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David K
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 posted on 12-23-2008 at 07:44 PM
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ECR-2a) EL CAMINO REAL from space: SAN BORJA to SANTA GERTRUDIS (Sierra route)
On rainy days, I work on other projects... usually Baja and history related.
In the past, I have posted links to Google Satellite images of the missions and sections of the 'El Camino Real', the Spanish line of communication
in Old California (today known as Baja).
Recently, more of Baja has been made available in higher resolution imaging and it is now possible to see nearly all of the old Camino Real from
space.
Maps of the route of the Camino Real have been made by Howard Gulick, in the 1950's and also for Harry Crosby, in 1977. Howard traveled many sections
of the Camino Real when working on the famous Lower California Guidebook c1956-1970. His maps can be viewed in my web page: http://vivabaja.com/ECR/page12.html
Harry rode on the Camino Real in the 60's and 70's and authored The King's Highway in Baja California... Harry's photos and maps can be viewed at
this link: http://www.sandiegohistory.org/journal/77winter/bajamaps.htm
The following photos are from Google Earth, which has the ability to drop down and look sideways at an image... giving one a three dementional effect
'3-D', without special glasses!
The Jesuit Order (in Baja from 1697-1768) were the great road builders (with local native labor, of course)... and many sections of well aligned
roadbed across volcanic mesas are easy to spot, often running very straight, between points.
Because they were removed just a few years after establishing San Borja mission, very little advanced road work north of San Borja is seen. The
Franciscans and Dominicans only did road buiding when required, such as to climb grades... other areas the Camino Real made after 1768 look no
different than a cattle trail in most cases.
So, I started this project at San Borja and then traveled south... The photo images are looking southbound, just above the Camino Real, as if you were
flying low above it.
I copied a topo map and labled exactly where each of the photographs were taken, it is at the end. I made 12 images starting with #1 at San Borja and
ending (for now) a few miles before San Sebastian. This is about 1/2 the distance to the next mission south, Santa Gertrudis.
Below the first 12, I have added photos and maps to show the Camino Real all the way to Santa Gertrudis.
I am in hopes that if you haven't yet begun to see Baja as a living history story book, you will! Imagine what it was like to walk or ride an animal
for hundreds of miles over days and weeks just to get from one part of Baja to another!!!
ECR-1 (Mision Santa Maria to Mision San Borja) is here: http://forums.bajanomad.com/viewthread.php?tid=37019
ECR-2b (San Borja to Santa Gertrudis, Gulfo route): http://forums.bajanomad.com/viewthread.php?tid=36065
[Edited on 2-25-2009 by David K]
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David K
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posted on 12-23-2008 at 07:49 PM
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#1) SAN BORJA, looking south to the grade up to the valley.
#2) The grade up from the mission to the valley the large clearing is the old airstrip. The Camino Real runs straight along the right side of the
strip, across the valley to a switchback up the distant mountain.
#3) Switchback up to the Mesa Compostela
#4) Along the mesa...
#5) Nearing the drop into the canyon containing Rancho Compostela...
#6) Nearing Mesa Redonda, a parallel section of the Camino Real soon joins in. Recent mine digs are all over this area.
#7) There is a mile wide low resolution (dark) strip running north & south between image #7 and #8 (Las Cabras). The terrain (lava) made road
building difficult in some places.
#8) Las Cabras corrals on the old mission trail. Many such corrals are seen on the Camino Real. Las Cabras is noted on Harry Crosby's map and the
Baja Almanac topo.
#9) Arroyo El Paraiso was a major obstacle to the padres and even today, as recent ECR rider 'Baja Bucko' can testify!
This is the north grade, top...
#10) After going along the bottom of this huge canyon for a couple miles, the Camino Real climbs up the south grade...
#11) Sometimes the lava just didn't allow for the normal road building through the entile section...
#12) Up on Mesa las Palmas, the trail will drop off the far end then follow the natural drainage to San Sebastian and on south.
Stay tuned for future additions!
[Edited on 12-23-2008 by David K]
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David K
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posted on 12-23-2008 at 08:01 PM
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Close up of the Camino Real area... The numbers are the photos/ satellite images... Number one is San Borja, at the top... another map is below after
the next group of photos...
[Edited on 12-25-2008 by David K]
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David K
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posted on 12-23-2008 at 08:13 PM
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Harry's map:
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David K
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posted on 12-24-2008 at 01:48 AM
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5 more, moving south...
#13) Looking down at Rancho San Sebastian...
