Adventure 49/101, Mission 02 - Mission Santa Cruz

Capture California, the Game-2012

Adventure: 49 and 101 - 02 : Mission Santa Cruz, 12th mission

Team: Thing One, Thing Two

Date:  August 6, 2012

Location: Santa Cruz

Description:

The picture above is a 1/3 to ½ replica of the original Mission Santa Cruz, close to the original site of the 1795 mission. While the original mission had 8 or 9 bells, the replica uses a modern bell—none of the original has survived. But if you look to the left of the replica, there is a building housing the Mission Santa Cruz Museum. This building originates from 1822 and was used to house new recruits to the faith.

One thing of interest—the first California autopsy was performed by one of the mission fathers in 1812 to determine if the subject had been poisoned.

From California State Parks site:

Although the soil was excellent and the location ideal, this mission never reached its potential. The dedication of Mission la Exaltacion de la Santa Cruz was made in 1791 by Father Lasuen at a site that was unfortunately located next to Branciforte pueblo, a community of ex-convicts and thieves. Shaken by earthquakes and frustrated by the influence and behavior of the colonists, the padres abandoned the mission. The chapel was eventually rebuilt to service the town that had grown up around the mission plaza, and today a half-scale replica of the 1794 Santa Cruz Mission Church sits about seventy-five yards from the original site.
 126 High St., Santa Cruz, 95060, (831) 426-5686

Adventure 051, Site 009 – Mission Santa Cruz

Capture California, the Game-2012

Adventure: 051, Site 009 – Mission Santa Cruz

California Landmark Number: 342

Team: Thing One, Thing Two

Date:  August 6, 2012

Location:

Latitude: 36°58′41.2206″N

Longitude: 122°1′45.8394″W

Address: 126 High St, Santa Cruz, California 95060

Description:

Date Built: September 25, 1791

See adventure Adventure 49/101, Mission 02 - Mission Santa Cruz for further details.



NO. 342 SITE OF MISSION SANTA CRUZ - Mision la Exaltación de la Santa Cruz, the 12th Franciscan Mission, was consecrated by Father Fermín Lasuén in August 1791. In 1793 the adobe church was built where the Holy Cross Catholic Church is now located. The mission was damaged by several earthquakes and finally collapsed in 1857. Plaza Park is located at the center of the mission complex which contained 32 buildings at the time of its secularization in 1834, the last building remains on School Street.
Location: Plaza Park, NE corner of Emmet and Mission Sts, Santa Cruz



References:

• Wikipedia
  

Overall Landmark References:

• David Schmitt's California State Historical Landmark (Schmitt)
  
• Wikipedia: California's National Landmarks (WCNL)
  
• State of California's California Historical Landmarks (CHL)
  
• Wikipedia: California State Landmarks (WCSL)
  
• State of California Historical Resources (CHR)
  
• National Registry of Historical Places (NRHP)
  

Adventure 008, Hike 050 - New Year Creek

Capture California, the Game-2012

Adventure: 008, Hike 050 – New Year Creek

Team: Thing One, Thing Two

Date:  August 6, 2012

Location: Ano Nuevo Point State Park

Hike Info:

Trail: New Year Creek

Distance: 1.0 miles

Duration: 0:40

Elevation Rise: 120'

Description:
As team Thing One, Thing Two was going down the coast from Half Moon Bay with our parents, we came across Ano Nuevo Point State Park. Not having really explored this park, we thought, why not take a peek and see what we can find. What we saw was a Visitor Center and that it featured one of our favorite mammalians, elephant seals. It is not time for elephant seals, but we got to learn a little bit more about them at the Visitor Center.



While our parents were looking at the exhibits, we decided to go on a short hike—which actually took a little longer than expected. The Ano Nuevo Point trail requires a permit and the park was not issuing anymore that day, so we went on a different trail—the New Year Creek Trail. You may be asking why is it called the New Year Creek Trail—one hint, Ano Nuevo is Spanish for New Year. On January 3, 1603 Don Sebastian Vizcaino first sighted this point. His expedition was to explore, identify and map the coast of California.



This trail is really a loop trail, which we went on two legs of the trail and then returned back up the final leg to the Visitor Center. The trail goes from the Visitor Center down towards the ocean. It is surrounded by a covering of brush, grasses and poison oak. But the trail is cut well. You descend down a staircase to New Years Creek. Once you get to the creek bed—which is dry—you can see the concrete from an old bridge which used to be part of Highway One. The trail descends sharply to a lagoon on the beach. Being without a map, we did not know to take the beach over to the Cove Trail and come back up to the Pond Trail. We ascend back up and go over to the Pond, then return back to the Visitor Center.






By this time, the Visitor Center was closed and our parents were waiting for us. This is a nice little trail and we hope to get back to Ano Nuevo soon to explore other trails.

Adventure 008, Hike 16 Berry Creek Falls

Capture California, the Game-2012

Adventure: 008, Hike 16 – Berry Creek Falls

Team: Thing One, Thing Two

Date:  June 20, 2012

Location: Big Basin SP

Hike Info:

Trail: Berry Creek Falls

Distance: 10 Miles

Duration: Didn't record

Elevation Rise: Unknown

Description:

The Cat in the Hat, her brother, and her friend all decided to camp at Big Basin SP as a research project for a camping basics class. While they were there they decided to go on a small little hike to Berry Creek Falls. It was a gorgeous day and a lovely hike. Along the way we saw a banana slug digesting fungi (adventure 009) and beautiful scenery. We did a simple out and back hike along the skyline to the sea trail, with the highlight being Berry Creek Falls.