Today, we rode to the Monarch Butterfly Sanctuary deep in the mountains of Mexico. Uneventful ride except towards the end when we had to do some steep climbing to get to the parking area.
After hiring Brian (a 12 year old local boy) and his siblings to take care of our bikes and things, we walked to the entrance of the Sanctuary where the horses are to take us up the mountain where the butterflies are. Nice steep ride ... then, all of a sudden, butterflies here and there ... then, we walked a bit more into the forest and, wow, millions of them ... everywhere ... in the tree trunks (keeping warm), in bunches hanging from every tree around, drinking water from small streams, and flying all around. As soon as the sun starting warming things up more and more began to wake up. What a sight. Almost a religious experience : )
After getting down the mountain, we had lunch at the bottom, by our bikes, at a small hole-in-the-wall restaurant for a very real Mexican lunch ... and got ready for the long ride to San Miguel de Allende.
After what seemed like a never ending ride, we arrived to San Miguel just in time as the sun was setting. Great small hotel ... went to have some tapas on the rooftop of a restaurant that looked over the town ... right next to the famous cathedral.
Tomorrow, we decided to take the Japan, Xilitla, and Ciudad Valles route to experience hours of non-stop twisties as we go from 9,000ft to zero!
After hiring Brian (a 12 year old local boy) and his siblings to take care of our bikes and things, we walked to the entrance of the Sanctuary where the horses are to take us up the mountain where the butterflies are. Nice steep ride ... then, all of a sudden, butterflies here and there ... then, we walked a bit more into the forest and, wow, millions of them ... everywhere ... in the tree trunks (keeping warm), in bunches hanging from every tree around, drinking water from small streams, and flying all around. As soon as the sun starting warming things up more and more began to wake up. What a sight. Almost a religious experience : )
After getting down the mountain, we had lunch at the bottom, by our bikes, at a small hole-in-the-wall restaurant for a very real Mexican lunch ... and got ready for the long ride to San Miguel de Allende.
After what seemed like a never ending ride, we arrived to San Miguel just in time as the sun was setting. Great small hotel ... went to have some tapas on the rooftop of a restaurant that looked over the town ... right next to the famous cathedral.
Tomorrow, we decided to take the Japan, Xilitla, and Ciudad Valles route to experience hours of non-stop twisties as we go from 9,000ft to zero!
Lunch at our hotel in Morelia
At the entrance of the Monarch Butterfly Sanctuary
On our way to see the Monarch butterflies
Almost the same height - getting ready to walk into the woods
Butterflies everywhere - that tree trunk is all butterflies
A Monarch on my back
Richard in complete awe
Our most Mexican lunch to date at the Sanctuary
Our first flat of the trip right outside the Monarch Sanctuary
Made it to San Miguel de Allende
A view of our bikes from our hotel in San Miguel
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