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David K
Honored Nomad
Posts: 64857
Registered: 8-30-2002
Location: San Diego County
Member Is Offline
Mood: Have Baja Fever
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Choral Pepper's 'LOST' MISSION SITE: FOUND! (What do you think it is?)
Dear Friends,
It is with great excitement that I share this with you...
The mysterious site of walls, a dam, a palm tree, Indian sleeping circles are ALL there... just the way Choral Pepper reported in her July, 1966
Desert Magazine and her 1973 Baja book!!! Choral believed the site was a mission shown only on one Jesuit (1757) map as 'started' by the name of Santa
Maria Magdalena.
Choral and I spoke often of her desire to go back and find that site that she could not recall the exact location of. I have also spoken to Bruce
Barber, J.W. Black, and Ricardo Castillo who were on the Erle Stanley Gardner expedition of February, 1966. None could recall where the walls and dam
were, other than south of L.A. Bay and north of El Barril.
The site was seen after they visited Bahia las Animas to get clams for dinner. They were opening an abandoned road as well as creating a new road
south, in the La Bocana valley, in order to get through to the El Arco/ San Francisquito road.
Since my meetings with Choral some seven plus years ago, I made six trips into the region searching for her 'lost mission' of Santa Maria Magdalena.
One of those trips I drove right by it! I have links to the photos taken on previous searches ( in 2001-2004) on this page: http://vivabaja.com/1757/page2.html
Choral had hoped I would someday find it... No, she 'knew' I would find it... and with a great tip by Nomad member 'Sharksbaja' who saw some walls on
the Google Earth satellite images and sent them to me... Elizabeth and I went there... and THERE it was!!! It was no easy task getting to them, and I
have some fresh scars to show for it!
I have attached the photos from 1966, the mission as listed in Tom Miller's 'The Baja Book', and a couple photos we took this past Friday.
A big thank you to Choral Pepper for sharing the 1966 discovery in her magazine and book as well as her personal inspiration and enthusiasm.
Without the tip from 'Sharksbaja' (Corky), who knows when I would have found it?... THANK YOU CORKY!!! This has been one of the greatest Baja
experiences I have ever had!
Many more details and photos coming soon... we returned from Baja just last night! Stay tuned to http://forums.BajaNomad.com for the Trip Report.
Happy New Year to you all!
David Kier 1-4-09
====================================================
1966:
========================================================
2009:
 (HOLDING THE 1966 PHOTO)
From 'The Baja Book' by Tom Miller:
====================================================
Many, many more photos and details coming soon!
[Edited on 1-14-2009 by David K]
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shari
Select Nomad
Posts: 13048
Registered: 3-10-2006
Location: bahia asuncion, baja sur
Member Is Offline
Mood: there is no reality except the one contained within us "Herman Hesse"
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that's so cool David...way to go...I love that the cactus in the back is still there although it may not be for long it looks like. What a wonderful
baja experience for you.
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David K
Honored Nomad
Posts: 64857
Registered: 8-30-2002
Location: San Diego County
Member Is Offline
Mood: Have Baja Fever
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By-the-way, this was 2 days ago: Friday, January 2, 2008
We returned last night, after a night in El Rosario... previous nights at L.A. Bay and Bahia Santa Maria (after BajaLous' turkey fiesta). Stay tuned
to the Nomad Trip Reports Forum for all 4 days worth of details and potos!
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Diver
Ultra Nomad
Posts: 4729
Registered: 11-15-2004
Member Is Offline
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DK
we heard that you were coming through el rosario and looked for you truck.
I dont know how we missed you !!
I also think I saw the ghost - or some reasonable facsimile of Mr BajaNomad himself. He will be surprised when he reads the back of my card !
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Barry A.
Select Nomad
Posts: 10007
Registered: 11-30-2003
Location: Redding, Northern CA
Member Is Offline
Mood: optimistic
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David----------My heartiest congratulations to you, and crew--------that is really great, my friend. It is fasinating to see how the ocatillo has
hardly grown at all, yet the "tree" (a Palo Verde??) on the left side of the pic. has really grown quite a bit. And, as Shari says, the cordon on the
skyline has changed it's character quite a bit.
I love "before and after" photos, and you have some good ones here.
Can't wait for the "rest of the story", and your conclusions.
This is really exciting------------WHERE EXACTLY IS IT????
Barry
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David K
Honored Nomad
Posts: 64857
Registered: 8-30-2002
Location: San Diego County
Member Is Offline
Mood: Have Baja Fever
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| Quote: | Originally posted by shari
that's so cool David...way to go...I love that the cactus in the back is still there although it may not be for long it looks like. What a wonderful
baja experience for you. |
Thanks Shari!
