San Luis Rey Mission

April 27th

Our next adventure was going to require us to trade in our time on land to time at sea! Before sailing away we had to gather some much needed items from our home in Oceanside. We had a few days at home to prepare before the next renters took over.

Luckily we also had some house guests that week! Grandma and Grandpa!! So we did some local exploring.

Time to check out the San Luis Rey Mission. Here is what we learned. The mission was founded back in 1798. It currently owns over 56 acres of property (down from it’s initial 950,400 acres).

In the main garden is the oldest pepper tree in California. Seeds were brought to the mission in 1830 by a sailor from Paris and the tree still stands today! (Pepper tree is hiding behind the right column pillar above).

The chapel was built back in 1815! Walking in there was a tangible reverence and so many little details to look at. Even the kids could feel it. Fletcher grabbed grandpa’s hand and started to tip toe passed the pews as Riley walked to the front to view the candles and frescoes.

Through the side exit we entered the cemetery.

The gardens were well kept and there were some of the oldest headstones I think I’ve seen. The part that got me the most was the angels section. A whole area for children. People had left toys and stuffed animals on the gravestones for these precious angels who left earth much too soon. A fun fact, Walt Disney filmed many television episodes of “Zorro” here! Weirdly enough, that was one of my favorite shows as a kid! (Yup…apparently I’m old?)

Lower on the property is the Lavanderia, or open air laundry. This was pretty advanced for it’s time. They channeled water from the San Luis Rey river into aqueducts that ran down both sides of this impressive staircase and out of the mouths of two gargoyles into a holding area. This was used for bathing, washing clothes and even for irrigation for nearby gardens and fields.

Soldiers barracks were used by both civil, religious and military groups. Fun fact, In January of 1847 the Mormon Battalion passed through here on it’s way to orders to San Diego. Below is a plaque showing where they may have stayed.

After arriving in San Diego they were sent back to San Luis Ray in Feb and many stayed for weeks where they received training of use of firearms, etc. In March some of the men were ordered to LA while the rest were sent back to San Diego until they were discharged in July.

It was a quick but fun visit. We learned you can sign up to stay at a retreat of silence here. Full days with NO talking, NO sound of any kind. I can’t tell if that would relax me or STRESS me out!!