Oaxacabound

Day 12

Ok, time to get back. I was thinking about going to Puebla and Heroica Veracruz, but those are close enough to Oaxaca that I can always make a side trip. My friend Larry who introduced me to mountain biking in Oaxaca is having his 80th birthday (wtf?) next Sunday and I want to get back and settled by then.

I met him at a Welcome to Oaxaca meeting at the Lending Library my first week here two years ago. After the meeting, Larry asked:

“Do you ride bikes?”

“Not since I was 12.”

“Would you like to?”

“I don’t have one.”

“I could lend you one.”

“I’ll be here for 5 months.”

“I could lend it for 5 months.”

Jesus Xmas, doesn’t he understand when someone is politely telling him to get lost?! But he did loan me a bike and it changed my life. Got in better shape, met a bunch of great people, visited all parts of the mountain valley…incredible.

I got up at the crack of dawn for the final push.

It was a weird day weather-wise with snow and slush in the mountains…

…heavy fog filling the valleys…

…but 12 hours later I made it to Oaxaca, 12 days and almost exactly 2,000 miles since I left McAllen. Here’s the view from my new place, not too shabby…55 degrees every morning, 83 in the afternoon year round.

I’m glad I took my time. It started out feeling like a kid packing up my car to leave for college and it ended with a frat party. I learned a lot more about the country, met many incredibly nice, interesting people and reinforced my affection for this country. If you’re ever in town, let me know. Hasta la vista, baby!