Pulque Haciendas (Hidalgo), 27.12.05

Photoset Show

GPS Cycling Data: Distance: 57.5 Km, Ascent: 717 m, Time: 8:00 hr, Avg Speed: 7 Km/hr, Max Speed: 40 Km/hr

Travel Report:

This was my first and so far, only MTB (mountain bike) cycling ride. In fact, the bicycle I used was my wife's MTB bike. The reason ? I am not particularly fond on MTB cycling :-)

I decided to attend an invitation for this ride made by Juan Valencia, from the Tigrillos MTB cycling club, in Tulancingo, in the mexican state of Hidalgo.

The start of the ride was in Singuilucan (Hidalgo). I had to drive my car to that position just to be able to begin the ride. Could you imagine this pathetic situation ? Requiring to drive my car to a remote location just to be able to start a cycling ride ? Well, I suppose this is a standard procedure in the MTB realm ...

As usual, I got up a little late that day (it was holidays), so I arrived late at the rendezvous point at Singuilucan. Nevermind, I told myself, I will catch with the group later, as I had already the route beforehand.

Armed with my wife's MTB bike, I cycled along the route posted by Juan Valencia, which included visits to the following Pulque Haciendas (Ranches): Tecanecapa, Mazatepec, and Tecajete. Your can have a look at the superb architectural designs of those ancient Ranchs in the following photoset.

But it wasn't until I reached the Tecajete Ranch, at the base of the Tecajete Hill, that I found the rest of the MTB cyclists along the route.

We rode later to Zempoala, where a meal was ordered and the official photos taken, in front of the humble church of Zempoala.

The visit continued spanning more Haciendas, at least three more of them, before the group could arrive at Tepeyahualco, to admire its imposing aqueduct.

I do firmly believe that the best way to describe this ride is by simply showing the pictures of those quiet, imposing and beautiful pulque manufacturing ranches. They certainly look as if the time had stopped at those old Haciendas. In this fashion, I would recommend having a look at the photoset.

As the cycling ride finished at Tepeyahualco, we needed to be trailed upwards in a truck to Singuilucan, where the cars had been parked.

The GPS recordings of this ride were impressive: 58 Km and 700 m of climbing ... in 8 hours ! A stunning average speed of ... 7 Km/hr ! Wow ! Well, I guess that is what MTB cycling is all about :-)

Thank you for reading. Till the next real journey.

Huapalcalco Archaeological Site + Tulancingo (Hidalgo), 18.12.05

GPS Track Video

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GPS Track: GPX (MapSource, et al.) or KMZ (Google Earth)

GPS Cycling Data:






Distance: 122 Km. Ascent: 595 m. Time: 5:18 hr, Avg Speed: 23 Km/hr, Max Speed: 57.3 Km/hr

Travel Report:

This bicycle journey was performed in the last days of the year, so the weather was really chilly. On top of that, I was suffering from a considerable cold that made me "enjoy" the trip. But, heck: I had been delaying this trip to the archeological site of Huapalcalco (in the mexican state of Hidalgo) for more than 2 weeks, so ... I had to do it :-)

I started in the northern Mexico City Metro Station of Indios Verdes. The climbing at this starting point is a little bit interesting, but after passing the initial hills, it is a walk in the park. This route, up to the Teotihuacan Pyramids is a piece of cake, because it is composed of plain terrain, with less than 200 meters of ascent.

Fun starts after the Pyramids, but anyway, this journey is not a mountain one. The whole ascent is less than 900 m. The real problem was the wind. That december northern wind. As we were heading to NE, this continuous chilly and strong wind was the most remarkable feature in the trip.

A moderate ascending starts that will only finish at Sanguilucan, 55 Km after the Pyramids. The state of the road is excellent ! As there was a lot of wind that day, the weather was really sunny, so the photographs obtained enjoyed a fair amount of solar light, so they were not so bad (for my standards, anyway) as you could observe in the photoset.

The landscapes were beatiful. The views of the road, the hills and those plains make me desire now a re-run of this route. After arriving to the road to Sanguilucan, the descent to the Tulancingo area starts. We need to pass the city of Tulancingo in order to arrive to the archelogical site at Huapalcalco (it is anyway a short ride from that city).

At Huapalcalco, we could enjoy learning about the history of the place (of Toltecan roots) There are no many pyramids there, but the positiong of the site in the middle of 2 big cliffs, made the view imposing, wonderful. There are even caves in the walls of these cliffs, but the path conducting to them was almost impracticable for my bike.

So, we took some photos of the site, of the pyramid, and the sourrounding area (there are a lot of nopales and cactus !). Sadly, there were no many visitors. When i was leaving the site, just a family showed up :-(

In Tulancingo I made a little visit to the Main Square, its Cathedral, Park and Kiosk. As Christmas was looming, I had the chance of knowing the first green Santa i had ever seen :-) After eating something, i boarded the bus that took me back home again.

