Río de los Temblores

The Spanish Explorers

By: David L. Farebrother

Narrated by: Virtual Voice

Spanish ships have been sailing the coast of Alta California for more than two hundred years. Majestic Manila galleons laden with riches from the Orient cruise past regularly, bound for the port of Acapulco. But no Spaniard has ever ventured inland to explore the inhospitable country lying beyond the rocky shoreline. The King of Spain, Carlos III, is concerned about the predations of English pirates and Russian encroachment from the north. He wishes to secure his possessions in America and has appointed Gaspar de Portolá to the governorship of both Alta and Baja California. Portolá has been given the task of finding an overland route from the bay of San Diego to the harbor of Monterey. He assembles men, mules and supplies in San Diego in preparation for the expedition. Scouts are sent in advance to blaze a trail into the uncharted wilderness. They experience unexpected terrors in the unknown territory when a violent earthquake shakes the very ground beneath them as they are riding northward.