And, in an ironic twist of fate, he also took his last step here as well.
Before sailing up the coast of California, Cabrillo had an illustrious (some would say infamous) career, teaming up first with Cortes, and later getting rich off the enslavement of native peoples in Guatemala to mine gold, which made him fabulously wealthy.
In 1542, Cabrillo took three ships and set off to chart the yet unmapped coast of California. History is split on whether he did this out of a sense of loyalty to Spain, or because his European wife had discovered that he'd taken a common-law native wife, and sired several children with her. Whatever the motive, he discovered the Channel Islands on the outbound journey north, and Santa Barbara proper on his way back south.
It was here, on Christmas Eve, 1542, that Cabrillo injured his leg in a battle with native warriors. Gangrene set in shortly thereafter, and he was buried by his men nearby. Perhaps near the same spot where you now stand.
Today, the name Cabrillo serves to confuse tourists, who often can't differentiate between Cabrillo, Castillo and Carrillo. Fitting, since Cabrillo himself was a tourist when he arrived.
Adding further confusion to the name, Juan Rodríguez Cabrillo, being Portuguese, was actually João Rodrigues Cabrilho (pronounced Ka-brill-o). But being that he was working for Spain, it is the Spanish version (and pronunciation) of his name that we remember. Lava Lizard.
This is the twenty-third in a series of geocaches placed along historic streets in Santa Barbara. You are searching for a micro, disguised to blend in to the environment. Please bring your own pen or pencil to sign the log.
Special thanks to Lava Lizard for the additional information about Cabrillo's name!