Instead, they were disheartened and disappointed by a new and unforeseen obstacle to their further progress.

The narrow channel (later called the Golden Gate by Fremont), barred their way, and as their provisions were getting low, and they certainly were much further north than they ought to have been to find the Bay of Monterey, Portola gave the order for the return, and sadly, despondently, they went back to San Diego.
On the march south, Portola's mind was made up.

This whole enterprise was foolish and chimerical.

He had had enough of it.

He was going back home, and as the "San Antonio" with its promised supplies had not yet arrived, and the camp was almost entirely out of food, he announced the abandonment of the expedition and an immediate return to Lower California.
Now came Serra's faith to the fore, and that resolute determination and courage that so marked his life.