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Countryside, GPS, MTBing, Photos, Uncategorized

Santo Domingo & Santa Cecilia Jalieza

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The Days of the Dead – November 1 & 2 – are national holidays in Mexico. At this time people honor their deceased relatives by decorating their graves with lavish flower bouquets and spend time communing with the spirits of the dead. This holiday is more important than Christmas, Easter or any other fiesta in the calendar year. This ride on 2 November to the small villages of Santo Domingo and Santa Cecilia Jalieza took cyclists past six cemeteries, all resplendent with flowers and crowded with the living descendants of those interred there. Though hardly evident now, archeologists say that at one time the Jalieza region of the Valles Centrales of Oaxaca was the most densely populated in the area. Even today the hidden valley between San Antonio Buenavista and Santa Cecilia is wonderfully scenic and a worthy destination for a bike ride. The 70 kilometer (43.6 mile) route is pretty mellow. Though the terrain is not flat, the hills are not that many or particularly challenging, making this an inviting excursion for anyone with decent biking skills.

Countryside, GPS, MTBing, Uncategorized

Santa Cecilia Jalieza

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On a fine fall day in October 2023 five biking buddies set out from Oaxaca to ride to Santa Cecilia Jalieza and back, making an attempt to explore some dirt roads in the Tlacolula valley never ridden before. The unfamiliar terrain resulted in following a few country lanes that wound up depositing the riders in the middle of some corn fields. Not a problem, though! Everyone was in fine spirits and it was a lovely day to wander about on a bike. Passing through Santa Maria el Tule again on the return leg of the loop ride, the gang stopped to chow down at the El Milenario restaurant, a favorite lunch stop any time cyclists are in that neck of the woods. The final mileage tally for the day was 66.9 kilometers (41.6 miles), with an elevation gain and loss of 459 meters (1507 feet). Though a bit saddlesore and weary at the end, everyone declared the outing to be scenic and fun. What more could one ask?

GPS, Mountains, MTBing, Photos, Uncategorized

Climbing The Wall – Part II

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This post is a companion to the earlier entry of 10 October describing the brutal climb to the top of the ridge just west of Jalapa del Valle. There is a newly-paved road winding up the long, steep mountainside leading to Santiago Tlazoyaltepec. Getting to the top is a real challenge, even for riders with strong legs and powerful lungs. Two adventurous cyclists did the climb of 1087.5 meters (3568 feet) over 28.3 kilometers (17.6 miles) in 3 hours, 20 minutes, having first used a shuttle to get from Oaxaca to Jalapa del Valle. Jalapa sits at an elevation of 1721 meters (5645 feet), while the road hits a high point of 2808 meters (9213 feet). The brake-burning descent, by comparison, took just 28 minutes, after which the riders enjoyed a well-deserved lunch at the rustic but competent Comedor Campestre in the center of Jalapa. (Suggestion: try the wonderful shrimp platter for just 150 pesos.)

The new pavement on the road to Tlazayotepec gives a smooth ride but is still a formidable climb.
A memorial marker along the way.
Was Noe, perhaps, a cyclist who succumbed on the long haul up the mountain?
The turnoff to El Portezuelo, a tiny village near the top of the mountain.
A pet parrot enlivens lunch at the rustic comedor in Jalapa del Valle.

Countryside, GPS, MTBing, Photos, Uncategorized

Fiesta de Carrizo in Santa Cruz Papalutla

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The rural village of Santa Cruz Papalutla, situated near the center of the Tlacolula Valley, often sees mountain bikers pass through but rarely stop there. Today was an exception, as the townspeople held a festival celebrating the weaving of hats, baskets and other items from straw and carrizo (a form of bamboo which looks like sugar cane). The main street was cordoned off and covered with tents, beneath which artisans displayed their wares and ladies served fresh-made local foods. The eight cyclists on today’s ride stopped there for a tasty brunch before pedaling on to San Juan Teitipac and then circling back to Oaxaca city. The map below shows the route followed, which entailed pedaling 59.5 kilometers (37.0 miles) with an elevation gain and loss of 303.6 meters (996 feet) on the circuit.

Rendezvous at Santo Doming for the weekly Sunday ride.
On the bike path to Santa Maria el Tule.
Arrived at Papalutla for the Fiesta de Carrizo.
Andrew trades his old bike helmet for a woven one.
Local women serving up delicious treats.
Continuing the ride.

Countryside, MTBing, Photos, Uncategorized

Back To Jalapa del Valle

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Sunday, 8 October 2023, dawned bright and crisp, holding the promise of being a great day for a mountain bike ride. Six of the usual suspects showed up at the plaza in front of Santo Domingo church at 8 am to begin a 70.8 kilometer (44 mile) round trip excursion to Jalapa del Valle. There are four different routes to choose from to accomplish this ride, ranging from easy to very difficult. Today’s riders chose the easy way, which is a few miles longer but avoids any serious hill climbs. Pedaling at a leisurely pace, the gang reached their destination at the three-hour mark and settled in for a nice brunch at the Rio Jalapilla restaurant a few miles upvalley from Jalapa. There were no surprises – either good or bad – to mark the day’s outing. All in all, a very pleasant trip!

Manuel was the instigator and leader for today’s ride in the country.
Very little vehicular traffic on Oaxaca streets on a Sunday morning.
Out in the countryside for most of today’s excursion.
A woman selling flowers and fruit at a rural intersection.
Pedaling merrily along.
We encountered dozens of other mountain bikers riding in the hills on this bright Sunday morning.
Our very own cookie monsters.
The valley of the Jalapilla River is lined with farm fields.
On the bridge over the stream leading to a country restaurant.
Cranking up one of many moderate inclines.