Alta California: From San Diego to San Francisco,

Alta California: From San Diego to San Francisco, a Journey on Foot to Rediscover the Golden State

Free Online Presentation with Q&A
Thursday, May 21st, 6:30PM

In 1769, Gaspar de Portolá led the first Spanish overland expedition across California. Starting from San Diego, they journeyed over 650-miles to San Francisco and were the first westerners to view San Francisco Bay. Portions of their route would later become the El Camino Real.

Nearly 250 years later, author and naturalist Nick Neely retraced Portola’s historic route on foot, backpacking across California over the course of 12-weeks and writing about his experiences. His book, to paraphrase author Miriam Powel, is part travelogue, part historical chronicle, part personal meditation, and blends research with wry observations as he deftly meanders from south to north, from the eighteenth century to the twenty-first, rediscovering California along the way.

Join author Nick Neely as he shares images and stories from his adventures along this historic route. Originally from the San Francisco Bay Area, Nick currently splits his time between Hailey, Idaho, where he lives with his wife, and Santa Barbara, where he is a lecturer in the Writing & Literature Program at UCSB, www.nickneely.com.

This talk is being live-streamed using Zoom. To join the Zoom meeting go to, https://zoom.us/j/91827667039.

This free online talk is part of the ongoing Wilderness Hiking Speaker Series hosted by the Santa Barbara Public Library. The talks are the third Thursday of the month and feature topics related to hiking, backpacking, and our local natural history.

Stay tuned for updates regarding upcoming talks in light of the closures related to Covid-19 virus.