David K
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Posts: 64845
Registered: 8-30-2002
Location: San Diego County
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Mood: Have Baja Fever
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EL CAMINO REAL in Baja (Part 8), San Borja to Calamajue
Baja Almanac pages 21, 20, 18:
Mision San Borja is just off the bottom of Map 21 at the 113?45' line.
Unlike most of the previous sections of the old mission trail, much of the route north of San Borja is near auto. roads. Photos and GPS by Neal Johns
and I can help you find parts of this trail, which was the 'Baja highway' before automobiles!
Unfortunately, the good road builders (who were the Jesuits) were removed from California by orders of the king not long after pushing north from San
Borja. They hadn't the time to construct the Camino Real to the standards of the southern sections. The Franciscans only did some 'cargo' trail
building between Mision Santa Maria and Gonzaga Bay as it was necessary for their Alta California project. As a result, most of the Camino Real north
of San Borja resembles little more than a cattle trail, today.
From San Borja the old trail and modern road are basically the same for the first few miles then the ECR passes just west of CERRO COLORADO DE SAN
BORJA, whereas the auto road swings more west.
Neal believes he found where it rejoins the auto road, see a photo near the trail of Neal driving 'through' a boojum tree! http://davidksbaja.com/neal2/page4.html
North of the above photo location, the Camino Real turns west to pass through CANON EL JARAZO, then north between ARROYO AGUA AMARGA and ARROYO VERDE
and crosses the L.A. Bay highway at the Kilometer 30 Marker.
Highway construction in 1974 obliterated the trail on either side of the new road, but a short hike will reveal it. I found what I believe to be the
ECR, to the south at http://davidksbaja.com/703
On the north side of the L.A. Bay highway, the Camino Real turns from north to northwest, at the base of a hill. See my photo at http://davidksbaja.com/403/page13.html
Now, the Camino Real heads to Tinaja de Yubay, via CANADA BENTANCOURT going northwest, and along the east side of MESA LUZ DE MEXICO.
Almanac page 20: Not shown in the Almanac is the famous tinaja (water hole/ pond), it is in ARROYO YUBAY midway betwen CERRO LA PALMITA and MESA YUBAY
(in the canyon indicated by the 700 meter contour line).
The Camino Real travelers had to take a short detour up the Yubay canyon to reach the water. Neal Johns has the GPS for a few points on the old trail,
at the bottom of http://davidksbaja.com/neal2/page5.html Also, Neal has great photos of Yubay starting at http://davidksbaja.com/neal2/page2.html
Continuing northwest, the El Camino Real follows the base of the SIERRA LA ASAMBLEA, east of EL CRUCERO at Highway One.
Almanac page 18:
Inside CANADA AGUAJITO HIGUERAS was a water source for early travelers. The old trail comes to or crosses the auto road going to Calamajue. Here, they
are parallel until they enter Calamajue Canyon where they merge, as no other route is possible, in the narrow, water filled canyon.
Where the auto road climbs a steep grade to leave the Calamajue river (heading for Coco's Corner and Gonzaga), the trail and road to the mission head
to the opposite side of the arroyo and up to a terrace overlooking the valley.
TO BE CONTINUED...
[Edited on 11-12-2003 by David K]
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academicanarchist
Senior Nomad
Posts: 978
Registered: 9-7-2003
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Central Desert
David. You should point out that the Central Desert was the region in the Peninsula that the Jesuits had the most difficulty in finding suitable
mission sites, as we previously discussed with Santa Gertrudis. One point I do want to make is that Calamajue and Santa Maria were the same mission
endowment. They moved from Calamajue because of problems with water.
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David K
Honored Nomad
Posts: 64845
Registered: 8-30-2002
Location: San Diego County
Member Is Offline
Mood: Have Baja Fever
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Yes indeed, life was difficult and good locations that had good water and good farming land were rare.
When I write the mission series after I finish this El Camino Real series, I (with your assistance) will provide the details that may be of interest.
Such as, that Calamajue was the first site for Mision Santa Maria (moved after 7 months).
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