Ups and downs…rain and shine

The last few days have been those of contrast and emotions have been very high and very low. There is no other time that you feel the terrain and the weather quite so keenly than from a seat of a bike.

The roads out of Ensenada were flooded, sandy and full of holes, we headed up hill for our biggest single climb of the trip so far…25miles of gradual ascent to Ojos Negros at 2290ft. We reached the hotel and rain set in so we donned all of our warmest clothes, got into bed and stayed hidden for the afternoon. This theme continued as we left the next day in torrential and freezing rain, we lost the sensation in our toes within minutes, it was due to be a long day. The only advantage of rain and cold is that we cycle faster and stop less.

Thankfully the weather dried out the next day as we left Valle De Trinidad. The small mountain town turned out to be a maze of wet, sandy streets with hundreds (I never exaggerate) of vicious dogs biting at our heels and wheels. Once safely back on the number 3 we headed up hill with heavy legs and then the reward…20miles of descent. We floated through barren mountains and cold sandy deserts to the Sea of Cortez. From there it was flat…flat, straight and directly into the wind for what seemed like a lifetime. As 78miles ticked over on the clock we entered San Filipe, tired but satisfied to complete a monster day and reach ‘the other side’.