle with the delight of being in Malibu today, as you walk barefoot on the beach sands of Malibu. Paradise then and now . . . where the mountains meet the sea and the surf sounds loudly.

Malibu Lagoon Chumash-Polynesian Connection

There's a beautifully wide stretch of of sand in Malibu ~ Zuma and adjacent Westward Beach ~ MY favorite beach, where I'd walk in the deep sand almost everyday back then.

Malibu, California

"The city of Malibu is a 21-mile (33.5 km) strip of Pacific coastline;
a beachfront community famous for its warm, sandy beaches,
and for being the home of countless movie stars."

The PCH ~ Pacific Coast Highway (State Route 1), runs along the "city," with some residents living up narrow canyons." (In 2001 I rented a room in a great home in Los Flores Canyon, about 5 houses from Dukes on the PCH.)

The Malibu coastline actually runs east and west. It's surrounded by Topanga Canyon to the east, the Santa Monica Mountains to the north, the Pacific Ocean to the south, and Ventura County to the west.

"Its most famous beaches include Surfrider Beach, (next to the Malibu Pier), further up the coast, Zuma & Westward Beach, (my favorite). Further north along the coastline, you'll find El Pescador, El Matador and Piedra Beaches (for more solitude). There are quite a few State Beach/Parks in Malibu.

Point Dume is on the northern end of the Santa Monica Bay. It's an invigorating hike up Point Dume Headlands Park where you'll gaze upon a breathtaking view of the Palos Verdes Peninsula and Santa Catalina Island.

This plaque is up on the top of Point Dume Headlands Park.

Looking toward Topanga and Santa Monica, on the western side of the point, is Pirates Cove, named after rumrunners during the prohibition era, who used the secluded beach for offloading their cargo.

On the eastern side of the point is Little Dume, known as a great surf spot.

Quite a few times, I'd happen upon location-filming going on - movies, TV, commercials, weddings - near Point Dume. As a kid, I loved watching Gidget, which was filmed at Surfrider's Beach - probably one of the reasons I always dreamed of living in California - far from the Midwest - although I do have many fond memories of growing up in Des Plaines, IL.