• Estación primero, Located in
Contra Costa County northwest of
Point of Timber on
Arroyo del Sur, was the uppermost of the gathering points of mustangs for the drove down the Vereda del Monte to Cantua Creek. just within the southern bounds of the
Rancho Cañada de los Vaqueros. From the east the outcrop overlooks a spring in an eastern tributary arroyo to the upper
Kellogg Creek that flows down from Brushy Peak. The original name Las Tinajas, (The Jars), refers to the waterholes to be found eroded into the sandstone on top of the outcrops. Fresh saddle horses were stationed here. Between droves the band gathered in horses from the plain beyond
Corral Hollow at
La Centinela for the next drove. The arroyo was named Mocho after the nickname of the custodian of this and the next station near the source of the arroyo. 1st overnight stop in what is now known as Blackbird Valley, south of
Mount Mocho. Horses captured on the plain to the east opposite
Lone Tree,
Hospital,
Kern and
Ingram Canyons were brought here for the drove as well as horses from the lower
Santa Clara Valley as far up the east bay side as the
Rancho San Antonio (Peralta) and
Rancho San Leandro. The Valle de Mocho was named after the man in charge of the station,
Avalino Martínez, known by his nickname as "Mocho," (meaning cut off or short) for his diminutive four feet, four inch, stature. The Arroyo Mocho, and the nearby peak, Mount Mocho is also named after him. was a brush corral that held captured horses taken near Arroyos
del Puerto,
Salado Grande and
Saladillo and brought up Salado Grande and from near
Latta Creek, over the mountains toward
Adobe Mountain to Adobe Valley. They were added into the drove in
San Antonio Valley along with others held in
Isabel Valley. From here the Vereda followed the
divide of the Diablo Range, taking the path now taken by
County Line Road as far as the
Fifield Ranch. • Estación sexto:
Valle Hondo (Deep Valley) a former rancheria below the Vereda on
North Fork Pacheco Creek, was an overnight camp with a brush corral. Valle Atravesado was the alternative overnight spot if Valle Hondo could not be reached. From either location the drove then added in horses taken from Arroyos
Orestimba,
Garzas and
Mesteño that had been held at either
Estación Paraiso or at
Mustang Flat. They were added into the drove where the Vereda passed north of
Mustang Peak. gathered in horses captured opposite Arroyos
Quinto,
Romero,
San Luis Gonzaga and
Alamos. This station was a major hangout for the gang, and it had a brush and pole corral for the holding of stolen horses nearby in
Bull Heads Canyon that were added into the drove at early daylight. on the
Rancho Santa Ana y Quien Sabe. It was a watering place and sometime gathering point for large numbers of horses from the valleys to the west. gathered in horses captured opposite Arroyos
Los Banos,
Ortigalita,
Panochita and
Panoche Grande. on the
Arroyo Panoche Grande at the eastern foot of the trail over
Panoche Pass to the west. Corral Redondo was (and still is) a natural, high banked, almost round loop in the arroyo channel that the vaqueros finished enclosing with drag lines, poles and brush. At this station horses were added in that had been taken from the
Upper San Benito,
Bitterwater and
Salinas Valleys. Also a change of horses was kept there at all times. on
Arroyo Grande (Arroyo de Cantua). The rancho of the Cantua brothers, used to gather and brand and organize the gang's droves of horses. Location of an adobe building, used as a warehouse for the gang. •
Joaquin Rocks Also known by the name "Tres Piedras" meaning "three rocks". It was a lookout, a meeting place and campsite for the gang and its leaders, and also sometimes the route of droves of horses being sent to Sonora. •
Joaquin Spring This spring below Joaquin Rocks to the west along Joaquin Ridge was originally known as Valenzuela Spring until about 1950. This original name probably commemorates
Joaquin Valenzuela, one of the Joaquins of the Five Joaquins Gang, leader in charge of the Gang's horse trade to Sonora, and one of the men said to have been killed in the battle of the Cantua at Murrieta Spring. The spring, located in a mountainside meadow, would also supply water and grazing for droves of horses. ==References==