Finally got out on the road today, thru several heavy tropical showers. Came back completely soaked and covered in grit. Good thing I just had the fixie, no derailleurs and cogs to ruin.

I started off riding toward the airport on the toll road, the place everybody goes to train, I was told. When I got to the toll booth, the guard turned me back. They had just changed the rules five days ago, now they prohibit cyclists from riding on the toll road. Apparently, motorists had complained that if they had to pay a toll, they were entitled to drive along a road with no non-paying vehicles (cyclists) and without having to watch out for cyclists!

I rode instead on the main highway toward La Paz. The Mexican roads have lousy drainage; I was avoiding potholes, piles of sand, and huge puddles of water. In some of the big pools, I had to watch the wheels of the car ahead of me to make sure they didn't fall into any potholes. I punctured twice on the ride. One was a pinch puncture, the other was from hittling something in the road, sort of a pinch puncture.

The drivers aren't too bad. The Mexicans do crazy things (one guy made a U-turn at a stoplight by passing me on the right on a red light, then joining the line of cars coming from the right making a left turn!), but they gave me plenty of room and let me cut in to avoid big puddles. I think the dangerous drivers are probably Norteamericanos who think they can drive stupidly in Mexico. I would say that if you are interested in a cycling holiday, don't go to Los Cabos!

When I got back, I had to walk over to the beach pool in my riding clothes and stand under the outdoor shower to get all the grit off me. Good thing the rainwater is very warm.

Here are some pictures of San Jose del Cabo...

On the road to the aeropuerto...


You can practice for Paris-Roubaix on some of San Jose's streets...


Drying out back at the hotel...


Luis