What happened…

Amanda writes:
Today we a nice slow start. We didn’t set an alarm and we just moved along at a leisurely pace. I was actually sort of surprised that we did start this way because we knew we had a 30 km 1000 meter climb up followed by a 600 meter descent over another 10 kilometres. As we were packing up Gareth was the last to come out of the room and he still seemed a little off. He started talking about the route and said that him and Jean had come up with an alternative to riding on the highway. He added that if we didn’t want to come with that we didn’t have to. I was still feeling like he wasn’t over his hurt feelings. I responded to his statement that while we’d like to continue riding with them, I really wasn’t getting the feeling they were too keen on it. He responded by saying that he still wasn’t himself and I agreed, telling him that he didn’t seem like he was enjoying himself. He confirmed that it takes him a bit longer to get over things and he was feeling like he couldn’t be himself for fear of being judged. I’ve already expressed my opinion on this whole situation and didn’t feel it was necessary to remind him that opinions are not necessarily judgement. In any event I just finished by saying that if he didn’t feel like he could be himself that we were happy to leave him and Jean alone. Just as we were chatting Andrew walked up and I just let it fizzle. While we like riding with him, it has become clear that this isn’t going to pass overnight. And if he feels like he can’t be himself because he’s afraid of being judged, that doesn’t sound like a lot of fun. I would hate for someone to not enjoy themselves because of us and I was just left feeling like if he can’t get past this, Andrew and I will go our own way which is a darned shame.

So we rode out on the route that Jean and Gareth had mapped and ended up getting to a dead end and then turned around and headed on some back country unpaved roads. Overall it was a lovely ride and very hard. Toward the end of the day I was pushing my bike right along with Jean. Later when I downloaded my tracks from my GPS I could see why. We climbed over 1000 meters as projected with some very steep grades. Gareth too seemed to be a bit more comfortable as the day wore on. That was a nice thing that he seems to be closer to himself than before, however still not as keen to be around us as before. So while his mood was improved, I do think there is a part of our comfort level that is irreparably changed and perhaps we should go our own way. It’s too bad because we had a good vibe with them and I’m not sure I’d ride with them again as things are now. We were all very comfortable with each other before and had fun and both parties seemed keen to hang together. I was hoping before we part ways that we could have a nice dinner with a bottle of wine but somehow I think our departure will now be more abrupt. I would have liked very much to ride with them again in Central and South America and hope that time will return them back to their cheerful, inclusive and fun selves.

Andrew writes: Today was great! It’s just the kind of riding that I like to do as it was very adventurous. I was a little perturbed when we climbed up to El Zembo, and then had to turn around when we missed our turn to Tres Canadas, but the turn was worthwhile. The road to Tres Canadas was a double-track dirt road that wound it’s way up and over a mountain. At times the grade was steep, but definitely rideable. We rode in the shade of the pine trees the whole time. Every once in awhile it would plateau. There was one point where I had gone ahead, and while I was waiting I struck up a conversation with a woman in traditional dress, who was shepherding sheep in a large field. She offered to give me a book to read to help me with my Spanish, a bible. I declined, but it was a cool experience nonetheless.

Arriving in Mineral del Chico, I started up a conversation with a guy about where to find a cheap hotel. He led us to a hotel near the city centre, but it was out of our budget. Then, the guy wanted Gareth and I to give him money for helping. Yeah, no. Gareth and I split up and went in search of a hotel, as it looked like it was going to rain. I quickly found one right across the street from the zocalo (main square), and reconnected with the group. For whatever reason, Gareth decided to keep on looking, and over the course of the next hour, I waited in the zocalo with Amanda and Jean while a huge storm swept over us, depositing thousands of hail pellets around us. We took shelter in the gazebo, and when Gareth returned, we ended up going to the hotel across the street I had found.

Amanda and I took a walk through Mineral del Chico searching for food, and it’s quite lovely, definitely deserving of the “pueblo magico” moniker. It feels very european, which strangely enough is because its’ roots are an English mining town. Probably due to the rain, and also that it is a week-day there wasn’t a lot of action, but I am definitely left wondering how crazy it gets here on a weekend. Pachuca is close by, and Mexico City is only about two hours away by car, so I can see this being a hotspot for tourism.

There were definitely times in the latter half of the day when I just wanted it to be over, as the terrain had taken its’ toll. In all, I think we climbed up and over 3 different mountains today. I certainly had a sense of accomplishment when it was all said and done.

Today’s Photographs