The first Sunday in June was a special day for a couple of reasons. First of all it was election day in Mexico, with people voting for candidates running for local, state and national offices. We passed a number of polling places on today’s ride where folks were lined up to cast their ballots. Secondly, recent heavy rains occasioned the appearance of the large winged ants – called chicatanas – which are considered quite a delicacy hereabouts. Both while waiting for riders to assemble at Santo Domingo church and all along the route of today’s ride we saw dozens of people scavenging for the insects, deftly capturing them and putting them in plastic bags to be carried home to the kitchen for preparation in a meal later in the day.
The route for this Sunday outing was a long loop that took participants 56.2 kms (34.9 miles) from Oaxaca south into the Zimatlan valley through San Bartolo Coyotepec (famous for black glazed pottery), then up and over a ridge of hills to San Sebastian Teitipac in the Tlacolula valley before angling back to Oaxaca through San Francisco Lachigoló and Santa Maria del Tule. Those rains referenced above meant slogging through a lot of mud along the way. The 233 meter (763 foot) foot climb up and over the hills separating the Zimatlan and Tlacolula valleys was a challenge, but the ride down the far side was a blast. Overall, riders gained and lost 509 meters (1670 feet) on the circuit. Time in the saddle amounted to 5.5 hours, including time for a delicious lunch at the Milenario restaurant in Tule on the final leg of the journey. Once back home the first order of business was to give our bikes a thorough cleaning and wash our filthy clothes and shoes!
A chicatana – a one-inch long flying ant. 
People scurry to catch the ants. 
One of many polling places in Oaxaca. 
A sign for a foot race in the hills. 
Taking a pic of blooming cacti. 
Time to rehydrate. 
Dropping through a rock garden. 
Lots of mud on the bike! Shoes and shorts were just as dirty.
Caution! Goose crossing. 
Enjoying the scenery. 
Nearing the top of the ridge separating the Zimatlan & Tlacolula valleys. 
Gorgeous view of the Tlacolula valley.