California Coast Trails
Joseph Smeaton Chase
Read by Adrian Praetzellis
In 1911, decades before California's coast Highway 1 was built, an Englishman rode 2000 miles on horseback the length of California, from Mexico to Oregon. On the way he is courteously received at isolated ranches, has many quiet adventures, and is generally amazed by the beauty of our coast. A classic early California travelog. Chase was born in Islington (London) and but lived most of this life in the California desert.
Here are Chase's major landmarks, first going south and then turning north:
Chap. 1 El Monte to Laguna Beach. Chap. 2 Aliso Canyon to San Juan Capistrano. Chap. 3 San Juan hot springs (east of Mission Viejo) to Oceanside. Chap 4. Del Mar to San Diego. Chap. 5 San Fernando Valley to Malibu. Chap. 6 Boney Mountain (in the Santa Monica Mtns.) to Ventura. Chap. 7 Carpenteria to Santa Barbara. Chap 8. Refugio Pass (south of Solvang) to Lompoc. Chap. 9 Solvang to Las Cruces (south of Solvang). Chap. 10 Point Conception back to Lompoc. Chap. 11 Casmalia to Avila (on SLO Bay). Chap. 12 San Luis Obispo to Morro Bay. Chap. 13 to Jolon and Mission San Antonio de Padua (SE of Ft. Hunter Liggett). Chap. 14 to Pacific Valley (south of Limekiln State Park). Chap. 15 Limekiln, Lucia, to about Lopez Point. Chap. 16 Big Sur, Point Sur Lighthouse to Monterey. Chap. 17 Seaside through the Santa Cruz Mtns. to Pescadero (San Mateo Co.). Chap. 18 Half Moon Bay, San Francisco, to Drakes Bay. Chap. 19 Tomales Bay to Gualala. Chap. 20 Navarro to Westport. Chap. 21 King Range and the Mattole Valley to Eureka. Chap. 22 Arcata to the Klamath.
(Summary by Adrian Praetzellis) (10 hr 0 min)
Chapters
| Preface and Chap 1 | 37:17 | Read by Adrian Praetzellis |
| Chap 2 | 28:18 | Read by Adrian Praetzellis |
| Chap 3 | 24:09 | Read by Adrian Praetzellis |
| Chap 4 | 20:46 | Read by Adrian Praetzellis |
| Chap 5 | 24:42 | Read by Adrian Praetzellis |
| Chap 6 | 23:38 | Read by Adrian Praetzellis |
| Chap 7 | 17:40 | Read by Adrian Praetzellis |
| Chap 8 | 20:21 | Read by Adrian Praetzellis |
| Chap 9 | 28:58 | Read by Adrian Praetzellis |
| Chap 10 | 29:59 | Read by Adrian Praetzellis |
| Chap 11 | 34:19 | Read by Adrian Praetzellis |
| Chap 12 | 34:53 | Read by Adrian Praetzellis |
| Chap 13 | 29:36 | Read by Adrian Praetzellis |
| Chap 14 | 22:25 | Read by Adrian Praetzellis |
| Chap 15 | 23:18 | Read by Adrian Praetzellis |
| Chap 16 | 32:50 | Read by Adrian Praetzellis |
| Chap 17 | 25:51 | Read by Adrian Praetzellis |
| Chap 18 | 31:52 | Read by Adrian Praetzellis |
| Chap 19 | 24:18 | Read by Adrian Praetzellis |
| Chap 20 | 25:42 | Read by Adrian Praetzellis |
| Chap 21 | 29:03 | Read by Adrian Praetzellis |
| Chap 22 | 30:43 | Read by Adrian Praetzellis |
Reviews
wonderful description of old California and excellent reader
Snowed In Again
As a long time Californian, it was disheartening to hear the lyrical descriptions of places in 1911 that I know well only for their 12 lane freeways and strip malls. I guess this wonderful description of landscape and people is as close as one can get to knowing the magnificent country California used to be. Great reader.
Transporting!
Claire Marie-Peterson
Listening to this narrative of California roads and places mostly familiar to me, I was transported to an era before automobiles, vast tracts of suburbia, and "investment" further obscured the long history of this land. The only drawback to the book, to my mind, is the kindly but deeply racist thinking about every demographic the narrator encounters. Even that provides a teachable moment to discuss how racism can find a cozy corner at the hearth of even the most genuinely good, pious, educated, and well-traveled individual.
Lisa Chicola
Delightful! Having been on the Pacific Coast Hwy., the descriptive prose was more than real & enlightening regarding change in landscape since construction of the road. Well read.
tf
Unexpectedly good! Beautiful descriptions. Sad to think that this is a time bygone. Narration is the best