🇺🇸 Escondido Falls - Central Malibu 06.06.24

Malibu is a quick 30-40 minute drive up the Pacific Coast from Venice… depending on what you’re calling Malibu. I needed some hills and some hiking… and a little break from the siren song of the ocean.

Escondido Falls is in Central Malibu and an easy hike into the canyon. You park off the highway, or pay $12US to be in a small lot. From there it’s a 1/2 mile walk on Winding Way to the trailhead. And that trek is up the side of road that’s lined with Malibu mansions. Fancy.

All kinds of types in Malibu. You can live in a posh mansion in the hills, or sleep in your VW bus parked along California Highway 1… whatever… whatever you want to do.

I’ve been thumbing through “The Last Law of Attraction Book” and need to manifest positive things… so the ‘living in my VW bus’ on the PC Hwy 1 needs to expand to; “I’ll be living in a posh mansion with my beat up Mexican VW bus in the driveway!” Oh, how I like the sound of that! (now repeat 50 times).

BTW… the California 1 Pacific Coast Highway is a route that nearly covers the length of CA. It’s 655 miles long, you can’t always see the ocean, and can be slow going in places. I’ve been on much of it in the last 3 years. In my younger days I talked it up about wanting to ride a motorcycle the entire length of the 101. At the time I didn’t know the difference between the 1 and the 101. The 1 is probably what I wanted… and one day I’ll jump on a bike and do it… at least until my ass and hands go numb. Ever driven a motorcycle for 8 hours? It’s hard on the bod.

Anyways, one Southern California waterfall hike behind me. It’s lovely. Fellow strollers are not that friendly… at least not what I’m used to in nature. In Colorado… smiles, “hellos,” nice vibes… Los Angeles… weird smirks, nose up, I’m in my own space ‘vibes.’ Whatever… whatever you want to do. SoCal cool I guess…

I came across a gopher snake sunning itself across the trail. About a meter long and a cutie. I dig on creatures and that goes for snakes as well. I was like, “cooool… can I pick him up? Can I? One little smooch won’t hurt?” Since it was just me and the snake the answer was ‘yes.’ But he boogied into the weeds before I puckered up.

There’s a couple of creek crossings on this trail. They’re a bit muddy and slippery. Horseback riders use it and water gets splashed up everywhere. There were 2 young ladies crossing the creek as I was returning. Model looking types for the sake of a visual. One had super clean designer looking sneakers. She was crawling across the rocks and logs over the creek… she made it… looked up at me a bit embarrassed and said, “uhggg… I’m not a hiker.”

I responded, “you’re doing great!”

“(2 - LA smirk grins)” And they moved on… I started to cross with my waterproof real-ass hiking boots… slipped on a muddy rock… and sunk my entire foot in the creek. And said to myself (outloud), “yup… and [I] am a hiker…”

Humor and humility. It’s the key to navigating 21st century life. Navigating 21st century life with one shoe filled with gross creek water. Whatever… whatever you want to do. It’s cool.