Adventures in MEXICO

Last weekend we took a trip down to Mexico to participate in a 50-mile bike ride from Rosarito to Ensenada. Here is a link to a video about the ride. It was a pretty crazy experience.

After getting a little lost right across the border, we arrived in Ensenada on Friday evening. We had dinner at a little restaurant where a drunk lady in the group behind us cackled at ear-splitting decibels and Mariachi trumpets blasted our faces off, but the food was good. We then browsed the shops and tried to get a good bargain on a TJ blanket before heading to our hotel. The hotel had a nice jail cell/monastery motif, and the blankets smelled a little funny, but it was just part of the experience. Saturday morning we loaded up our bikes onto a taxi and drove the 50 miles to the starting line in Rosarito. There was six of us piled in the van and our driver was apparently in a real hurry. We had to be doing at leat 80 around the winding curves of the canyon. With bikes stacked on top and behind, we were in no position to be going that fast. But, fortunately we made it to the starting line in one piece. (Our bikes did too.)

The worst part of the day came right after we started, when I, fumbling with my jacket, ran into the back of Brandon's bike and ate it pretty hard. It was all kind of in slow motion. I just remember thinking, "I'm goin' down!" and then I was in the dirt. Luckily I rode away with just a scraped knee. Brandon's bike wasn't as lucky. Unfortunately, my fall had broken the gears on his bike and he couldn't ride it! Brandon was pretty upset. He thought that was it for him. But luckily, the Mexican MacGyvers came to the rescue. Two local gentlemen scavenged the side of the road for some wire and rigged Brandon's bike up so he could pedal it to the next check point. Brandon got his bike fixed and I got some awesome fish tacos at the Halfway House and then we were back on the road. 50 miles is a lot farther than it seems. Especially when the road looks like the one you take to Big Bear. Straight UP and curvy. Yes, there were some pretty monstrous hills. Brandon, being the buff hunk that he is, never even got off his bike to push it up the hill like I had to, he pedaled the whole way! He also beat me to the finish by about an hour! I stayed with my mom and we finally got to the finish line in Ensenada around 5 that evening. We were all pretty exhausted. We got our T-shirts, scarfed some enchiladas, and crashed. Sunday we said Adios to good old Mexico and headed home to get some well-needed rest.

Hasta la vez próxima! I think that means until next time!