410 Ray, A-Birding in an Auto. [oct* 



June 5. — To the First Crossing of the San Antonio River, 55 

 miles. Additional species, 1. 



A short distance out of San Luis Obispo a summit of some height 

 is reached and the country becomes heavily wooded, principally 

 with oaks, and supports an abundant bird life, the California 

 Thrasher being among the most numerous species. At San Miguel 

 we had intended to take a road to the east via Indian Valley, a 

 detour of thirty miles or more, in order to evade the sandy tracts 

 along the Salinas River, but we were inveigled by a resident of the 

 town to take a much shorter route to the west on which, he informed 

 us, but one small stream was to be crossed. Alas! we had unknow- 

 ingly placed our faith in that arch enemy of the motorist, the stable- 

 keeper. A really fine road led us away from the town and we 

 bowled along merrily for a dozen miles or so until, after a sudden 

 descent, we were dumped, almost before we knew it, in the broad 

 sand beds of the Nacimiento River. Being rather quick-sandy, 

 the machine, from its weight, sank to the hubs, and even with the 

 entire load off we were unable to extricate it. Luckily a camping 

 party with a pair of horses came to our aid, and after considerable 

 preliminary work we reached the opposite bank. We had pro- 

 ceeded but a few miles when we were both surprised and disgusted 

 to come to the banks of another bridgeless river, more formidable 

 to ford than the last. Every effort was made to shoot the empty 

 auto across with a flying start but it proved a failure and stuck 

 in the sandy river bottom. We awaited the campers, who were 

 following, and who again delivered us, after which a general camp 

 was made on the west bank for the night. Words failed, however, 

 to express our amazement when they informed us that the San 

 Antonio required to be crossed twice more, and the possibilities of 

 a serious breakdown in this almost uninhabited country made 

 these troublesome tidings hang like a cloud of gloom over the 

 evening camp-fire. 



June 6. — To Salinas, 93 miles. Additional species, 1. 



Together with the campers, we set forth at daybreak this morn- 

 ing, determined to put the river crossings on the right side of us 

 at the earliest possible moment. The appearance of the third 

 ford was by no means cheering; the water, several feet in depth, 

 did not deter us, but the sand was very soft and deep. Our friends 



