Spanish ships have been sailing along 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 rugged terrain lying beyond the rocky shoreline. The King of Spain, Carlos III, is concerned about the predations of English pirates and the encroachment of Russian fur traders from the north. He wishes to secure his possessions in America and has commissioned Gaspar de Portolá, governor of both Alta and Baja California, to establish an overland route from San Diego to Monterey. Governor Portolá assembles men, horses, mules and supplies on a desolate beach by San Diego harbor. Fray Junípero Serra has designated two Franciscan friars to accompany the expedition with the intention of establishing a chain of missions in the unknown lands. Portolá and his leather-jacket soldiers begin their march into the uncharted territory on July 14, 1769. The Spanish explorers have no way of knowing what challenges await in the wilderness of Alta California, but they are determined to carry out their orders despite the difficulties of the long trail north to Monterey