After four weeks in Florida, this past Monday we flew back to California. After four weeks in California, this past Monday the Eason's (Beth's sister and her husband, a lifelong friend of mine) flew back to Florida. The execution of trading places couldn't have worked any better. They had use of the Silver Bullet in California for a month and stayed where we had stayed in Sonoma for two weeks before moving to Pacific Grove, which is where we'll be staying the next two weeks. We left their car at the Tampa Airport, and they left the Bullet at the San Jose Airport. If you're confused, just know that everything worked as planned. It would have been a little better if we could have said hello somewhere that day, but our paths only came close to crossing somewhere in the friendly skies between Florida and California. I guess our leaving California truly was the key to bringing the storms that had pounded the West Coast to an end. I think that with the exception of a day or two they had sunshine and cool but pleasant temperatures.
We enjoyed visiting Pacific Grove, which is on the Monterey Peninsula last May and were excited to have the opportunity to return. We're staying at the same house that we rented last year. The house is conveniently located just a short 10–15-minute walk from the rocky shoreline of the Pacific Ocean. There's so much to see and do nearby like the Monterey Bay Aquarium, Pebble Beach, walks along the shoreline while spotting seals, sea lions, sea otters and even an occasional Gray Whale. There are also great, easy drives to places like Point Lobos State Park, Big Sur and Carmel by the Sea and so much more. I've blogged about these places previously, so I won't go into much detail here. The link below will take you back to the first blog from last year's visit if you're looking for more details.
Pacific Grove Blog from May 19, 2022
In addition to revisiting some of our favorites from last year, there is one thing that we're enjoying this visit that wasn't here last year. The entrance sign to Pacific Grove proclaims it Butterfly Town USA. Every fall thousands of Monarch butterflies living west of the Rocky Mountains migrate southward to the Pacific Grove area for the winter. The numbers vary by year, but this year it is estimated that there are over 200,000 butterflies in Pacific Grove. We're fortunate to be staying just a short walk from a protected area that is a sanctuary for this colorful insect. They congregate in mass on the trees and flutter about the sanctuary and nearby area feasting on milkweed. They're quite a sight to see and we've enjoyed visiting the sanctuary several times already. Their migration story is an impressive one as well.
Monarch butterflies typically have a short (2-6 weeks) lifespan. There are several generations throughout the late spring and summer seasons. As fall approaches the "migratory generation" begins their journey southward. Somehow (don't ask me to explain it), the migratory generation that arrives at Pacific Grove lives 8-9 months and does not reproduce upon arrival. They reproduce in the spring, passing along the genetic code to the "first generation" that begins the migration process northward. It takes several generations of Monarchs born along the way before a generation reaches their summer destinations in the Rocky Mountain region. Learning all this has given us an even greater appreciation and enjoyment of seeing them in mass.
As our first week at Pacific Grove comes to an end, we're appreciative for the opportunity to spend time in such a wonderful place. We're also excited that we're going to be joined for a few days by Sarah, Joey, James and Emma. The action around the house is about to pick up!
