Daily Los Angeles herald., 1884-08-19
4 plrAsAmr TRIP.
From Santa Monica West along the
Ocean Beaoh-Low Tide to start
and Return Plenty OF Muesels-
Thousands of CATTLE.

Many people camping or living at
Santa Monica, old or new, in the Sum-
mer season. frequently take q pleasant
trip along the beach for several miles
west Of Santa Monica, especially II they
have been there before, or even heard of
it. A team should be handy, or If not,
several friends can hire one together at
moderate expense. The start up the
beach must be made at low tide, the
early morning low tide being preferable,
as otherwise camp would have TO be
made in very wild place. The beach
Is well packed and makes very good
road. A short distance after leaving
Santa Monica Canon, the line OF the
rancho Topanga, Siques y Malibu, the
property Of the estate Of the late Don
Mateo Keller, the first broad caiion
reached is the Topanga, and is
cultivated to corn and water
melons, which are sold by the renters
Of the land, at the two Santa Monicas.
A further drive Of about mile brings
the team to the Siques Canon, rather
narrow, with fine spring near the
beach. There is q house in the Topan-
ga, but none in the Siques canon. A
little beyond, the natural "arch" is
reached. Here the horses have to be
unhitched and the wagon taken over by
the pleasure-seekers, in each direction,
up or down. But the writer has assisted
at this changing several times when
caion camper, and finds the work oasy.
| Shortly beyond ths arch the broad afion
| Is reached, which Is known by the third
name of the rancho, Malibu, the three
caflons representing the entire name.
| There is plenty OF feed and water in the
half-mile-wide mouth Of the valley which
leads to the cafon through the Malibu
mountains in the background.
| In the center Of the valley rises low
hill, ON which Is situated wooden
house twenty-six years old, and the
frat ranch house constructed on this old
rancho, patented in 1858, twenty six years
ago. This old house is now occu pied by
the Frenchman who rents the rancho
from the assignees Of the estate, at q
round sum annually, but he has thous-
ands of cattle on the range. His majors
dome have houses at intervals, each
with enough good horses to regularly re-
port the condition Of things to the les
see. A peculiar thing about this Nal
bu Gallon is that 1t does not have its
source in these steep mountains. the way
| that is general, but pierces the entire
mountain, being fed by two streams on
the Rancho Las Virgenes, north Of the
| Malibu mountains and southwest OF the
San Fernando valley. These streams
are the Arroyo de las Virgenes and the
Arroyo de las Palomas. Here is o good
place to picket out the horses. for feed
and water.
A short walk from here disclosss a
| fine place for lunch, which, Of course. is
necessary in trip like this, and as it is
now high tide, eating and short nap
are in order.
Early in the afternoon, the tide begins
to lower again, aud. only one hundred
yards away are the dozen big mussel
rocks, slippery and dangerous at high
tide, but accessible at low tide. The
bivalves, nearly as big as oysters, are
easily captured, 10 that . wagon is read
| lily filled in few minutes. The return
has to be made quickly to the "arch,"
so that the transfer can be made before
five o'clock. reaching Santa Monica
about six o'clock, with ozone in the sys-
tenn, brainfood in the wagon, and the
certainty Of sleeping soundly all night
There Is one place, just about half
| way between the Malibu Canon and the
mussel rocks, that is the finest salt wafer
bathing known. A little cove, compris-
| ing three quarters OF 0 circle on the
beach, and which never has breakers or
undertow during all the year around,
nor stones to vex the feet. but gently
shelving. sandy bottom, which makes
the boss locality for bath. Our party.
consisting altogether Of men, went in the
water IN puris nafnralibis, and never was
sea-water bath 90 Injurious. If it had
not been 30 pleasant. the party. who
bathed at the same place several times,
would not have duplicated the bath.
All persons desiring trip of purest
pleasure with. the loveliest stretches Of
scenery Of sea and land should 60 to
i charming Malibu.