1 April 2018: Easter Sunday and April Fool’s Day. I don’t think those two are related, but it makes for a curious juxtaposition on the calendar . . . . In any case, forget the chocolate rabbits and marshmallow chicks and grab your bike gear, instead. It’s a typically splendid day for a ride in the country in the state of Oaxaca in southern Mexico. My good friend, Omar, and I want to ride a loop in the western part of the Etla Valley. We get under way a bit later because today is also the start of daylight savings time in Mexico (the U.S. kicked the clock forward several weeks ago) and the sun has barely risen over the horizon at 8 am. Besides, we have the whole day at our disposal. The goal is to pedal up to the tiny hamlet of San Cristobal on a dirt road I have not ridden before, then come sailing down the mountainside on a trail that parallels a stream. There are four different routes to San Cristobal out of Oaxaca, and this is the last for me to explore. All four are challenging, as there is no way around having to climb over 2100 vertical feet from the floor of the Oaxaca Valley to where the village is perched on the side of the mountain. Being Easter and all, there is very little vehicular traffic along the way. On the return leg of our ride, though, we encounter quite a few Mexican families frolicking in the crystal clear water of the creek, with picnic baskets sitting on blankets streamside. Obviously some frivolity is planned for today after the more somber mood of Holy Week.
Since Omar lives in Atzompa, I drove my minivan to a nearby shopping center where we linked up. From there we pedaled 24.7 miles (39.7 kms) out and back. We started out at an elevation of 5127 feet (2213 meters) and topped out at 7261 feet (2213 meters), for an absolute gain of 2134 feet (650 meters). However, because of the undulating terrain we actually gained and lost a total of 3474 feet (1059 meters) along the way. All in all a good ride, though my knees are complaining loudly for the effort. Now, where did I put those chocolate bunnies? . . . .
