Thank you all for your kind and supportive words. It means a lot to have folks out there cheering me on. Yesterday was a tough one, today has been a whole new and better thing. Catastrophe free, or catastro-free 🙂
I figured I’d spend days berating myself for the fails of yesterday, but that hasn’t really happened at all. And this is good because it would have been a total waste of time and energy. It helps when a bike ride kicks your ass, too, and I got a thumping today.
The day started with a few coffees and some goods from the closest panaderia. The former were excellent (and under $1), the latter meh. For my first lunch break I got chicken and rice empanadas from a roadside restaurant. They were pretty good.
I set out to ride about 60 km for starters, and intended to assess my progress and decide if I should keep moving or not from that point. Well, those 60 turned into a little over 75 (wrong turn) and took 9 hours! And it was primarily downhill! So that 60 to 80 km a day rules appears bang on if not ambitious.
The thing is the roads are rough, sometimes incredibly so. I mean, this is part of why I chose this route, so I’m not complaining, just expressing some surprise at how much work it is. Today was as hard as any ride I’ve ever done. And thank god I got appropriate tires for it!
Nothing was flat. I rode (and walked) grades up to 17% both uphill and downhill. I can say that being hunched over dropbars, pulling the brakes with everything you’ve got and bouncing around over rocks and all sorts of uneven surfaces is just as slow and as much work as big climbs. It also doesn’t help when you have a quarter-sized raw and open wound on your right palm ✋. It hurt a lot.
Yet I loved the ride. The work of it is enjoyable. The views are incredible. I could see 3 huge volcanoes. No picture because it just didn’t capture them. But here’s the basic idea (below). All day long nothing but green and mountains and panting. And the odd yappy dog doing a half assed job of chasing me.
I’m at a fairly fancy little resort tonight ($40). It’s the first hotel I passed in town and it has a pool which I desperately wanted to get in (which I did, in underwear of course, no new swim suit yet).
The town is under 10,000 people and the main square was hopping tonight. I ate at a restaurant (with a menu!) on the patio and watched life happen.
No one in these parts speaks English. I have some Spanish but very little. The translation apps are BS. They purport to work without internet connection but that’s not been my experience. So interactions are pretty basic, really funny and plenty entertaining.
I fully stocked up on wound care products this evening so am going to doctor myself up properly before falling dead asleep instantly. Night night.
It’s great your day was totally successful. Food looks good and definitely has your name on it. Love the photos, only thing missing is ice cream. Wishing you another great ride tomorrow. Keeps those wounds clean, take Tylenol is ease the pain and ride on. Love you, Ma
I had ice cream! It wasn’t photo worthy though. Thanks mom 🙂
The dog looks little like Booker.
Yay for Day 2 and so glad you didn’t beat yourself up – these things happen and all will be fine. Really glad to hear you got some wound care, amazing views, good food, animal attention 🙂 and a fun city to enjoy tonight. Also really glad you got new tires for this trip HOLY ROADS! Sleep well and all good things to you tomorrow.
Looking forward to seeing which dog you bring back home 😉 The cats will love whichever you choose. Happy to see your first day struggles didn’t get you down too much and that you found loads of carbs. Have a great and safe day tomorrow!
You and me both – about the dog 😉
You can see the rays of sun in the second photo you posted. Looks beautiful in the photos alone.
Pedal on!
What tires are you using on this trip?
We could have used snow tires here yesterday – it was very slippery. And yet there was no fard ice, so studs wouldn’t have helped. Today is +2 and foggy.
Gravel King SKs 2.1. It’s freaking 35 down here in the river valley today. It seems I’ve found a heat wave ☀️
If you’re looking for some hard ice, check the ravine trails! Or don’t because they are a pockmarked, water-slicked disaster.
I tested my new tires on that disaster. Unintentionally!
Chaddo, Believe it or not I am having technology trouble. I tried to post earlier, but I don’t see it. So sorry if this is a repeat. That a boy for muzzling through day one. Those with lesser strength may have surrendered. I’m glad that day two was so much better. Love you.
Hahaha. Love you too dad
It’s looking amazing. I think we all want to see a photo of you in some new clothes – am I right?! 🙂
As for roads, I think I’d feel better with the dirt road over the paved one strewn with gravel – that looks dangerous as hell!
Have fun!
I’m going to bring you some acid washed, deliberately ripped up jeans that I will have worn riding up a mountain as a souvenir bud!
Oooh, for me?! Thanks! 🙂
Chad: so glad to hear you bounced back after the dia de la muerte! Nothing like a little 75 km jaunt on terrible roads to bump the bad memories away. Road conditions are such a huge factor in cycling that doesn’t get enough attention. I know you don’t mind the bumps, but it definitely takes a lot out of you! Eat and sleep well, and as they say on that pilgrimage route over in Spain, buen camino, peregrino!
❤️