Day 3 - Return to the city - Mini tour to Baca, Yucatan on our new folding bikes

December 5, 2021

Day 3 - Return to the city

I am trying to talk Rob into a bike this

Today we would be riding on very little sleep as there was loud music and singing all night long somewhere in the barrio - sounded like Karaoke . The singing became progressively worse as the night wore on. We have become accustomed to the noises of Mexico and weren't too bothered by it.

I didn't know what to expect for the ride home but I was hoping for a tailwind and yahoo we got one! The day was beautiful and the traffic was light.

Could this possibly be that same moto taxi that I said wasn't working

We were flying along. I actually find flat roads harder to ride as there are no breaks from the constant pedaling, similar to riding on a rail trail. I complain going up hills but I love the coasting coming down and I miss that riding around the flat Yucatan. But today the tailwind was doing it's magic and it was almost as good. I had my fingers crossed I wouldn't get a flat today and ruin the progress.

Wishing my spanish was better I would of stopped and asked the workers here about this site. A bit further, maybe 30 meters, was what could of been an entrance to a cenote. We probably will cycle out here again and I will make sure to stop and have a better look.

Roadside memorial near the turnoff for Yaxche Casares

Most of the pueblos seemed busier today than when we rode through on Friday. Xcuyun was especially busy with a flea market of sorts. They are called Tianguis - open air markets.

We also passed several other cyclists enjoying the beautiful day.

Sunday riders asking if it was very far to the main road - you can tell by the rough road that we are near Sitpach

We did make a stop at the cycle shop in Chichi Suarez and had them show us what 20 inch tires they stocked. We returned the following week to have a closer look. They had two different types to choose from, presenting the mas economical one at first. I said no, show me your best. We bought it for 120 pesos- they only had one but will be getting more in. I'm not sure how good a 120 peso tire will be. We shall see.

Familiar streets near home. Nuestra Maria Del Carmen Church in Chuminopolis

Our ride home took just over 2 hrs. It was an enjoyable first little outing with the bikes. I'm not sure how much beating these bikes (and bum) can take and unless we can find some better tires, I don't think we will leave home without several spares. We also need to find some better saddles before our next adventure. I've been planning a trip south out of the city to a eco-village possibly sometime in January. Rob is always happy to tag along.

Our video to Baca

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Steve Miller/GrampiesI am just thinking about a disparity between the Merida and surrounding areas that I see in your photos and descriptions, and the Merida that I just finished experiencing. In your photos there are no dumps of plastic waste by the roadside, no evidence of extreme heat, dust, noise, diesel dump trucks, or proliferation of tiny popup taco stands, whose operators are trying to scratch out a living.

We did notice and comment on in our travel that the northern portion of the city, sort of near the Decathlon, was much different from the southern portion. But yikes, you took dozens of photos and not one shows a discarded plastic water bottle. Even near Decathlon, Walmart, etc., or out in the pueblos you visited, I would have thought that hard to do.

In returning one day to Merida, I am not saying we would seek out just the paradise I see in your blog, but I sure would not mind visiting it for a bit. Can you make a map showing the border line?
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3 years ago

Steve Miller/GrampiesTo Steve Miller/GrampiesMore thoughts: I went to our blog, where we approached Merida from the east, and guess what - things looked pretty idyllic as well. I think unless a "reporter" deliberately chooses to highlight and comment on a pile or spread out field of garbage (as we did when leaving Tulum), or heavy traffic or poverty, then the tendency is to focus the camera on what looks beautiful and interesting.
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3 years ago

Steve Miller/Grampiesp.s. I found your videos fascinating. In an upcoming post to our blog I am going to blame you for my burning the porridge, because I was paying so much attention to your video, and none to the pot on the stove!
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3 years ago

Leslie and Rob CookeTo Steve Miller/GrampiesHey Steve - oh the garbage and plastic and noise is definitely there. Not as much in the little pueblos for sure but I noticed quite a bit of it along all the roads we travelled. There was copious amounts of garbage outside the Yaxkukul garbage dump. Not sure if it blew out from the walls of the dump or people just threw it out on the road. We have garbage pick-up 3 times a week in our area, Chuminopolis (east) and I'm sure it's the same in other parts of Merida. Most days they show up, although sometimes not until late at night after we've called it a night. I think habits are hard to break but it can be done. Remember the 70's when it wasn't uncommon to litter. Heck I remember where I grew up (Sayward) everybody throwing garbage off the wharf. I see a change here but it's slow to happen. But it's moving in the right direction - at least I think. The north of Merida is newer and typically attracts weathier people. It's interesting to see the differences in prices at a grocery store - north compared to south. Like I said, we've become accustomed to the noise but it can be overwhelming at times. I wish there was less traffic, especially in centro. The governor is trying to get the traffic out of centro by bringing in a new bus route for the perimeter of the city on the periferico. The busses are state of the art and can accommodate bikes. He was also instrumental in installing the new bike lanes - I believe over 70kms to the already existing ones (which is not many). Like I said, heading in the right direction but ever so slowly. If you saw our video about the shortcut between los heroes and chichi suarez, you can see piles and piles of garbage. Sorry about the porridge.
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3 years ago