The Butterfly preserve
Trip Start
Nov 05, 2006
1
21
182
Trip End
Jan 14, 2008
Ocampo, Morelia,
Mexico
Wednesday, January 3, 2007
We made our way down from SMD, back through the countryside and up a winding mountain cobblestone road and were greeted by the "toll gate" to the small town outside the preserve. A toll gate in Mexico is sometimes a couple guys with a rope and a handpainted sign (think rusted metal painted with liquid paper) indicating the various tolls. I would have sworn this was a scam if not in all the travel books. Climbing further up the cobblestone road we pulled into the parking lot with the local kids chasing the bus to take a ride on the back bumper. The kid who jumped on the bumper must have been really FAT as the steel bracket attaching the bumber snapped, and the bumper is now strapped to the roof of the bus. I was a little irritated, but Laura wisely said "if this is the worst thing that happens to the car, we're lucky". That statement, fear of law enforcement (and the fact that he disappeared) probably saved that kid from a sound beating.
The preserve is basically a national park. We paid our fees and hiked through the vendor gauntlet, up a trail about a mile long to arrive at the most butterflies I've ever seen in one place. Mornings and evenings, the pine trees are blanketed with Monarch butterflies. In the mid day, they drop to the forrest floor to stay cool. Being late afternoon, we had a little of both.
We came accross a random campground which may have been the best yet. Complete with climbing walls, mountain bikes and a full array of roaming livestock, this place really had everything. .
Farm Camp
Comments
The missing week
Lets see....I see a post on 12/30 and the next post is on 1/5....with no mention of what occured in between. Must have been a great new years party.....
Butterfly Preserve
Hi Guys --
I've been enjoying reading about your adventures. Matthew's been doing big Monarch projects every year for the last 5 years in school, so he'll be happy to know that the butterflies really do make it down to Mexico. Can't wait to see pictures. Safe travels!