Thank you for reading. Till the next journey.

Cortes Pass + Amecameca (Mexico), 20.11.05

Photoset Show

GPS Cycling Data: Distance: 64.1 Km, Ascent: 1715 m, Time: 5:01 hr, Avg Speed: 15.1 Km/hr, Max Speed: 51 Km/hr

Travel Report:

This ride started in La Paz eastern sub-urban train terminal station. I took the paid highway to Puebla. Before the Huixtoco toll collect station I took the Amecameca deviation. After I short stop in Amecameca, I continued my road to the 3700 meter high Cortes Pass.

I don't remember at what time did I leave my house that day, but it was certainly late. So I arrived late at Amecameca. On my way to the Cortes Pass I rode first to the nearby town of Nexapa. After this last town in the route, only pure ascent on my way to the summit awaited for me.

I don't remember at what time did I arrived at the Cortes Pass summit, but it was really late. There was no much solar light then :-(

I could take some photographs of the incredible vistas on that mythical summit. You can have a look of the Popocatepetl and Iztaccihuatl volcanoes as seen from the Cortes Pass summit at the following photoset.

Later I descended to Amecameca, from where I could take some pictures of this beautiful city. Some buildings that are worth paying a visit are its Cathedral, Municipal Palace and Central Park (kiosk inluded). Later I started my return trip to Mexico City.

Meanwhile, my wife, who had arrived to Amecameca independently (not by bicycle), had been very active photographing some beautiful pictures of Amecameca, and particularly, from the beautiful and not so known Park of Sacromonte, up ahead over a hill surrounding Amecameca. These pictures show one of the most intriguing church I had ever seen in my life ... The church in the upper part of the Sacromonte looks like a very ancient and abandoned church in Transylvania, if you allow me the comparison. Please have a look at this mystic church at the following photoset.

Thank you for reading. Till the next journey.

Actopan (Hidalgo), 06.11.05

Map Navigation: This dynamic Trackmap shows the GPS track (red line) of the cycling tour. Wheel up and wheel down to zoom in or zoom out. Click on any point in the map to center it on that point. Or just drag the map with your mouse.

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GPS Track: GPX (MapSource, et al.) or KMZ (Google Earth)

GPS Cycling Data: Distance: 111.6 Km, Ascent: 445 m, Time: 4:15 Hr, Avg. Speed: 26.2 Km/hr, Max. Speed: 60.1 Km/hr.

Travel Report:

I made this ride cycling along the paid highway to Pachuca, capital of the northern state of Hidalgo. After arriving to Pachuca I took the western deviation to Actopan. Although the road conditions along the sideway of the highway to Pachuca had been in general acceptable, after Pachuca and in Actopan direction the road becomes worst, with a lot of holes on the pavement. This is particularly critic as one nears Actopan.

Along the route impressive vistas could be appreciated. For example, the view of the train in Tecamac, or the hills near the San Pedro summit, or the small lakes lost in the middle of that desert. A vivid image I do remember is the mountains view at the Arenal, called Los Frailes. Pure desert and wind, but miraculously, beautiful diminutive flowers also :-)

Once I arrived at Actopan, I headed towards it center, where the beautiful Augustine convent of San Nicolas de Tolentino is located. An impressive stone cross stands before the entrance of the convent. And when the convent lights went on, a magnificent view of the entrance corridor along its interior park could be appreciated. You can have a look at the photos in the following photoset.

Thank you for reading. Till the next journey.

Iguala (Guerrero), 30.10.05

GPS Track Video

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GPS Track: GPX (MapSource, et al.) or KMZ (Google Earth)

GPS Cycling Data:






Distance: 183 Km. Ascent: 1645 m. Time: 7:22 hr, Avg Speed: 25.1 Km/hr, Max Speed: 57.4 Km/hr

Travel Report:

Esta rodada fue realizada el pasado domingo 30.10.05, sin embargo, no había sido correctamente documentada. Por tanto la documentamos ahora aprovechando la nueva versión (Beta 4) de Google Earth para hacer que el video luzca súper :-)

Para variar, iniciamos muy tarde, creo que por ahi de las 13:00 hrs (esa mala costumbre de levantarse tarde los domingos). Iniciamos en Gral Anaya, al sur de la Ciudad de México, sobre Tlalpan. Tomamos todo Tlalpan hasta el Monumento al Caminero y luego nos seguimos por la autopista a Cuernavaca. Sin mayores problemas llegamos a La Cima (Km 46) y de ahí derecho hasta Cuernavaca, previa parada en el Mirador de la Pera para tomar unas fotos de la hermosa vista.

Continuamos hasta Xochitepec donde hicimos un corto descanso, pudiendo constatar que el calor venía en serio. Es en Xochitepec (Cerro de las Flores) donde hay muchos puestos de flores a la orilla de la carretera. Seguimos adelante y llegamos a la caseta de Alpuyeca, donde pudimos comprobar que hacía un soberano calor (la ventaja de los descensos es que no sientes el calor, pero en cuanto te detienes parece que entras a un horno).

