Day 12 (June 22)-San Buenaventura to San Fernando to San Gabriel
For the first time, I wear three "layers" trying to fend off the coastal chill while leaving Ventura. Today is the first of two days we will tackle the monster called Los Angeles. By the time I got to Moorpark, my jacket was gone. The long sleeve undershirt was shed in Simi Valley. By the time I reached the San Fernando Valley, it was hitting 90 degrees. Welcome to Southern California!
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We were thrilled that my mother Ruth and my nephew Jordan could come to meet us at Mission San Fernando. Jordan, now in the fourth grade (when all California kids study California history), had just been to this mission several weeks before on a school field trip, so he gave Aunt Carolyn the tour. As I pulled up to the mission, my mom, Jordan and Carolyn passed me as they were returning from getting Subway sandwiches so I could refuel.
San Fernando was one of the larger missions. It boasted the largest original mission building, a two-story mission structure. The 17th mission in the California chain, the church building is exactly the same plan as it was in 1804. The only mission named for a king of Spain, the missions grounds are also the resting place for a king of comedy. Bob Hope is buried on the mission grounds, and ironically, a statue of "Our Lady of Hope" overlooks his grave.
Leaving San Fernando, I biked my way through some of the busiest parts of Los Angeles. Fortunately, the roads I did ride on were wide and the drivers were uncharacteristically courteous. Part of my route was on the Los Angeles River Bikeway. There are actually parts of it that really look like a river--with islands and trees and waterfowl, even though its smack in the middle of one of the nation's largest metropolitan areas. This was one of the few times where my mapping was right on, and I arrived at Mission San Gabriel (near Pasadena) in just over two hours.
This mission has a very unique architectural stayle, with tall square columns capped with pyramids. Instead of the bell tower (campanario) being near the front door of the church, it is part of a wall on the left end of the church. The six bells are arranged asymetrically, highlighted against the very straight lines of the rest of the building.
Founded in 1771 as the fourth mission, San Gabriel was strategic in a number of ways. It was the half way stop between Father Serra's southern-most mission in San Diego, and the northern-most point at that time, Mission San Carlos Borromeo de Carmel. It was the first stop for De Anza's overland route from Tucson, Arizona. San Gabriel very quickly became a center for trading on routes from Santa Fe, New Mexico, for Spanish traders. Goods made in New Mexico were traded for the plentiful horses and mules raised by the San Gabriel Mission and its ranchos. The journeys from both Sonora (Arizona) and Santa Fe were very difficult and arduous, and Mission San Gabriel became the welcoming point for traders and settlers, often providing them temporary shelter and supplies.
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In hindsight, perhaps the most important contribution of Mission San Gabriel was when 44 settlers, accompanied by soldiers, crossed the Rio Portiuncula and establish the Town of Our Lady Mary, Queen of the Angeles--now known as Los Angeles--10 miles to the east. (Contrary to popular lore and film titles, L.A. is not "The City of Angels," but the city of Mary, Queen of the Angels.) The Mission remained the spiritual center of the community until the mid-1800s, but commerce moved to Los Angeles... and you know the rest of the story. The Los Angeles area is second in population only to New York City and surroundings.
We're not tired of the ocean yet, so we decided to stay in Santa Monica. At La Cachette, I had an "interesting" seafood assortment--mussels, clams, scallops, shrimp and little tiny fried octopus-like things. A culinary adventure (and not one that I'd likely repeat any time soon!).
San Buenaventura to San Fernando: 58 miles
San Fernando to San Gabriel: 29 miles
Total missions visited: 18
Total miles biked today: 87 miles
Total miles cycled this trip: 706 miles
San Fernando was one of the larger missions. It boasted the largest original mission building, a two-story mission structure. The 17th mission in the California chain, the church building is exactly the same plan as it was in 1804. The only mission named for a king of Spain, the missions grounds are also the resting place for a king of comedy. Bob Hope is buried on the mission grounds, and ironically, a statue of "Our Lady of Hope" overlooks his grave.
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| Resting place of Bob Hope, who died at age 100, in the memorial garden at Mission San Fernando. |
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| Part of the original wall at San Fernando. The Mission was in the process of reconstruction from 1896 to 1941. |
Leaving San Fernando, I biked my way through some of the busiest parts of Los Angeles. Fortunately, the roads I did ride on were wide and the drivers were uncharacteristically courteous. Part of my route was on the Los Angeles River Bikeway. There are actually parts of it that really look like a river--with islands and trees and waterfowl, even though its smack in the middle of one of the nation's largest metropolitan areas. This was one of the few times where my mapping was right on, and I arrived at Mission San Gabriel (near Pasadena) in just over two hours.
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| In front of the campanario at Mission San Gabriel |
This mission has a very unique architectural stayle, with tall square columns capped with pyramids. Instead of the bell tower (campanario) being near the front door of the church, it is part of a wall on the left end of the church. The six bells are arranged asymetrically, highlighted against the very straight lines of the rest of the building.
Founded in 1771 as the fourth mission, San Gabriel was strategic in a number of ways. It was the half way stop between Father Serra's southern-most mission in San Diego, and the northern-most point at that time, Mission San Carlos Borromeo de Carmel. It was the first stop for De Anza's overland route from Tucson, Arizona. San Gabriel very quickly became a center for trading on routes from Santa Fe, New Mexico, for Spanish traders. Goods made in New Mexico were traded for the plentiful horses and mules raised by the San Gabriel Mission and its ranchos. The journeys from both Sonora (Arizona) and Santa Fe were very difficult and arduous, and Mission San Gabriel became the welcoming point for traders and settlers, often providing them temporary shelter and supplies.
We're not tired of the ocean yet, so we decided to stay in Santa Monica. At La Cachette, I had an "interesting" seafood assortment--mussels, clams, scallops, shrimp and little tiny fried octopus-like things. A culinary adventure (and not one that I'd likely repeat any time soon!).
San Buenaventura to San Fernando: 58 miles
San Fernando to San Gabriel: 29 miles
Total missions visited: 18
Total miles biked today: 87 miles
Total miles cycled this trip: 706 miles
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