Charles, According to one of my ancestor's obit, one rode "burrows" across the Isthmus at that time. Or I suppose that you walked, doubt that the road would have been decent enough for a wagon to pass. I understand there was a lot of disease on this crossing also, due the sea voyage and the tropic weather. It is my understanding that this took less time than the passage around the "Horn" of South America. Also took less time than an overland passage, the way they came from Independence. Independence was a gathering point for folks to hook up with other folks, rather than setting out on their own. One would obtain passage on a sea vessel from SF to Panama, cross the Isthmus, then obtain passage on another vessel in the Gulf of Mexico. I would assume that New Orleans would have been a logical port in order to get into the Mississippi River to go to Missouri, or anywhere in between. Neither passage was inexpensive. I read one account of a family that came to the Oregon Territory with $10,000 in gold and silver coin hidden in a false bottom of their wagon. Imagine how much that weighed! Then there were very few goods to spend the money on. Hope this helps. Nancy in OR ----- Original Message ----- From: Motaatom@aol.com To: CA-GOLDRUSH-L@rootsweb.com Sent: Friday, March 24, 2000 7:00 PM Subject: [GOLDRUSH] Leaving California Recently, I learned that my greatgreatgrandfather and his brother had gone from Independence, MO on a wagon train to the California gold fields. After a few months there, they returned to Arkansas apparently after arriving in New Orleans from Panama. The letter written by one of them states "I was sea sick 6 weeks on a start from San Francisco to Panama...and from Shagres (sic) to Oleans (sic)." Could someone give me a quick lesson on the journey that one would have taken in the 1850s from San Francisco to New Orleans via the Isthmus of Panama? Thank you. Sincerely, Charles Riner