TransMexico Part 2

Trans-Mexico Part 2 - Day #5 January 6, 2023 above Papalutla to Nuevo Paraíso - 69 Km Start 7:47am  Finish 6:31pm Total Duration 10:44 Moving Time 6:40 Stopped Time 4:04 Ascent 2,208m Descent 1,429m Tour Total 440km Details at: https://ridewithgps.com/trips/110629550 I slept well up on the ridge above Papalutla. Last evening while setting up my tent I had a fantastic view of the sunset across the mountains. The moon was coming up from the east and was almost full. The site was level, and it was quiet and cool. No cars were on the road. I was in the middle of nowhere and doubted anyone would be using the road at night. I couldn’t hear anything aside from the wind rustling my tent.  I woke up with the light and my body was trashed, and it was a slow pack up. My phone was at 64% and my power pack was at 34%. As I was getting ready to depart my Wahoo refused to power on. I began to panic and contemplate alternate solutions. My phone used so much more power to navigate, and I ...

Trans-Mexico Part 2 - Day #6 January 7, 2023 Nuevo Paraíso to Lomazóyatl - 84 Km Start 7:35am Finish 7:37pm Total Duration 12:01 Moving Time 7:49 Stopped Time 4:12 Ascent 2,200m Descent 2,558m Tour Total 524km Details at: https://ridewithgps.com/trips/110967529 I slept fairly well last night beneath the pine trees. It got cold and I woke up several times. I slept in my silk liner and used my sleeping bag as a blanket. I rose with the sun and the faint light filtering through the branches. I could hear distant donkeys hee-hawing and dogs barking, and I packed up as quickly as I could. My body was incredibly fatigued. I pedaled back to the road and continued south-east. I was wearing my jacket and was riding directly into the sun. I was blinded, and had to put on my sunglasses. Today was Saturday and I hadn’t bathed since Monday. I was at level five, felt putrid, and was yearning for a bath. Patrick was spending nights in towns where he could shower and get a good night’s sleep. He w...

Trans-Mexico Part 2 - Day #7 January 8, 2023 Lomazóyatl to Coicoycán de las Flores - 32 Km Start  7:51am Finish 6:46pm Total Duration 10:55 Moving Time 3:37 Stopped Time 7:18 Ascent 1,233m Descent 1,220m Tour Total 556km Details at: https://ridewithgps.com/trips/110967558 I tossed and turned in my tent last night. My legs were itchy and I couldn’t stop scratching. I was hot and later got cold. Dogs were barking down in the valley and I could hear trucks up on the road. I finally fell asleep, and had vivid dreams. I woke up before my alarm and there was already light in the sky. My tent was taking up the width of the trail, and it was time to get going. I could hear someone walking around my tent, while I was still inside putting on my clothes and packing. Then a large animal, either a goat or a donkey, walked past the tent. By the time the next guy showed up, my tent had been disassembled. A white car was parked at the trailhead. I apologized and he replied that it wasn't a problem...

Trans-Mexico Part 2 - Day #8 January 9, 2023 Coicoycán de las Flores to Los Tejocotes 72km Start 7:25am Finish 6:47pm Total Duration 11:22 Moving Time 7:43 Stopped Time 3:39 Ascent 2,316m Descent 1,854m Tour Total 628km Details at: https://ridewithgps.com/trips/110967579 I slept well amidst the cement dust and building debris in the house under construction outside of Coicoycán de las Flores. A bright light beamed from directly above my tent all night long, but the prodigious amount of mezcal enabled me to sleep just fine. I got cold during the night and had to completely zip up my sleeping bag. I woke up at 6:30am and began packing. My tent was soaking wet from condensation, and I had to stuff the soggy roll into my compression bag. The nice family paid me a visit before I left. I regret not remembering their names. They were speaking a mix of Spanish and Mixtec, and I was asked me to write my name on a piece of paper as a remembrance. I had a pen, but no paper. It later occurred to m...

Trans-Mexico Part 2 - Day #9 January 10, 2023 Los Tejocotes to Santa Maria Tatltepec 95km Start 7:46am Finish 6:42pm Total Duration 10:56 Moving Time 8:08 Stopped Time 2:49 Ascent 2,010m Descent 2,916m Tour Total 723km Details at: https://ridewithgps.com/trips/110967603 It got really cold last night stealth camping at 8,578'. I had to completely zip the sleeping bag around my head. My feet were chilly, and I kept thinking about my socks and down sweater sitting out in the bike bag. I finally draped my cycling jacket over my feet and took a sleeping pill. I had vivid dreams, which is how I know that I slept. It was freezing when I got up, and there wasn't any condensation on my tent. It still had cement dust from the previous night. The pack-up was textbook. I donned my leg-warmers and socks, in addition to my jacket and buff. Only two cars passed before I departed. I had picked the perfect campsite. I began with a steep, chunky climb, heading directly into the blinding sunlight...