I spent most of my first day in Merida assembling my bicycle in my room at a leisurely pace. I have found that if I take my time and adjust everything ¨just so” I dont have to test ride it. The hotel staff always shows surprise when I wheel a bicycle out of my room, the only thing I carried into the room was a big suitcase.
The Carnaval celebration was huge and loud, there were many, many, people. The parade was 3 hours long, I had to be up early to ride so I didn´t see all of it.
Sunday morning at daybreak is the best time to leave Merida, the streets are deserted. Everything felt real good. The road turned to dirt at Molas, for 14 kilometers the only people I saw were four guys with bird cages strapped to thier heads. They were somehow trapping exotic birds. I should have stopped and talked to them.
The last 20 kilometers was difficult, I haven´t rode this far on a bike in almost a year and it is real hot. At the end of rides like this I find it hard to concentrate and function. I checked into best hotel in Ticul and crashed for a couple hours. Ticuls Carnaval was much smaller but just as unrestrained. Again, I had to retire early to be ready for the next days ride.
Mondays ride to Hopelchen was pleasant. There were a lot of small hills early on that provided a nice change. I passed the minor Mayan ruin ¨Kabah¨ and passed under an arch marking Campeche state border. There were a lot of brilliantly colored birds in the foliage on the way but getting a photo of them is difficult.
Hopelchen is a typical small town, everyone greets me and asks if I need help. I don´t see any other gringos except for a lot of Mennonites, all of them are tall and dressed in the same overalls and straw hat. They dont seem to know what to make of me….
I crashed early again and missed the festivities altogether, except for the dynamite charges they set off at midnite, that got my attention. Mexicanos dont fool around when it comes to fireworks.
I was up early and headed due West to Campeche on the Gulf. It was another beautiful day.
I passed a ruin and thru some small towns.
I was exhausted and laid down at a bus stop and fell asleep. When I woke up these guys had me surrounded.
The last 20k was real hard, a big offshore wind developed and the traffic got heavy, but I made it! 240k in three days. I had my doubts weather I could do it.
You see stuff like this all the time
