Paying for the privilege

It took a visit to the City of Monterey website and a return to one of the parking lots, but we finally figured out how the RV parking here works.  There are only two lots we can use, but all the on-street parking is also available to us.  All we have to do is find two empty space together and pay for both spots.  The easiest places to park, however, remain the ocean pull-offs in Pacific Grove, so we started our day by watching the waves for awhile.

Pacific Grove is famous for it's Monarch Butterflies.  Thousands of them winter here, mostly in the eucalyptus trees at the Monarch Grove Sanctuary.  We went to see them, not realizing that they are unable to fly unless the air temperature is above 55 degrees.  Apparently, most of the shady grove was still too chilly for them and only a small number were out and about during our visit.

Pacific Grove is also famous as one end of 17 Mile Drive.  Originally built in 1881, it connects Pacific Grove and Carmel.  Though the route has been altered several times over the years, it has always been kept exactly 17 miles long.  Despite it's renown, until two days ago when we checked into the Marina Dunes RV Park, I had never heard of it.  Along with circling all the places we could park the RV, the lady in the park office also pointed out this street on the handout tourist map as something we wouldn't want to miss.

Due to the scarcity of butterflies and the sign saying No Dogs, our visit to the Grove was fairly brief, but 17 Mile Drive was just one block over and we decided to see what was so special about it.

For the first half mile or so, it was just another street.  But then we got to the Community of Pebble Beach where we were forced to stop at a gate house and a nice man in a nice uniform asked us for $9.50.  We were confused, so the nice man explained, in simple language that even rubes from Alaska could understand, that the rest of 17 Mile Drive was very scenic and could not be viewed for free.  Hearing scenic, Nancy started to get fidgety, but the nice man explained that scenic just meant lovely to look at.  We paid the $9.50.

Though scenic in this case may not have meant scary heights, it did still mean narrow and winding, and not a place any sane person would choice to drive an RV.  Having said that, it was lovely to look at, and I might even spend another $9.50 if I could come back in something a whole lot smaller.

14th hole at Monterey Peninsula Dunes Golf Course.

View of Carmel Bay from Pebble Beach.

Ocean front home at Pebble Beach.

When we reached Carmel at the other end, we drove a few miles further south to another spot we had heard about from the Campground Host at the fairgrounds, Point Lobos State Reserve, where there was supposed to be great tidal pools.  When we got there, however, the first thing we saw at the entrance was a sign saying RVs weren't allowed in.

We ended the day as we began it, watching the waves in Pacific Grove.  It's lovely and it's free.

Day 87
Monterey, CA

Daily Mileage:  42.0
Total Mileage:  13,332.4