2008 California Missions Trip Updated Wednesday, April 16, 2008 The goal of this trip is to visit, likely over the period of two seasons, all 21 of the California Missions. The first stage will be to start at the northernmost one and head south. The time planned for this trip is Wednesday, May 7, through Tuesday, May 20, for a total of 2 weeks. In its current form the trip should take 10-12 days, so there is some wiggle-room for the schedule. This is a vacation, I have put-in days for interesting side trips and/or visiting people that I know in particular areas. Most of these missions were a “long day’s ride on a horse” apart, so are relatively close together (30-45 miles). It will be easy to visit two per day in most cases. The general format would be to visit one in the morning, one in the afternoon, and then head to the next destination’s stay for the night. This would put daily mileage at about 100-120 miles. Research is still ongoing. One mission (San Antonio) is in the middle of a military reservation. Another (San Miguel) is falling apart and you can’t get inside. The ones that are open have designated visiting hours, and that has to be worked into the schedule. A lot of the trip avoids highways and freeways if possible, so I will be following indirect and convoluted routes to get to my destinations. Two overall helpful web sites are: http://www.missiontour.org and http://www.missionscalifornia.com. I have started to look at costs for the trip. Figure $3.50->$4.00/gallon for fuel over 1000 miles or more, so about $80 for fuel. Most of the missions either charge a small entrance fee ($2 -> $5) or ask for donations. Accommodations will be all over the map, pricewise, but I’ve got 10-11 nights on the road, a combination of motels and possible camping. Around the Sonoma and San Francisco areas, motels start in the $85 range, usually more than that if you are avoiding high-crime areas. As you head south it gets slightly cheaper. Camping is anywhere from $50 in an RV park down to $15 for a state park. Day 1 (Wed – May 7): San Francisco Solano The first day is used to get to Sonoma, the location of the first mission in the trip (actually one of the last ones built). From Reno, this is a long morning ride of about 250 miles with at least one stop for fuel and lunch. Lodging in Sonoma is somewhat limited and pricey, so I plan visit the first mission this afternoon. San Francisco Solano is part of Sonoma Historic State Park in downtown Sonoma. After visiting the mission, it’s off to San Rafael, 30 miles down the road, for an overnight and the next mission. Resources: http://www.parks.ca.gov/pages/479/files/Sonoma.pdf Location: http://www.parks.ca.gov/lat_long_map/default.asp?lvl_id=116 Hours: 10:00am -> 5:00pm Stay: Villa Inn, 1600 Lincoln Ave, San Rafael, CA, 888-845-5246 http://www.villainn.com Day 2 (Thu – May 8): San Rafael Arcangel, USS Hornet (Alameda) Mission San Rafael is very close to the motel, a quick walk or ride. After leaving Mission San Rafael, the goal will be to get over to the East Bay Area and visit the USS Hornet. The motel is right along the route that I will take to get to the Hornet and is very close to a BART station. Hopefully I can drop off items a bit early on the way to the Hornet. Resources: http://www.saintraphael.com/welcome.html Location: http://maps.google.com/maps?q=1104+Fifth+Avenue,+San+Rafael,+CA Hours: 11:00am -> 4:00pm Resources: http://www.uss-hornet.org/ Location: http://maps.google.com/maps?q=707+W+Hornet+Ave,+Alameda,+CA Hours: 10:00am -> 4:00pm Stay: Golden Bear Inn, 1620 San Pablo Ave, Berkeley, CA, 800-525-6770 http://www.goldenbearinn.com Day 3 (Fri – May 9): San Francisco de Asis This mission is right downtown (there’s a reason part of SF is called “The Mission District”). Stay in Berkeley and ride BART to within a couple of blocks. Allowed an entire day to see the mission, kick around downtown SF, and possibly visit with Mary. Resources: http://www.virtuar.com/ysf2/dolores.htm Location: http://maps.google.com/maps?q=3321+16th+Street,San+Francisco,+CA Hours: 9:00am -> 4:00pm Day 4 (Sat – May 10 San Jose, Santa Clara de Asis After visiting Mission San Jose in Fremont, it’s only 15 miles to Santa Clara, which is located on the Santa Clara University campus. It’s about 30 miles to Santa Cruz from here, where it is possible to camp or motel it. Campgrounds are available in the redwoods, there are a couple of RV parks in Fenton and Scotts Valley. The route follows Highway 9, a very scenic trip. Resources: Location: http://maps.google.com/maps?q=43300+Mission+Boulevard,+Fremont,+CA