January 21 Missions and Butterflies

 Monday, January 21

We have decided to begin moving up the coast today, and stop to take a few coastal shots.


























 First stop, Santa Barbara Mission in Santa Barbara.  

There were 21 Missions founded by the Spanish Franciscan friars along the coast.  This is one of only a few still active as a church.   We began with a nice video that explained some history.  The area was claimed for Spain way back in 1542, but the Chumachu Indians had been here long before that, having migrated here from Asia.  

Initially, there was a blending of cultures but with the Mexican revolution in 1821, more demands were made on the Indians for labor and goods and they revolted.  Thereafter, there was more of an effort to absorb the Indians and reduce their native culture.

The present mission building is from the 1840’s because the original was destroyed in an earthquake in 1812.  The style is Roman, similar to the churches found in the Mexican countryside.  There is stone, heavy beams and adobe throughout and the floors are stone which has been polished by many feet.  As I stand in the courtyard, I can’t help but wonder about those who have stood here before me….Indians, friars, soldiers, and thousands of tourists.  The church itself is unusually colorful, with a beautiful sanctuary, though poorly lit.  Lots of flowers and cacti in the courtyard and gardens.

From here we went to a small town called Buellton, thinking we could use their library and wi-fi. But it was closed, possibly for Martin Luther King Day?  We still found enough wi-fi to arrange for a stay at Wag-A-More,  which we found on line at a site called hipcamp.   This is property near Morro Bay.  Totally undeveloped, the owner, Lori, offers campsites on her property, part way up a mountain.   She responded quickly, so we will head there tonight.  First, to Pismo Beach.
We pass many vineyards on the way.

Pismo Beach Butterfly Grove is the largest collection of wintering Monarch Butterflies in the west. (East of the Rockies, the Monarchs head to Mexico for Winter.)    The butterflies here come for the winter and live about 6-8 months – long enough to mate and lay their eggs in the Spring/Summer.  They stay here because it is a protected area of eucalyptus trees where they form shingle-like layers of groups for warmth and protection from cold and wind

 

We arrived just in time for a docent talk by Jean, who explained the life cycle of monarchs. We have seen this in our back yard in Texas, so were familiar with the eggs-to-caterpillar, chrysallis–to-butterfly cycle. 

They are beautiful!

  Unfortunately, the number of monarchs has dropped dramatically over the past several years.  Reduction in habitat and reduction in the amount of flowers – particularly milkweed on which the eggs are laid and the caterpillars feast – is a large part of the reason.   This year there are about 2600 butterflies here versus 26,000 last year and even more before then! Adult butterflies live on nectar and water, and are great pollinators. Their decline (along with honey bees) is cause for concern.  There are several groups who are working to plant more milkweed and nectar bearing flowers and the hope is that their numbers will rebound. (They sell milkweed in the nurseries at home.)

This is a very nice park with a variety of folks enjoying the beautiful day. The temp is around 60, which makes the butterflies somewhat active. 

  After photos, we walked some nearby trails to the coast and had a late lunch  in the Trek. 

We haven’t had a lot of luck with wi-fi and signal is on and off, so we decide to find Wag-A-More, our home for the night, while there is still daylight.  Between our phone GPS and Lori’s directions, we find it without a problem – over a one lane bridge, up and down some pretty steep hills, left at a fork, right at the closed gate to Rock Bottom Ranch, and onto a dirt road.  After passing Lori’s small yellow house, the road is very steep and rutted, but Greg manages to get us to the first camping site.  There are others farther up the mountain, but after looking at the road going up there, we opt for the first site, which has been nicely leveled. A lidded trash can is the only “amenity” haha.  

With the time zone changes, sunset comes early, so that by  5:30 or 6:00 it is dark.  We rustle up some dinner and walk a bit, then review and edit photos and read.  

Since we made the change to the hot water setting (modified by the first owner to electric from propane), the battery has been lasting much longer and things running more smoothly – yeah! (Too bad it took so long to discover and fix this – thanks to a service guy up in Montana!)