Had a nice cushy 16-mile day with great walking weather. The route out of San Juan Bautista led into the famous Juan Bautista de Anza Trail (see pic). Really steep up and down and it made me think how difficult his 250 to 300 some travelers had it back in 1775/6. To add to the spirit of the Spanish times I ate at a Taqueria while I did laundry and ordered a huarache pastor--now I realize that's all not pure Spanish, but Indian influence. Then again, de Anza couldn't have made it without his Indian guide from Mission San Gabriel. It took a team. Here is a pic of my huarache and two buddies--a goal of this adventure is to meet the locals along the way and touch each other's lives, both learning from each other then moving on! Even a wave to a farm hand or a tractor driver counts. BTW at the start of de Anza Trail I met a local reporter who had interviewed the horsemen who are doing about half the route; their daytime job precludes them from finishing the trek in one swoop. And, I spotted their road apples--pic included to snow the steepness of the trail!
San Juan Bautista to Salinas
DAY 13 — Friday, Oct 5, 2012