Hours: 10:00am -> 5:00pm Resources: http://www.scu.edu/visitors/mission Location: http://www.scu.edu/map/, http://maps.google.com/maps?q=500+El+Camino+Real,+Santa+Clara,+CA Hours: 8:00am -> 6:00pm Stay: Best Western Inn, 126 Plymouth St, Santa Cruz, CA, 831-425-4717 Day 5 (Sun – May 11): Santa Cruz, San Juan Bautista The original mission is gone but a replica exists in the nearby State Park. There is one original building left (only open Thursday through Sunday). From Santa Cruz it’s 35 miles to San Juan Bautista, then a quick jaunt of 45 miles to Carmel. I will stay in Monterey where I located an ‘approved’ place for $51/night. Resources: http://www.parks.ca.gov/default.asp?page_id=548 http://www.holycrosssantacruz.com/mission.html Location: http://maps.google.com/maps?q=144+School+St,+Santa+Cruz,+CA Hours: Unclear. This is part of a complex of old mission buildings scattered in this area. Resources: http://www.oldmissionsjb.org/ http://www.parks.ca.gov/default.asp?page_id=563 Location: http://maps.google.com/maps?q=408+2nd,+San+Juan+Bautista,+CA Hours: 10:00am -> 4:30pm Stay: Stage Coach Lodge, 1111 Tenth St, Monterey, CA, 831-373-3632 Day 6 (Mon – May 12): San Carlos Borromeo de Carmelo I’m planning an entire day here. The mission is one of the best-restored of the bunch, and you’ve got Carmel (Clint Eastwood’s ‘hood), Monterey (Cannery Row, etc.), scenery, and the Laguna Seca race course. From here, it’s about 50 miles to the next mission. Since lodging is limited down the road, my plan is to stay an extra night here and head out the next morning. Resources: http://www.carmelmission.org/index.htm Location: http://maps.google.com/maps?q=3080+Rio+Road,Carmel,+CA Hours: 9:30am -> 4:30pm Day 7 (Tue – May 13): Nuestra Senora de la Soledad, San Antonio de Padua Not a whole lot of the original Soledad mission is left, just a restoration and a site. Mission San Antonio is about 50 miles away, and located in the middle of Fort Hunter Liggett military reservation. You need ID (driver’s license, vehicle registration, vehicle proof of insurance – confirmed by Army public relations office) to get past the gate. No place to stay out here, so I will have to continue to San Miguel. Resources: Nothing found! The loneliest mission in California? Location: http://maps.google.com/maps?q=36641+Fort+Romie+Road,+Soledad,CA Hours: 10:00am -> 4:00pm Resources: http://www.californiahistorian.com/Members/SanAntonioMission.htm http://www.clint.com/nacimiento/ http://www.liggett.army.mil/sites/local/ Location: http://maps.google.com/maps?q=36%C2%B000'31%22N+121%C2%B015'14%22W Hours: 10:00am -> 4:00pm Stay: Western States Inn, 1099 K St, San Miguel, CA, 805-467-3674 (conf#1212) Day 8 (Wed – May 14): San Miguel Arcangel, San Luis Obispo de Tolosa San Miguel is the one that’s falling apart, although a lot of restoration work has been done, according to its web site. It could be a short visit since you can’t go inside, but other parts of the mission are open for visiting. San Luis Obispo is 40 miles from here, and the final mission on the trip. Why stay here when Pismo Beach is nearby? Will try to hook up with a friend in nearby Arroyo Grande. Resources: http://www.missionsanmiguel.org/ Location: http://maps.google.com/maps?q=808+Mission+St.,San+Miguel,+CA Hours: 9:30am -> 4:30pm Resources: http://www.missionsanluisobispo.org/ Location: http://maps.google.com/maps?q=751+Palm+Street,San+Luis+Obispo,+CA Hours: 9:00am -> 4:00pm Stay: Sea Crest Resort, 2241 Price Street, Pismo Beach, CA, 805-773-4608 Day 9 (Thu - May 15): Go home – part 1 I figure 2 days to get home, assuming I’m not trying to set speed records. Follow Highway 1 as much as possible, then cut across over Mt. Hamilton and through the Sac River Delta. Highway 160 along the river is really nice and lands me in Old Town Sacramento (if the construction on the bridge is done). Tour the Hearst Castle on the first leg of the trip home. This takes a while, so it will not be possible to make it really far the first day. The current plan is to stay in Monterey again, maybe at the same place as before if it works out OK. Ideally I will be able to get further north, possibly Livermore, and not have an 8-hour ride on Friday! In this case it will probably not be feasible to ride Mt. Hamilton. Resources: http://www.parks.ca.gov/default.asp?page_id=591 Location: http://www.parks.ca.gov/pages/591/files/hearst.pdf Hours: 8:00am -> 5:00pm need ticket reservation for tour Stay: Monterey? Livermore? Day 10 (Thu – May 16): Go home – part 2 The final push back over the Sierras.