When Gene and Harrison get to the California coast, they're facing the ocean and Ford uses his right hand to point up the coast and tells Gene that San Francisco is that way. That would indicate that they are south of San Francisco and Gene must travel north. Then he points in the opposite direction ( south ) and says he's going that way to Sutters Mill to find gold. Sutters Mill is located in Coloma California. That's north west of San Francisco. Ford would be traveling toward Mexico. Not a very good guide....is he!