It is down hill from here. I have ridden 6 times and there are only 4 possible ride days left. I fly out at 1:20 Sunday. So at the airport at 11:20, leave for airport at 10:40. The problem is getting the bike back if I rode Sunday. I’ll talk to them again, I thought the flight might be earlier. Today I am back from the ride by 7:30am so it is more than possible to get the ride in if I can figure out how to return the bike before the store opens. If such is possible then there are 5 possible rides left. Anyway you count it, I am on the last half of the trip.
I have been lazy about the laundry. The first days I washed ride cloths and socks/underware every day. Lately, it is has been too much fun to write here and skip the washing. I did count cloths inventory yesterday and I am in good shape. This could well be the last non-riding wash day. I may still wash a top of two. The shorts seem to hold up perfectly. I have been re wearing the Hawaiian shirts and the tee shirts, especially the very synthetic Kawanhee one. And, I have a couple unworn Hawaiian and t-shirts.
A health aside: Back about Wednesday, the left ankle, which had been bothering me for more than a week, seemed to be getting worse. Luckily I hardly notice it when on the bike, just getting on and off. But I do limp in my normal walking. It is not Planters Faciitis. It did not swell up and get worse like Gout. I chalked it up to arthritis and figured that would be the topic of a Harvard Health visit once I am back. But, since I have the Gout medicine with me, I thought it would not hurt to pretend it was Gout, treat it, and see what happened. I took the first 2 pills and 1 hour later the next and then took one for 2 days. I think the ankle is improved. It could also be that now I am on a cherry breakfast instead of just Cherry yogurt.
Ok, the Tuesday ride. I had ridden like 4k with the “Casa Blanca” group on Saturday. They passed me out about Kilometer 23 and I road with them until the end of the Hotel Road were they went left to Puerto Morelos and I went right the 307 way back to Cancun. The pace seemed ok. Now maybe I was just coming off a few Ks of rest and maybe they were in a slow period, but I asked them what group they were and I thought they said they left from BMW near Casa Blanca on the normal Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday at like 5:30. I asked Monica, Edgar and Rubin about Casa Blanca and they all seemed to feel the pace was too fast.
So, I told Monica and Edgar that I would give Casa Blanca a try today, Tuesday. I set the alarm for like 4:50. I was on the road by 5:20. It is a fair pull out to Casa Blanca. No sign of riders? I went around to the BMW. No one. So at 5:30 I figured I better cut my losses, road back to Elite. One mild dog attack as I passed the park! Only the chase driver was there and without a car? He road with us Sunday to Puerto. He seemed to have no idea why the two of us were alone. Again. I figured I could always leave Elite at 5:50 and still make the 6:15 take off from the end of the Hotel Road. That gathering point is much closer to Elite. Why is life always so complicated for me?
Soon Rubin showed up, followed by 4? more. We took off at 5:50. My mantra was make it to 9K, then make it to 13K. I kept saying, I still have plenty in the tank. I had done a little fast riding on the Casa Blanca fiasco but I felt good. Then after 13 we hit a bump and Rubin’s leg pops out. Luckily from the peddle, not his stump. Rubin has a prosthetic from above the knee down. I had never seen him deal with this before. He tried to reclip while riding but finally had to stop, reclip in and take off. My small brain was hoping, maybe an easy ride from here home! Nope. Rubin took off like a bat out of hell. I was able to hold on but then at a light he rocketed between the stopped cars and the curb. I got through but much slower and was never able to close the gap. The chase car had pulled over and got behind Rubin. I think another rider with an all black almost football type helmet dropped back either in this incident or before or maybe after. I was very tempted to stay with him but decided I still had a chance to get back on and I did not know what he was up to. He turned up at Elite with the rest of the group at the end. I have no idea how he got there. I’ll have to watch him, ask about him, as a possible companion for sow Tom.
I made it out to about 24K? alone when the entire biking world of Cancon came upon and passed me. VERY Dangerous. There are at least 30 of them and most with their heads down have no idea that I will be slipping past them on their right and they have to veer out to avoid hitting me. Some came too close. I now think that group was a combination of the normal Hotel Road and Casa Blanca. One woman dropped back from that group. I tried to ride with her but she spoke no English and kept slowing, slowing, even went over to the left side at the Blue Sphere but then did not turn for Cancun but continued on behind me. I decided I was not welcome and took off.
I turned right onto 307. The road is not perfect. A fair amount of gravel. But much more to my liking than the dangerous traffic of the Hotel Road return. I had 2 more dog incidents. One even bit the heel of my shoe! I have to ask riders about the best strategy, peddle fast to out pace them or stop peddling to take away the target of a pumping sneaker. I thought about spraying my sneakers with pepper spray so they would be a surprise bite.
All and all, the world was good on this 10K run home. I had been happy with my performance. Lunch approached. I was riding at my normal easy pace. I did run into 2 water obstetricals. Large puddles from yesterday’s rain that extended from the side of the road all the way out through the first lane of traffic. I came upon the first one too quickly to react and was way too close to the passing 18 wheeler as I vered out around the water. When I saw the second one, I stopped and road on the dirt to the right. Probably the best idea is to just ride slowly through the water. It is a little scarry to not know how deep it will get, hidden pot holes etc and just an instinct to not ride in water.
Rubin and the entire group passed me just as we turned off for Cancun, maybe 2K to go. I raced and caught them by the time we reached Elite. A picture was taken and here I am typing, having done some laundry. I’m feeling pretty strong. Monica has suggested she may ride tomorrow, Wednesday. If not, I’ll just take the 6:15 Hotel Road train. I am looking forward to a 2 Margarita lunch at Surfin Bureto. This will be my third time there. So far, no conversations but last year I twice had nice company. And my books are both entetaining. Conrad is finally getting around to introducing us to more details about the main character and Dychtwald has moved from the effect of one child policy in China to how the young generation is discovering sex as an enjoyable pass time instead of just for procreation.
And, the great thing about these vacations is that I am always ready to come home in the end. I really enjoy my NH life.