David K - 10-21-2003 at 07:02 PM
Baja Almanac pages 36, 33, 32:
From the mission of Guadalupe, the Camino Real heads north over a cuesta (grade) and drops into ARROYO SAN SEBASTIAN (go to Map 33).
SAN SEBASTIAN (shown west of its true location) is/was on the Camino Real where Arroyo San Sebastian joins ARROYO BOCA DE MAGDALENA. Here, the old
trail turns west and follows the new arroyo upstream (go to Map 32).
Rancho EL GATO is on the old trail where it turns to the northwest and heads to the grade known as Cuesta de San Venancio. Named by Padre Lizasoain in
1762, its summit is 3,500 feet high and offers the most 'magificent view', per Harry Crosby. The Jesuit road was heavily overgrown, but offered the
best preserved switchback grade of the entire El Camino Real, Harry writes. A newer trail is seen going north to EL RINCON (shown in the Almanac).
LA HIGUERA and LA CANDELARIA are the next two ranchos on the old trail, the second operated by the Villavicencio brothers (Anastasio, Juan and
Francisco) when Crosby rode here.
The Camino Real climbs another cuesta and drops into ARROYO SANTA CRUZ, following it northwest to SAN LUIS and on to SAN IGNACIO.
To Be Continued...