Rev. Michelle's Message August 6, 2026

Well, it’s the first week of August in Monterey and you know what that means—we are gearing up for yet another Car Week on the Peninsula, starting this Friday. This once-fun event has become a bit of a bane for those of us living on the Peninsula as the event gets longer and longer (now lasting 10 days!) and more and more visitors come to the area each year. This year more than 100,000 car aficionados are expected to descend on our sleepy little seaside town, meaning there will be more traffic, and unfortunately more traffic incidents, than ever.

On the other hand, the event does bring in a lot of revenue for our community. It is estimated that this year’s Car Week will result in over $130 million in visitor spending which is comprised of lodging, dining, and other local purchases. According to local station KAZU, the event also raises more than $4 million for local charities and supports sales taxes for local governments. Might as well look at the bright side, eh?

Some folks are opting to “get out of Dodge” for the week, which I don’t blame them for one bit! For those of us who must stay here, we will need to plan ahead for any appointments or activities we may have as traveling on the Peninsula will be greatly impacted by the sheer number of folks visiting. Let’s all be extra careful out there and proceed with extreme caution so that we can all arrive safely at our destinations. This is summer on the Monterey Peninsula!

For me, this summer has been all about hiking! Alexander and I have been hiking more than ever this year, exploring new places and doing longer and more strenuous hikes. We are learning so much from our time out in the wilderness, and really finding out what we are capable of. We are also having some very special experiences together out on the trail. I will be sharing some of these with you over the next couple of weeks in a series I’m calling, “Learning from the Land.”

I look forward to seeing you all this Sunday and don’t forget, be careful out there on the road!

Safe Summer Blessings,

Rev. Michelle