(from TW): I want you to know that I think everyone that went on that trip had a great time. As you know I went twice and had a great time both
times. While we all didn't think we would find anything it was fun and we did make jokes at your expense sometimes. But I would do it again in a heart
beat. I look forward to the trip across Baja in Feb. I'm retired and doing things like that are fun and a great exercise and it is also a learning
experience in what you see and hear. I've often thought about hiking the El Volcan Arroyo from the Sea of Cortez ever since looking for the mission.
I'm with David and I don't think telling the others of your motive does any good. They have their memories of a great time.
If and when you come out to Baja let me know and maybe we can do some exploring together. If you don't have it my email is -----------. Take care.
| Quote: | Hi TW, Great to hear from you again!
I was wondering if someone was going to ask me about the El Tule trip I have talked about doing. You have a good memory.
I like the trip you "old geezers" (as the thread puts it) are planning on taking this winter. I'd love to pack up and come along, but I don't think
I'll be making it down there anytime soon...because of a combination of time, money, and safety issues. I'd LOVE to come, but with four young kids at
home we have trouble even going on family vacations these days.
I also have a confession to make...I sent DK an email after it turned out that my "lost mission" was just an overactive imagination. I really did
think I had found the legendary "lost mission" site, but I never told any of you what my motivations were for looking for it where I did, and in
hindsight I felt bad for not being upfront about it.
So...my real motivation may set me apart as crazy, even by BajaNomad standards 
...but here is the letter I sent to DK (you'll notice I DID tell him to share it with you, but he didn't want me getting harassed by Nomads so he
didn't):
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Hi David,
Sorry I haven't kept in touch and finished the overlays yet. I've been both busy and lazy if that makes sense.
To tell you the truth, I've also felt rather guilty about something too. I was never completely truthful with you guys about my interest in that site.
When I started that post I was under the impression that it would be MUCH easier to investigate than it turned out to be. In my wildest imagination I
didn't think I would end up having people spend significant time and money checking it out. So, with that mindset I guess I talked myself into
believing that it didn't matter if I told you guys about my entire interest in the site as long as I could make a compelling argument that it was
worth investigating for other reasons.
I do have a strong interest in geology, but I lied when I said that I was studying geology when I found the site. The truth is that I'm LDS (Mormon)
and I had been looking into the possibility that the events described in The Book of Mormon may have taken place in Baja. The so-called "Baja Model"
for the Book of Mormon is a rather new theory and I found the possibility very interesting. It was during my study of that theory that I came across
the Santa Isabel stories and found that particular site. Now, I did honestly believe that I had found the source of the lost mission legends, and I
knew that by mentioning my religious ideas I would just muddle up the conversation with the inevitable debate about "Mormonism" so I conveniently left
it out of the forum conversation.
What I didn't expect was a two-month long conversation about the site. I originally thought a passing nomad could just take a detour for a couple
hours and snap some photos for me. But...pretty soon I found myself having to defend my interest in this site to my new-found nomad friends and I
guess my pride wouldn't let me backtrack and spill my real motivation...which j find ironic since the underlying theme of the Book of Mormon is to
strip yourself of selfish pride :S
When I talked with you on the phone after your trip and you mentioned how you and the other expedition nomads had discussed how silly it seemed that
you had all spent time and money helping someone you don't even know to investigate the site, it really hit me hard that despite the good times you
had, I had really done you a selfish disservice by not being straightforward with you.
Honestly I feel bad about it. I'm sorry.
Please feel free to share this with the other nomads as well. I will also get back to work on the trip overlays when I get a chance.
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Hello Beau,
I did sense a bit of shame in your silence, but please do not feel guilt for what you did. We all totally enjoyed the experience. Heck, TW went there
twice! It is a long walk in the desert, but it was great.
I know very well the Mormon fantasy web site that you must be using as a base for research: http://www.achoiceland.com/ You see, I was contacted by Keith Russell in Jan. 2010 who found my web site interesting while doing research and told
me of the Mormon site. I was surprised to find maps from my site, of the Camino Real that I put online, in that site with no credit to the source of
the maps or link to the site where they came from. Keith said the 'achoiceland' page builders would contact me, but they never did. However, they did
remove my maps of the El Camino Real instead! If they had only given credit to the source of the maps, they could have stayed.
Anyway, I don't think it is important that you disclose your religion or motives for the search. I will not disclose your email to anyone either. What
you did was give some middle aged guys an excuse to get outdoors and solve a mystery... and we look forward to more! In fact, the next one may be a
search for the Lost Diaz Grave! Like the ruins of Santa Maria Magdalena found in 1966, then lost until Elizabeth and I went to it in 2009, the Diaz
grave was found in the 1930's by Walter Henderson and is unknown if it has been found again. Melchoir Diaz would have been the first European to walk
into California, if the grave is found in Baja. He was killed by accident when he fell upon his lance while riding his horse. This was in 1541.
Do you want the high resolutions of the photos I took of 'Santa Isabel'?
Thanks for your email and your honesty, I hold nothing against you for what you did!
David
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Thanks David. You're a god guy.
I know of the achoiceland.com site, but I found it after I started looking at Baja as a possible setting for The Book of Mormon myself. Their site is
quite overoptimistic in many ways and in my opinion they misread the text in many ways. There's some things they describe that I find interesting, but
they need to ground their claims with actual research.
On the other hand, I'm still interested in learning more about Baja archaeology as it develops. There are many Book of Mormon geographical parallels I
find intriguing, but there's also a LOT of explaining to do before anyone can make a model that could hold up to scrutiny.
I would definitely like all the high res photos that you can send me.
Thanks again.
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...Anyways, let me apologize to you personally. I do look forward to making it to Baja for some exploring of my own someday, but until then I'm going
to have to be satisfied with reading maps and scholarly articles about Baja...which I can assure you, I am still completely obsessed with doing  |
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