Antonio Bucareli, Viceroy of New Spain, has received an interesting proposal from the comandante of a distant outpost at the northernmost reaches of the province of Sonora. Capt. Juan Bautista de Anza believes that a land route can be found connecting Sonora to the missions of Alta California. Viceroy Bucareli has already met with Junípero Serra, president of the mission chain, and is familiar with the supply problems facing the struggling friars. Shipping from the Mexican mainland to the ports of San Diego and Monterey has proven to be dangerous and unreliable. Bucareli is also very aware of the need to firmly establish a Spanish presence as far north along the Pacific coast as possible to deter Russian encroachment and British territorial ambitions. The viceroy authorizes the expedition and Capt. Anza departs from the presidio of Tubac on January 8, 1774, hoping to make his way across the uncharted desert and distant sierras to Mission San Gabriel Arcángel.