Believing that Vizcaino had made an error in his chart, they pushed on further north.

The result of this disappointment was of vast consequence to the later development of California, for, following the coast line inland, they were bound to strike the peninsula and ultimately reach the shores of what is now San Francisco Bay.

This was exactly what was done, and on November 2, 1769, one of Portola's men, ascending ahead of the others to the crest of a hill, caught sight of this hitherto unknown and hidden body of water.

How he would have shouted had he understood! How thankful and joyous it would have made Portola and Crespi and the others.

For now was the discovery of that very harbor that Padre Serra had so fervently hoped and prayed for, the harbor that was to secure for California a Mission "for our father Saint Francis." Yet not one of them either knew or seemed to comprehend the importance of that which their eyes had seen.