#14) Just past San Sebastian the old trail turns up along a small mesa. staying out of the sand of the big arroyo...
#15) Very hard to see the trail as it drops back into Arroyo San Sebastian...
#16) Nearing Rancho Tres Palmas...
#17) Along Arroyo San Luis, nearing Rancho Nuevo...
[Edited on 12-24-2008 by David K]
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David K
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posted on 12-24-2008 at 04:26 AM
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Map with locations of images 13-17 added
Photos #18 and 19 are also in this area... 18 is just east of Nuevo and 19 is just below Mesa Santa Cruz.
[Edited on 12-25-2008 by David K]
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David K
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posted on 12-24-2008 at 09:03 PM
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On to Santa Gertrudis!
#18) Just past Rancho Nuevo. Autos have used this section.
#19) Just across Arroyo La Sandia, at the base of Mesa Santa Cruz... very faint here.
#20) Crossing the east road to Santa Cruz
#21) Approaching La Union
#22) Crossing the El Arco/ San Francisquito road
#23) Crossing the short cut road between Guillermo Prieto and the San Francisquito road.
#24 Crossing Arroyo Los Algodones
#25) Climbing out of Arroyo El Duranzo and across Mesa Santa Teresa
#26) Dropping off the mesa and meeting the El Arco graded road
SANTA GERTRUDIS
MAP
[Edited on 12-24-2008 by David K]
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Barry A.
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posted on 12-24-2008 at 09:19 PM
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OUTSTANDING!!!! Thank you, David.
Barry
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David K
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posted on 12-24-2008 at 09:26 PM
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MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!
Perhaps after the gang that coming tonight leaves after Christmas, I will work on the next section... to San Ignacio?!
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David K
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posted on 12-25-2008 at 12:38 AM
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I have edited some of the stuff, removed a couple maps that didn't add much info., etc.
As you can see from Harry Crosby's map, there is an alternate Camino Real between San Borja and Santa Gertrudis... rejoins/ branches near Santa Cruz/
Calmalli Viejo. This eastern branch is also known as the GOLFO CAMINO REAL.
I have found several pieces of it, but it is not quite as dynamic or complete as the central branch, shown above. There is also a western branch and
the same is true of the Camino Real between Santa Gertrudis and San Ignacio (three routes/ branches).
So, you people who love this stuff... STAY TUNED!
[Edited on 12-27-2008 by David K]
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Jack Swords
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posted on 12-25-2008 at 01:50 AM
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Very nice David....hope it rains some more so you can concentrate on these projects.
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David K
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posted on 12-25-2008 at 01:54 AM
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THANKS A LOT JACK!   
I do hope to have some good stuff to share when we come back from our New Years trip, too!!
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Jack Swords
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posted on 12-25-2008 at 01:51 PM
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Great David! We're headed out this week to the reputed "garden" of the Mission of La Paz (about 100 miles away from the city) and will also have
some photos etc. to share. Research seems to indicate another site to register with INAH. Looking forward to your newest contribution.
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Sharksbaja
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posted on 12-25-2008 at 07:35 PM
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Fascinating, thanx David.
DON'T SQUINT! Give yer eyes a break!
Try holding down [control] key and toggle the [+ and -] keys
Viva Mulege!
Nomads' Sunsets
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Pompano
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posted on 12-25-2008 at 08:28 PM
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David..once again great information and priceless Baja history. Well done y muchas gracias, maestro!
I do what the voices in my tackle box tell me.
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Paulclark
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posted on 12-26-2008 at 03:11 AM
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Thanks for the work you have done. We are leaving tomorrow for San Juanico, then north to San Ignacio -- looking for sections of the Camino Real.
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David K
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posted on 12-26-2008 at 02:36 PM
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Hi Paul,
The Camino Real leaving San Ignacio in both directions is very easy to spot... just go out a ways and see if the road has the characteristics of the
Camino Real and goes to the known spots... A few months ago I posted the images of ECR near San Ignacio...
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arbee
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posted on 12-26-2008 at 04:35 PM
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Thanks a lot David. This is great info.
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David K
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posted on 12-26-2008 at 10:08 PM
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Exploring Baja is great fun!
Seeing where people traveled over 200 years ago, and the roads they built to travel Baja is wild!
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David K
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posted on 1-23-2009 at 03:35 PM
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More rainy days... and no work for me
So, I am producing the next section of the mission trail space photos: Santa Gertrudis to San Ignacio.
There are three routes (Pacifico, Sierra, and Golfo)... since I like Pacifico, I will show that one first! Stay tuned!
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