Before there were guidebooks, before there were travel aps, before there were GPS watches, there were real live people called guides. Experts at the terrain, and at making travelers comfortable. And at discretion.
For our money, when we have enough of it on hand, traveling with a expert guide is still one of the best ways to go. This space is open to anyone who has been on a guided trip, dreamed of going on one, or is a guide.
Pacific surfliner poster (Photo credit: Loco Steve)
Taking the Iron Horse on the Mission Trail.
Even Father Junipero probably didn't really WALK the whole way, but rode a horse or a mule. If you don't have a mule handy, and don't have the sole of Junipero--take the train! We won't tell.
If you do want to walk it, check out Ron Briery's maps of the entire route as he did it.
1.Mission San Diego de Alcalá (1769): 10818 San Diego Mission Rd., San Diego, 92108-2429, (619) 281-8449. Pacific Surfliner(San Diego)
2.Mission San Carlos Borremeo de Carmelo(1770); 3080 Rio Rd., Carmel, 93923, (831) 624-3600. Coast Starlight (Salinas)
3.Mission San Antonio de Padua(1771); Mission Creek Rd., Jolon, 93928, (831) 385-4478 (40 miles north of Paso Robles—Coast Starlight (Paso Robles)
Mission San Francisco Solano de Sonoma (Photo credit: Larry Myhre)
San Rafael to S.F. Solano de Sonoma
(Leg #20: Days #53 & 54)
These maps follow the route described in:
CALIFORNIA MISSION WALK: A Hiker's Guide to California's 21 Missions along El Camino Real.
by Ron Briery
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For the most part, this last leg was a nice pleasant stroll through rolling hills and small towns. The last day, however, was probably the scariest day of the whole trek. It was raining and we had to cross a long bridge on a narrow highway, later followed by narrow, curvy roads with no shoulders.
Mission San Francisco de Asis (Dolores), 320 Dolores St, San Francisco. Photographed from the median of Dolores St. between 16th and 17th Sts. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)
San Jose to Dolores and San Francisco de Asisi
(Leg #18: Days 49-51) These maps follow the route described in:
CALIFORNIA MISSION WALK: A Hiker's Guide to California's 21 Missions along El Camino Real. by Ron Briery
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The trek from Mission San Jose on to the ferry terminal follows main roads through some relatively seedy places. However, since we were on main roads in the middle of the day, we didn't see a problem. I had assumed that the ferry service was an all-day schedule. Wrong assumption!
Mission San Juan Bautista (Photo credit: HarshLight)
San Carlos Borromeo de Carmelo to San Juan Bautista
(Leg 14: Days 40-43) These maps follow the route described in:
CALIFORNIA MISSION WALK: A Hiker's Guide to California's 21 Missions along El Camino Real. By Ron Briery
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Leaving Monterey on Day #41 has us walking right along the coast again. Much of the Monterey Peninsula Recreation Trail is on what used to be Ft. Ord. The route from Marina leads back through more produce fields towards northern Salinas. After turning onto an old Stage Rd, the trail leads up and over the mountain into San Juan Bautista. The mission here is still an active church, it is situated right in the middle of a state park. It's kind of the best of both worlds.
