they located a place that would be plymouth colony in december. during the first expedition on foot, bradford was caught up in a deer trap made by native americans and brought upside down. during the third exploration, on 6 december 1620, bradford and the other men found plymouth bay. a winter storm nearly sank their boat as they came near the bay. the explorers were very cold and started to get sick. the waves were high but they landed on clark's island.