Hammockeering Around: Crossing Mexico

I've been cycling across central Mexico for two weeks now. I will make it to the east coast in just a few more days. I avoided Mexico City but have visited several really nice smaller cities along the way, Durango, Zacateces, San Luis Patosi and Puebla. They were all clean, bustling and easy to navigate with my bike. In each city I would check my map to see were the oldest churches were located and went there. I always like looking at church architecture. They always seem to be located at the historic downtown too. Generally a pretty nice place to take a break and take in the sights and sounds.

I also made a few friends along the way. As I was biking past a small village I was invited to lunch by Cesar Santos Valenciano. I followed him to his house were I met his wife, Mayra Rodriquez, and their 14 day old baby, still unnamed. We had sandwiches and fruit then they sent me away refreshed for the afternoon. A few days later I was fixing a flat in front of a coffee shop when Maria Aurora Roque Gonzalez took pity on me and invited me in for a chocolate milk. Then she went next store and got a Subway sandwich for me. It was just what I needed after a day of flat tires.

A couple of days ago I set up camp late after clouds had moved in. I was high on a ridge and the view below was of small towns and a wide valley. As it grew darker the valley lit up with street lights that twinkled more than the emerging stars. When I woke up the clouds had lifted and on the far side of that valley a smoking volcano revealed itself. It was an amazing sight to wake up to.