The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1900-09-06
"A LETTER FROM CALIFORNIA.
A Trip Through Orange and San
Diego Counties.

On Thursday, Aug. 9th, Mr.. and Mrs.
g. II. Bent, Mr.. and Mrs. G. D. Lille
and myself started OH camping trip by
team. We left home in the morning
and made our first stop in Santa Ana
where we completed our arrangements
and finished laying in our supplies.
We then drove out beyond Tustin and
ate our lunch, after which we began our
journey through the San Joquin ranch
where SO many thousand acres are given
over entirely to the raising Of hay and
grain. After riding until nearly dusk we
came to Capistrano, very old place
where WAS once a very large mission
now almost entirely in decay. The
town Of Capistrano is small and the in
habitants are nearly all Mexicans. Soon
after dark we reached San Juan by the
sea and here We pitched our tent for
the night. Next morning we broke
camp and rode for many miles close to
the sea enjoying the fresh air and sun
shine, for the day was perfect. The
country we were all day passing through
is devoted entirely to stock raising and
We saw many herds of fine fat cattle and
horses.
At noon we came upon a grove of
beautiful sycamore trees where We stop
ped for lunch. The gentlemen of the
party killed several doves and rabbits.
Our next stopping place was San Luis
Rey and here we camped for the night.
Another old mission is situated here but
unlike the one at Capistrano, is
still i'll good state of preservation.
Seventeen priests and several students
live at the old mission and services are
held here. Just outside of San Luis
Rey is the same ruins of the home of
Ramona, the heroine of the novel Sra.
mona" by Helen Hunt Jackson. This is
to be repaired understand and restor.
ed in measure to its former grandeur.
We lunched this day in Escondido
and prolonged our stay somewhat to
Hook about.
Starting from Escondido about three
O'Clock in the afternoon, we soon came
to the San Pasqual valley and from
there was very short distance to the
beginning of the Earl grade. There we
began to climb the mountain and for
two hours we steadily assembled. We
enjoyed the rugged scenery as we made
peak after peak and soon began to
wonder if we should ever reach the top.
After time large oak trees began to
appear, and they grew more numerous
as evidence Of water courses appeared.
We soon reached comparatively
level space and saw house near by.
We had hoped to make inquiries here,
but found the house deserted. So or
we went until we came out into quite
large valley with hay stacks and stub
BILE giving evidence of very good crop
We knew the place of our destination
lay close to Nit. Woodson, the largest
mountain near this point, but it wal
getting dark and we could not see thu
roads branching of towards the noun
tain. So after travelling about tn,
hills for two or three miles and seeing n.
light or other evidences of the abode o
human kind, we turned back to wher,
by the twilight we had seen spring 0
water and many beautiful trees.
In the morning Mr.. Bent, noticing
81 l. lsn h.
thither and made inquiries. We wer
only three miles from the Woodso
ranch and as soon as breakfast was oye
we again packed our belongings an
started out. After climbing more hills
we entered beautiful little valley
where orchards and vineyards of val
ious kinds, and fine liye oaks an
rock. covered hills. This is the Woodso
ranch. Here We saw the finest Isabel
grape vine in California. This vine
;. trellised and covers an area Of abol
;. sixteen by twenty.four feet. 1t is loat
= ed with fine large clusters Of fruit, an
= last year the product of this one viz
= was sold for over fifty dollars.
The mountain water we found to /
as soft as that from the clouds and til
:. climate was delightfully."- cool for tt
month of August. Altogether it was
delightful retreat, and here we stage
from Sunday morning till Tuesda
about ten o'clock when papa, MANN
:, and myself started to climb Mt. Woo
son which is estimated at about sc
. level. There were many huge rocl
= one upon the other. AS We made fro
rock to rock we began to wonder if y
:, should ever reach the top. By and b
e we reached the top where we could 8,
- several valleys. We could see the ocea
:, which was about eighteen miles away.
\ About two O'Clock we agai
:. broke camp and resumed our joul ney.
a We had not gone far when Mr.. Bel
- espied young cayote and brought
down with two loads of No. s she
The men folks stopped and skinned
intending to tan it but before we cou
= procure the necessary materials Il
!, smell became offensive and We threw
away