Camping at Thornhill Broome
Another month, another campsite, this time near Malibu and Ventura at the beach campground of Thornhill Broome Beach.
There's something undeniably soothing about forging a connection with the Earth. Since my youngest years, I've been drawn to nature's nurturing embrace like a moth to a flame.
As a baby, my family and I ventured into Yosemite's wilderness and explored California's picturesque landscapes. Plenty of old family videos show me smiling trying to crawl out of a tent. Fast-forwarding to my childhood years in Portugal, weekends were our ticket to adventures in the country's only national park. In those moments, I felt as though I'd unraveled the mysteries of my life.
Upon my return to California 19 years ago, I made it my mission to rekindle my love affair with the great outdoors. Solo jaunts and group escapades alike filled my calendar, with several memorable Christmas holidays spent alone amid the snow-dusted pines of Yosemite.
A move to Los Angeles in 2019 opened up a treasure trove of natural beauty in Southern California, one that I wasn’t too familiar with. The pleasant weather made year-round escapades possible, a pretty great shift from San Francisco's colder climate.
When my friend Travis invited us to a campsite off the Pacific Coast Highway near Malibu, we embraced the opportunity with open arms and Jetboils ready. Perched beside the majestic Mugu Rock, Thornhill Broome Beach became our sandy haven. This geological marvel, a testament to the forces of nature, served as a stunning backdrop to our seaside adventure.
Camping on the beach was a first for me, and the experience was simply enchanting. Our canine daughters played in the sand, with little Lady's brief misadventure with a bee the only hiccup. A breathtaking sunset and a close encounter with migrating whales only added to the magic.
In the midst of our beachside retreat, my passion for photography took center stage as usual. With my trusty Sony Alpha gear in tow, including my 50mm/1.2 and 135mm/1.8 lenses, I cherished some creative inspiration. While the beach environment posed its challenges, like the ever-looming threat of sand infiltrating my equipment, careful planning and precautions kept the worst at bay.
Photographing the beauty of Mugu Rock and our sandy sanctuary proved to be an exhilarating journey. Each shot, a dance between the sand and my camera, captured the essence of our adventure, and I was especially fortunate to manage to photograph the whales and the sunset.
Our weekend escapade culminated in a filling breakfast at the charming Topanga Canyon’s Inn of the Seventh Ray, a fitting finale to our outdoor odyssey.
In the end, our beachside camping adventure was truly unforgettable—a harmonious blend of camaraderie, natural splendor, and photographic exploits.
The anticipation for our next escapade is palpable, as we yearn to uncover more hidden gems in the great outdoors.
Even with a (currently) broken toe, we are already thinking of visiting Yosemite in a couple of weeks. Let’s go.