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Hiking and Cycling the California Missions Trail
From Sonoma to San Diego
ISBN
9781786311139
Availability
Published
Published
16 Jan 2023
Reprinted
15 Mar 2023
Edition
First
Pages
320
Size
17.20 x 11.60 x 1.80cm
Weight
350g
Delivery & Returns
Free Royal Mail 48 postage on UK orders. European postage is £3.50 per item. Worldwide postage is £5.50 per item. If you're not happy with your purchase for any reason, we'll give you a full refund.
More information...
Guidebook to walking and cycling the 800 mile (1289km) California Missions Trail between San Francisco Bay and San Diego. The pilgrimage trail takes in 21 historic Spanish missions and can be completed in 50-60 walking days or 2-3 weeks cycling. With 1:100,000 mapping, route description and details of accommodation and facilities for each stage.
Seasons
California's moderate coastal weather allows virtually a 12-month season, with no freezing temperatures or snow on the route. Watch for high summer heat in inland valleys and fog near the coast.Centres
Metropolitan San Francisco, Los Angeles and San Diego; the seaside towns of Santa Cruz, Monterey, Carmel, Santa Barbara, Carlsbad and Solana BeachDifficulty
This route is suitable for all levels of walkers, with no special gear necessary. Cyclists can cover 95% of the route on conventional or electric-assist street bikes, but mountain bikes are advised for a few specific mountain paths.Must See
The trail visits 21 California missions, historic landmarks along this epic adventure that crosses the Golden Gate Bridge, traverses coastal mountain ranges, hugs the Pacific coast through charming beach towns like Santa Cruz, Santa Barbara and Carlsbad, and crosses vast farmlands in the Salinas Valley, the 'Salad Bowl of America'.ISBN
9781786311139
Availability
Published
Published
16 Jan 2023
Reprinted
15 Mar 2023
Edition
First
Pages
320
Size
17.20 x 11.60 x 1.80cm
Weight
350g
Delivery & Returns
Free Royal Mail 48 postage on UK orders. European postage is £3.50 per item. Worldwide postage is £5.50 per item. If you're not happy with your purchase for any reason, we'll give you a full refund.
More information...
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Overview
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A guidebook to walking or cycling the California Missions Trail. The 802 mile (1291km) pilgrimage route from Sonoma to San Diego links 21 Christian missions founded by the Spanish over 200 years ago. It can be enjoyed by walkers of all abilities, or alternatively, 95% of the route is also suitable for road bikes.
The Missions Trail is described in 20 stages of between 16 and 60 miles (26–97km), with alternative options for cyclists. It can be walked in 50–60 days or cycled in 12–20 days.
- GPX files available to download
- 1:100,000 mapping plus larger-scale town maps for key locations
- Handy route summary tables and pilgrim lodging listings help you plan your itinerary
- Detailed information about refreshments and facilities along the route
- Advice on planning and preparation
- The history of the missions, as well as the story of the Native Americans who originally shaped the landscape
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Table of Contents
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CONTENTS
Overview map
Overview profile Mission Sonoma to Mission San Diego
Map key
Route summary table
Introduction
California’s natural history
The era of Native peoples
Spanish exploration on the West Coast of North America
Missionaries, soldiers, and settlers bring an ecological upheaval
The Spanish mission era
The Mexican era
The Early American period: gold rush, land rush—and genocide
A multicultural California emerges
A new walking and cycling route features California history
Planning your walk or ride
Northbound or southbound?
Where to begin and how to get there and back
When to go—a year-round itinerary
Walking or cycling the route
Where to stay
Where to eat
How much money should I budget?
How do I secure my credential?
Tips for making the most of your walk
Topography of the route
Training for your walk or ride
What to pack
Health and well-being
How to use this guide
Route summary information
Route descriptions
Maps
GPX tracks and accommodation downloads
Bay Area section: Sonoma to Santa Cruz
Prologue Sonoma, California
Stage 1 Mission Sonoma to Mission San Rafael
Stage 2 Mission San Rafael to Mission San Francisco
Stage 3 Mission San Francisco to Mission San José
Stage 4 Mission San José to Mission Santa Clara
Stage 5 Mission Santa Clara to Mission Santa Cruz
North Central Coast section: Santa Cruz to San Miguel
Stage 6 Mission Santa Cruz to Mission San Juan Bautista
Stage 7 Mission San Juan Bautista to Mission Carmel
Stage 8 Mission Carmel to Mission Soledad
Stage 9 Mission Soledad to Mission San Antonio
Stage 10 Mission San Antonio to Mission San Miguel
South Central Coast section: San Miguel to Ventura
Stage 11 Mission San Miguel to Mission San Luis Obispo
Stage 12 Mission San Luis Obispo to Mission La Purísima
Stage 13 Mission La Purísima to Mission Santa Inés
Stage 14 Mission Santa Inés to Mission Santa Barbara
Stage 15 Mission Santa Barbara to Mission San Buenaventura
South Coast section: Ventura to San Diego
Stage 16 Mission San Buenaventura to Mission San Fernando Rey
Stage 17 Mission San Fernando Rey to Mission San Gabriel
Stage 18 Mission San Gabriel to Mission San Juan Capistrano
Stage 19 Mission San Juan Capistrano to Mission San Luis Rey
Stage 20 Mission San Luis Rey to Mission San Diego
Appendix A Stage planning table
Appendix B Useful contacts
Appendix C Missions, historical locations, state and national parks
Appendix D Bibliography
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Updates
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We do not yet have any updates available for this book
We are always grateful to readers for information about any discrepancies between a guidebook and the facts on the ground. If you would like to send some information to us then please use our contact form. They will be published here following review by the author(s).
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Downloads
By The Reverend Sandy Brown
Sanford 'Sandy' Brown is a community activist, long-distance walker and ordained minister from Seattle, Washington. Inspired by The Pilgrimage by Paulo Coelho, he trekked the Camino de Santiago in 2008 and since then has walked or biked over 18,000km on pilgrim trails in Spain, France, Switzerland, Italy and the United States. He leads group pilgrimage treks through his travel company, www.pilgrimpaths.com.Sandy earned his undergraduate degree in medieval history at the University of Washington in Seattle, his MDiv at Garrett Theological Seminary, which honored him in 2006 as a Distinguished Alumnus, and in 1997 earned a doctorate from Princeton Theological Seminary in gender, sexuality and spirituality. In 2023 the European Association of Via Francigena Ways bestowed its Honor Award on Sandy for his contributions to the development of the route. He has two grown sons and lives with his wife, Theresa Elliott, in Lucca, Italy.
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