It was FANTASTIC!!!
Rates up there with the bighorn sheep encounter at Mision Santa Maria and finding a huge petro site I didn't know existed, east of El Socorro.
This was the best... and was a great way to start the year!
Yes, considering nearly 43 years seperate the photos, the cardon, ocotillos, old man cactus, etc. are very slightly changed! These plants really grow
ultra slow... Just imaging how old they all are!
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bacquito
Super Nomad
Posts: 1615
Registered: 3-6-2007
Member Is Offline
Mood: jubilado
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So interesting, truly an adventure and something that is benefits all
bacquito
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David K
Honored Nomad
Posts: 64857
Registered: 8-30-2002
Location: San Diego County
Member Is Offline
Mood: Have Baja Fever
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| Quote: | Originally posted by Diver
DK
we heard that you were coming through el rosario and looked for you truck.
I dont know how we missed you !!
I also think I saw the ghost - or some reasonable facsimile of Mr BajaNomad himself. He will be surprised when he reads the back of my card !
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We arrived at Baja Cactus Friday night at 7:20pm-ish... The place was totally full... We were refered to the brand new motel on the east end of town,
across from Baja's Best Restaurant/ B&B... called the Turista Motel... It was great, and only 300 pesos/ $25 US. It will be detailed in the trip
report.
Elizabeth and I had 4 fantastic days in Baja... the best! Baja Lou's party, BajaRob and Connie's hospitality, the road to Gonzaga Bay (killed my
'cheap' HID lights), lost mission found, 5 minute border wait at Tecate Saturday afternoon...
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David K
Honored Nomad
Posts: 64857
Registered: 8-30-2002
Location: San Diego County
Member Is Offline
Mood: Have Baja Fever
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| Quote: | Originally posted by Barry A.
David----------My heartiest congratulations to you, and crew--------that is really great, my friend. It is fasinating to see how the ocatillo has
hardly grown at all, yet the "tree" (a Palo Verde??) on the left side of the pic. has really grown quite a bit. And, as Shari says, the cordon on the
skyline has changed it's character quite a bit.
I love "before and after" photos, and you have some good ones here.
Can't wait for the "rest of the story", and your conclusions.
This is really exciting------------WHERE EXACTLY IS IT????
Barry |
Coming soon Barry... it is right next to a frequently used road, too... but it looks like nobody has been up there (a steep climb) since 1966!
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Paulina
Ultra Nomad
Posts: 3810
Registered: 8-31-2002
Location: BCN
Member Is Offline
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Waiting for the details...
\"Well behaved women rarely make history.\" Laurel Thatcher Ulrich
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David K
Honored Nomad
Posts: 64857
Registered: 8-30-2002
Location: San Diego County
Member Is Offline
Mood: Have Baja Fever
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| Quote: | Originally posted by Paulina
Waiting for the details... |
I am loading photos onto Photobucket from the trip (175)... Takes some time!
We came by to see you and Dern on our way back to Bahia Friday afternoon... alas, you left in the morning... perhaps just after we drove south early,
past your driveway.
Here is one more photo that was inspired by Pompano!:
The satellite maps of the site, are below...
[Edited on 1-9-2009 by David K]
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BajaGringo
Ultra Nomad
Posts: 3922
Registered: 8-24-2006
Location: La Chorera
Member Is Offline
Mood: Let's have a BBQ!
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David, are you sure that is the Lost Mission site? I noticed that the cactus in the background in your photo looks a little different from the one in
the 1966 picture???
Seriously though, a big congratulations David.
GREAT JOB!!!
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Jack Swords
Super Nomad
Posts: 1095
Registered: 8-30-2002
Location: Nipomo, CA/La Paz, BCS
Member Is Offline
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Excellent David...can't wait for more information. Now we need to lose another one so you can find it!
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jeans
Super Nomad
Posts: 1059
Registered: 9-16-2002
Member Is Offline
Mood: Encantada
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WOW! Outstanding!
WAY to GO!
You've been talking about that for years!
I know that Choral is smiling!
Mom always told me to be different - Now she says...Not THAT different
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Neal Johns
Super Nomad
Posts: 1687
Registered: 10-31-2002
Location: Lytle Creek, CA
Member Is Offline
Mood: In love!
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Good dog, DK!
I'm happy for you.
Now, your next assignment, if you care to take it, about that certain lost grave.....
My motto:
Never let a Dragon pass by without pulling its tail!
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David K
Honored Nomad
Posts: 64857
Registered: 8-30-2002
Location: San Diego County
Member Is Offline
Mood: Have Baja Fever
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| Quote: | Originally posted by jeans
WAY to GO!
