January 2 :: Cancun :: 0 km
The focus today was on finding out where our bikes were and if they were going to arrive today. After several hours of calling various people we got confirmation from the airline (Skyservice) that the bikes would arrive on today´s flight. I went to the airport at 6pm to ENSURE that the bikes would make it from the airport to our hotel... after 5 hours of making a nuisance of myself I was finally in a minivan, 3 bikes in the back. A latenight assembly, the promise of 3 hours sleep, and we would be on the road tomorrow!
The rest of the day, in between phonecalls, was spent meandering through downtown Cancun. Not so bad, really, having a day to "settle in".
Wednesday, December 31, 2008
January 1 :: Toronto to Cancun
January 1 :: Toronto to Cancun :: 0 km
No bikes! They didn't arrive! Hard to start a bike trip when you're bike-less....
No bikes! They didn't arrive! Hard to start a bike trip when you're bike-less....
Wednesday, October 15, 2008
Intro to the trip: Stage 4: Ixtapa to Puerto Vallarta 7 days, 716km
STAGE 4: Ixtapa to Puerto Vallarta 7 days, 716km
From one big tourist town to another along the Pacific. A nice ending to the trip.
From one big tourist town to another along the Pacific. A nice ending to the trip.
Intro to the trip: Stage 3: Oaxaca to Ixtapa (on the Pacific Coast) 8 days, 800km
STAGE 3: Oaxaca to Ixtapa (on the Pacific Coast) 8 days, 800km
This route is basically mountains, over and over again, until eventually we descend to the Pacific. As well, there are some dormant (and not-so-dormant) volcanoes with roads up them that are optional to ride (to 12,000 or 14,000 feet!). We will skip Mexico City - I've been there twice and cannot recommend it for... anything. This will be the most off-the-tourist-trail part of the trip, and some days may find us scrounging for decent accomodation. Don't expect any Best Westerns here. It will be pretty hardcore... but thats part of the fun!
This route is basically mountains, over and over again, until eventually we descend to the Pacific. As well, there are some dormant (and not-so-dormant) volcanoes with roads up them that are optional to ride (to 12,000 or 14,000 feet!). We will skip Mexico City - I've been there twice and cannot recommend it for... anything. This will be the most off-the-tourist-trail part of the trip, and some days may find us scrounging for decent accomodation. Don't expect any Best Westerns here. It will be pretty hardcore... but thats part of the fun!
Intro to the trip: Stage 2 Villahermosa to Oaxaca: 6 days
STAGE 2: Villahermosa to Oaxaca: 6 days, 609km
This stage starts with a flattish, rolling initial 4 days along one of Mexico's main transportation corridors. It can best be described as "utilitarian"; it takes us from A to B. The final 2 days of the ride plunge us upwards into the mountains of Oaxaca. This region is known for it's isolated indigenous culture and, being off the main tourist path, will be the most backwater section of the trip. Oaxaca city is known for its beauty and artistry, as well as some mountainous Maya archaeological sites.
This stage starts with a flattish, rolling initial 4 days along one of Mexico's main transportation corridors. It can best be described as "utilitarian"; it takes us from A to B. The final 2 days of the ride plunge us upwards into the mountains of Oaxaca. This region is known for it's isolated indigenous culture and, being off the main tourist path, will be the most backwater section of the trip. Oaxaca city is known for its beauty and artistry, as well as some mountainous Maya archaeological sites.
Intro to the trip: Stage 1 Cancun to Villahermosa: 11 days
Hey all. Here are the details of the cross-Mexico ride that Tim and I are doing during the month of January
STAGE 1: Cancun to Villahermosa - 11 days
We will start in Cancun to take advantage of the significant, steady tailwind blowing from the East along the Yucatan peninsula. As well, most of the Yucatan is pancake flat, promising a gentle start to the trip. My father is flying in to join us on the 2nd day, and riding straight through to Villahermosa! This section is characterized by many Mayan archaeological sites, including Chichen Itza. After reaching the Gulf of Mexico at Campeche we follow the coastline for a few days until the route takes us inland to the large city of Villahermosa.
Day 1: Cancun - Valladolid : 153km :: Flat and hot with a tailwind.
Day 2 (my father joins) Valladolid - Piste 44km :: Flat and hot with a tailwind. At Piste is Chichen Itza.
Day 3: Piste - Merida 109km :: Flat and hot with a tailwind
Day 4: Ruta Puuc from Merida - Santa Elena 88km :: Flat and hot. Around Santa Elena are several Mayan ruins.
Day 5: Santa Elena - Hopelchen 73km :: some hills.
Day 6: Hopelchen - Campeche 88km :: some hills. Campeche is an interesting coastal colonial town.
Day 7: Campeche - Champoton 55km :: flat along the Gulf of Mexico coastline.
Day 8: Champoton - Sabancuy 87km :: flat along the Gulf of Mexico coastline.
Day 9: Sabancuy - Ciudad del Carmen 77km :: flat along the Gulf of Mexico coastline.
Day 10: Ciudad del Carmen - Frontera 94km :: flat through marshland.
Day 11: Frontera - Villahermosa 81km :: inland, flattish; Villahermosa is a city of 600,000+ with a major airport with several daily flights to Mexico City.
STAGE 1: Cancun to Villahermosa - 11 days
We will start in Cancun to take advantage of the significant, steady tailwind blowing from the East along the Yucatan peninsula. As well, most of the Yucatan is pancake flat, promising a gentle start to the trip. My father is flying in to join us on the 2nd day, and riding straight through to Villahermosa! This section is characterized by many Mayan archaeological sites, including Chichen Itza. After reaching the Gulf of Mexico at Campeche we follow the coastline for a few days until the route takes us inland to the large city of Villahermosa.
Day 1: Cancun - Valladolid : 153km :: Flat and hot with a tailwind.
Day 2 (my father joins) Valladolid - Piste 44km :: Flat and hot with a tailwind. At Piste is Chichen Itza.
Day 3: Piste - Merida 109km :: Flat and hot with a tailwind
Day 4: Ruta Puuc from Merida - Santa Elena 88km :: Flat and hot. Around Santa Elena are several Mayan ruins.
Day 5: Santa Elena - Hopelchen 73km :: some hills.
Day 6: Hopelchen - Campeche 88km :: some hills. Campeche is an interesting coastal colonial town.
Day 7: Campeche - Champoton 55km :: flat along the Gulf of Mexico coastline.
Day 8: Champoton - Sabancuy 87km :: flat along the Gulf of Mexico coastline.
Day 9: Sabancuy - Ciudad del Carmen 77km :: flat along the Gulf of Mexico coastline.
Day 10: Ciudad del Carmen - Frontera 94km :: flat through marshland.
Day 11: Frontera - Villahermosa 81km :: inland, flattish; Villahermosa is a city of 600,000+ with a major airport with several daily flights to Mexico City.
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