David K
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Registered: 8-30-2002
Location: San Diego County
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Lost Mission Hunt V
Yes, this was the fifth search for the ruins discovered in the winter of '65/'66 by Erle Stanley Gardner's party when they opened a road south of
Bahia de los Angeles to San Francisquito.
From one of their camp locations in this previously untraveled (by automobile) region, they would explore the surrounding area by dune buggy
('grasshopper') or ATV ('butterfly'). The trip was documented in Gardner's 1967 'Off the Beaten Track in Baja' and in Choral Pepper's 1966 Best of
Baja series in Desert Magazine.
I have interviewed three members of that expedition (Choral Pepper, Bruce Barron, and Ricardo Castillo) before searching began. On my first attempt, I
even hired Jesus Flores (80) who was well known to Gardner, 40 years ago. A chapter in Gardner's 1962 'Hidden Herat of Baja' called 'The Lost Mine' is
about Jesus, with a full page photo of Jesus. Jesus took us to a famous tinaja on the Gulfo Camino Real (Santa Maria), but not the wall and other
stone ruins I was seeking.
To see photos of my previous searches:
#1 July,'01: http://davidksbaja.com/van1/page6.html
#2 Apr.,'02: http://davidksbaja.com/402/page3.html (Photos at the site)
#3 Jan.,'03: http://davidksbaja.com/1202/page2.html
#4 Apr.,'03: http://davidksbaja.com/403/page12.html
NEW WEB PAGE (1757 map and better versions of the '66 photos: http://community-2.webtv.net/baja4me/1757
Anyway, searching is half the fun!
I might ad that this site was never a mission, but could have been an attempt to establish one or perhaps a vista of another mission. The search is
not for treasure (there surely was never any), but for historic interest.
I believe the site was not far from the original road south of Las Flores, that the Gardner group built or made passable beyond the ranches of
Paredones and La Bocana/San Pedro. Tinaja Santa Maria is just 4 (direct) miles southeast from La Bocana (misnamed San Pedro in the Almanac).
The 'lost mission' site was believed by Choral Pepper to be Santa Maria Magdalena because that mission is shown on the 1757 Jesuit map as being
'started' in the general area between Bahia de los Angeles and Mision Santa Gertrudis (then called on the map 'Dolores del Norte').
The Hunt:
We left Camp Gecko turning south on the graded road (28?53.96'/ 113?31.85'). My daughter and I in my Tacoma 4WD truck and Pete and his son in his H2
Hummer.
6.0 miles from the Camp Gecko road is the Las Flores jail house GPS: 28?49.08'/ 113?31.73' (datum: NAD27), just a short ways off to the west (milages
include swinging over to the jail and back to the graded road).
18.7 miles is the old road south (passing access roads to Paredones and La Bocana) 28?40.72'/ 113?25.41'. A no hunting sign (in Spanish) and a car
door with decals marks this junction. Continue on graded road.
22.6 miles is the junction with the road north to Bahia las Animas 28?40.52'/ 113?21.72'.
42.0 miles is the road 1/4 mile to Pancho's Bahia San Rafael (home and fishing huts at 28?34.98'/ 13?07.97'. Big sand beach, camping, cold beer, good
company.
53.5 miles (11.5 from San Rafael junction) the old road rejoins the graded road, in from the right (northwest) 28?26.05'/ 113?10.40'. Note: the
Almanac says it is 13.5 miles, it's NOT!
Go 0.8 mile on the old road northwest to ARROYO LA PALMA and turn left 28?26.49'/ 113?11.02'. Our tire tracks will probably be there until the next
flash flood. We wiggled between some smoke trees where vegetation got thick, but did not have to back track to continue to the end.
3.1 miles up the wash we drove, until boulders prevented us from going further. GPS (NAD27) was 28?24.97'/ 113?13.02'. An ATV or wide tire motor bike
would enable one to continue many miles further.
From this point, the main arroyo bends south with a smaller one continuing straight (west). We hiked up both, but mostly I headed south in La Palma
(great name... where is that palm!?) to 28?24.18'/ 113?12.91'.
This area was wonderful... very remote, white sand arroyo, interesting. I found a large clam shell, that had to be brought many miles to this place...
Indians!
I felt as if I was getting close to finding the ruins, but not yet! I would just like to see the site that was photographed almost 40 years ago.
Perhaps one of you will come across it before I do. If so, please let me know. I made a promiss to Choral before she died, that I would re-find her
lost mission. Perhaps with your help? Photos coming soon...
Happy Hunting!
Photos at http://vivabaja.com/1203
[Edited on 5-15-2004 by David K]
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Mexray
Super Nomad
Posts: 1016
Registered: 8-30-2002
Location: California Delta
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Mood: Baja Time
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Looking forward to your newest Pic's...as always your directions are impeccable! I be addin' your GPS'ers to my files...in case I want to 'keep you
honest' someday!
Maybe someday when you're also a 'famous' Baja Author, you can organize a gaggle of support vehicles, groupies and some other no-good Baja Buddies and
track down those hidden rock walls!
Thanks for the report.
According to my clock...anytime is \'BAJA TIME\' & as Jimmy Buffett says,
\"It doesn\'t use numbers or moving hands It always just says now...\"
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David K
Honored Nomad
Posts: 64888
Registered: 8-30-2002
Location: San Diego County
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Mood: Have Baja Fever
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Here's Pete's Hummer and my Toyota in Arroyo la Palma near where we came to the boulder roadblock (up by that hill, where la Palma bends
left/south)...
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bajataco
Nomad
Posts: 117
Registered: 11-26-2003
Location: Arizona
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I too look forward to your pics David 
So just how big were these boulders?  I can barely see in the small photo you
posted. It's quite intriquing! I love looking for historical stuff. I am sure you will find the site eventually - that rock wall looks to substantial
to be obliterated.
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David K
Honored Nomad
Posts: 64888
Registered: 8-30-2002
Location: San Diego County
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Mood: Have Baja Fever
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Big enough to stop the Hummer! They are about a half mile beyond where I took that photo near that distant hill. It wasn't a 'wall' however like what
stoped BillB and Corky in Arroyo el Volcan. You could continue in an ATV... Beautiful white sand... and more! (send me an email if you want more).
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bajataco
Nomad
Posts: 117
Registered: 11-26-2003
Location: Arizona
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Well, maybe sometime I can evaluate the rocks in person  If and when, I
will surely send you an email for some more info.
Take care pal
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David K
Honored Nomad
Posts: 64888
Registered: 8-30-2002
Location: San Diego County
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Mood: Have Baja Fever
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You bet Chris! There IS more in there... Baja is so awesome!
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bajalera
Super Nomad
Posts: 1875
Registered: 10-15-2003
Location: Santa Maria CA
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Non-surfer dudes
Here you are, DK. Not your typical Nomads, these two!
bajalera
\"Very few things happen at the right time, and the rest never happen at all. The conscientious historian will correct these defects.\" -
Mark Twain
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David K
Honored Nomad
Posts: 64888
Registered: 8-30-2002
Location: San Diego County
Member Is Offline
Mood: Have Baja Fever
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40 years ago in Mulege
On the left is Mexico's leading anthropologist Dr. Carlos Margain and on the right is Erle Stanley Gardner author of many great Baja adventure books
and creator of Perry Mason. Erle is presnting Carlos with a collection of arrowheads. Choral Pepper was there, and I think she took the photo... I
have the original.
Note: the arrowheads did not have 'made in Japan' printed on them... although that was a great yarn!
[Edited on 5-15-2004 by David K]
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