You've been talking about that for years!
I know that Choral is smiling! |
Thank you jeans! It was fantastic! I could feel Choral's spirit there with us last Friday.
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To the Nomads who have not seen or heard this before...
Choral Pepper wrote the following in May, 2001 (the year before she passed away) for me to read to my guests at my Viva Baja #2 party http://vivabaja.com/vivabaja2 :
Dear Baja Buffs,
Behind his back, I call David " the new Erle Stanley Gardner." His love for
Baja shares the same dedicated clarity and eagerness to share it as did
Uncle Erle's. I am fortunate enough to have been one of those recipients in
both cases. Erle shared it with his books. David shares it with his Viva
Baja adventures.
I have reached a stage in life in which there is more to look back upon than
forward to. It is not depressing.
What I have to look back upon was so filled with adventure, learning and
beauty that nothing in my limited future could surpass it. There are very
few places in the world that I did not explore during my exciting years as a
nationally syndicated travel columnist after selling Desert Magazine, but
of all the places in the world, Baja stands alone. Not just because it was
more isolated in those days (places like Yap and Zamboanga were isolated,
too), but because there is a spiritual quality about Baja that seeps into
the very soul of those who respond to it. Everyone doesn't., but you who
are here at David's Viva Baja event tonight know exactly what I mean.. We
Baja buffs share a space foreign to superficial types unaware of the
peninsulas unique nature, mysterious history, and tantalizing lore.
During my early days of exploring the desert, I found that the public can be
induced to respect such backcountry areas as Baja -- not by rules and
regimentation, but by education. And the education begins by making its
history exciting and adventurous. When someone goes looking for a lost
treasure, for instance, they are forced to thoroughly research the area.
They aren't just spinning wheels over meaningless, empty land. With
knowledge, comes respect. You all who participate in David's Viva Baja are
doing your part to insure a secure future for Baja. I salute you and would
love to be sharing this evening with you
Sometimes when you are out there trampling through dry, rock-studded
arroyos or watching the moon rise above a cardon forest, send a thought to
me. I'll be sharing it with you in spirit.
Choral Pepper
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David K
Honored Nomad
Posts: 64857
Registered: 8-30-2002
Location: San Diego County
Member Is Offline
Mood: Have Baja Fever
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| Quote: | Originally posted by Neal Johns
Good dog, DK!
I'm happy for you.
Now, your next assignment, if you care to take it, about that certain lost grave..... |
You know Neal, Baja Angel and I were discussing that very thing on our way home... !
The Lost Diaz Grave... much closer to home, north of San Felipe (maybe), near Cerro Borrego/ Arroyo Grande... Pole Line Road is just north! STAY
TUNED!!!
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Sharksbaja
Elite Nomad
Posts: 5814
Registered: 9-7-2004
Location: Newport, Mulege B.C.S.
Member Is Offline
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Good job David! Can't wait to hear all about it.
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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David K
Honored Nomad
Posts: 64857
Registered: 8-30-2002
Location: San Diego County
Member Is Offline
Mood: Have Baja Fever
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LINKS TO MORE PHOTOS HERE:
Good job Corky with your eyes scanning the desert of Baja looking for tiny lines in odd places!
My entire 1/09 trip report begins with Part 1, here: http://forums.bajanomad.com/viewthread.php?tid=36237
More photos at the ancient site begin on Part 3 of my 1/09 trip report... Here is the link to Part 3 showing the dam, palm, wall from the road, below:
http://forums.bajanomad.com/viewthread.php?tid=36243
Part 4 is on top of the mesa.
Part 5 is at Bahia las Animas and a wall on the desert floor.
Coming soon:
Part 6 is at Las Flores
Part 7 is at El Rosario
[Edited on 1-7-2009 by David K]
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Sharksbaja
Elite Nomad
Posts: 5814
Registered: 9-7-2004
Location: Newport, Mulege B.C.S.
Member Is Offline
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David the clues you provided told me where to look. I concentrated on searching the area with a 5 mile radius from the water. They said it was only a
few miles from the Bay so I looked at any "mountain" in that vicinity.
I hope you can deduce who built all that. Were their middens on the mesa? Did the wall have a substantial base like the Jesuits were know for?
Could you see where there was past evidence of near-surface water? Also there appears to be a thick growth of vegetation just downstream of the mesa.
Did you see that.
There were lines running up along the edge of the arroyo fan that could be walls. Were you able to get over there?
Yes, I've been real cuious too! Good stuff David. I hope this can clear up some
intriguing questions. Are you going back soon?
btw, I found some other misplaced walls in Baja. Curious?
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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