I was in my tent at 7pm thinking of things to do, when I heard Co-Director Karen-Anne calling my name. I called back in the dark. I climbed out of my tent and we kept calling back and forth getting closer. When I could tell she was close I said I couldn't see her because I didn't have on my glasses. I hear someone else say, "Then put your damn glasses on." I recognized the voice. Out of the shadows stepped my friend, Harvey Johnson. He was vacationing in La Paz and had driven out to our overnight stop a few days away. Once at our final destination in Baja, others wandered aimlessly while I had Harvey to drive me around and show me the sights of La Paz.
In Baja California Sur, the object of each day's ride is to climb to a road leading to a microwave tower then descend. So, when you see a tower in the distance, you know you'll be climbing to it. Sometimes, there is more than one tower because the land is so undulating that more relays are needed. This is especially true once you pass the most beautiful area of Baja California, the coastline between Mulege (MOO lay hey) and Loreto (Loreto) along the Gulf of California.
The area is like a combination of a large volcanic lake like Crater Lake or even Lake Tahoe, the sunken Oregon Coast south of Lincoln City, and southern Utah mesas. Only at the end, you have this incredible climb up a triple switchback wherein you climb and climb and climb, then look up to your right and mutter something unkind.
Later in Baja the climbs are missed in the boring FLAT stretches with practically no scenery. On one such day of 60 miles and a total elevation gain of 650ft (our biggest day had been 4450ft), I passed the time allowing someone to draft behind me. Because the first cyclist in a line blocks the wind, riders following closely can save 30% of their energy. The cyclist I "towed" was a fellow from Baja, Artunnio, who was riding from Tijuana down to Cabo. I figured I was the best person in the group for him to draft behind because I had two rear bags to aid in his drafting and I had the most experience in the group of riding a recumbent tricycle. A recumbent (picture a lounge chair) is slower going up a hill and I could better sense how much to slow down for the uphills. I did have to check my mirror to see Artunnio's Mexican flag flying behind me. Though, I could also hear his tricycle because of the cheap rear wheels and his wooden box frame. I enjoyed having him draft behind me, especially when local racers would turn around, ride up to him and give him money. It was quite impressive watching him cover the same distances as us day after day using only his arms to hand crank his trike since his one leg wasn't very strong. Odyssey riders donated over $1000 for a new bike for our Mexican amigo before we said adios in La Paz. Yeah, it's a pretty good group of people with whom to spend a year.
To see photos of Artunnio and his recumbent click on www.worldriders.com/world/mexico/mexico.htm
Happy Trails,
Bruce