Tomamos la desviación hacia Puente de Ixtla, siguiéndonos derecho hasta Amacuzac, pues el tiempo apremia. En Amacuzac comí algo en una gasolinería y nos planteamos la disyuntiva sobre si continuamos o no con la ruta hasta Iguala, pues era ya muy tarde (aprox las 17:00 hrs). Además, Amacuzac representa el punto de no retorno, pues más adelante sólo queda la montaña, y ya no hay poblados grandes sino hasta Iguala.

Pues haciendo acopio de valor (o de necedad), nos lanzamos a la aventura, y decidimos cruzar la montaña, a pesar de lo tarde que era. Justo cuando el sol se metió, cruzamos la frontera con el estado de Guerrero. Por fin, atrás de nosotros quedaba Morelos. Sin embargo, aún nos falta continuar con el ascenso de la montaña.

Es ya de noche cuando llegamos a un pueblo llamado Zacapalco. Comemos algo allí y continuamos. La ventaja de que ya cayó la noche es que ya no hace calor :-) Pasamos la desviación a Buenavista. Llegamos por fin a la desviación a Tuxpan, donde termina el ascenso. Sin embargo, ahora comienza lo mas peligroso, 500 metros de descenso (altitud): de noche, solo y sin luces ! Misión suicida ! Justo como la que la otra vez hice al bajar de regreso de Llano Grande (en la autopista a Puebla) hacia el DF, también de noche, solo y sin luces (y con un frío de temperaturas sub-cero), pero esa será una historia a relatar en otra ocasión :-)

Y bueno, me dije: tomo o no el camión para el descenso y me respondí: no, si podemos :-) Comencé a bajar con cuidado, guiándome tan sólo con los faros de los carros que venían de frente, aunque también me deslumbraban (pues la carretera era de doble sentido, sin malla enmedio). De pronto que me rebasa un camión carguero de esos viejitos, que apenas y se les veían los cuartos. Y que me le pego ! Gracias a ese camioncito de carga pude bajar ya sin problemas, pues el camión me tapaba las luces de los autos de enfrente, además de que por sus cuartos ya me veían los autos de atrás. De esta manera pude llegar sano y salvo a la caseta de Iguala que está al terminar el descenso :-)

Entré pues a la ciudad de Iguala por ahi de las 21 hrs, pasando al centro a tomar fotos. De hecho inclusive me dió tiempo de presenciar una noche de fiesta en el Kiosko del centro, así como la exposición de ofrendas de muertos :-) Cené algo y me dirigí a la terminal del Estrella de Oro para tomar el autobús de regreso a México.

Allí continuó la diversión, pues ya no había camiones a México (el último creo que sale a las 19:00 hrs) ... Tuve que esperarme en la terminal (muy cómoda por cierto, y donde nos dejaron dormitar tranquilos) a que llegara un autobús de paso que venía del puerto de Acapulco (por ahi de las 03:00 hr), pero que siendo directo, me trajo sin escalas al DF, sin tener que hacer transbordo en Cuernavaca. Lo bueno es que traía lugares :-)

Gracias por leer. Hasta el próximo viaje.

Chalma (Mexico), 23.10.05

Photoset Show

GPS Cycling Data: Distance: 102 Km, Ascent: 1661 m, Time: 4:40 hr, Avg. Speed: 20.8 Km/hr, Max. Speed: 61.1 Km/hr.

Travel Report:

This ride started from the western Metro terminal Observatorio. From here I took Minas de Arena and then the road to the paid highway to Toluca. On my way I passed by Santa Fe, a beautiful corporate business quarter in the western sector of Mexico City. You can have a look at the beautiful buildings there at the following photoset.

After Santa Fe stands the junction were the paid and the free highway to Toluca diverge. As this ride belongs to the set related to my humble beginnings as a cyclist, I choosed to ride along the paid highway, since on those days I felt comfortable only if I could ride on the side lane of a paid highway. Nowadays I do prefer the free highways :-)

Along the road there is an enormous bridge that stands over a big ravine, populated nonetheless by people at the bottom of it. The green colors of the grass covering that ravine made the vista an idyllic one.

I do remember now that just a little before I arrived at the summit I had already run out of water. As I was really thirsty, I had to rely on the water that filters across the mountains in order to drink a little of it. Fortunately, this fresh water is pure and crystalline, so it represented no problem for me drinking it as it filtered out of the mountain walls that bordered the paid highway.

After reaching the summit I descended 200 m (altitude wise) arriving at La Marquesa recreation park. In this park a lot of families and tourists decide to spend its Sunday in order to have picnics parties. A little boring for my taste, if you mind :-)

From La Marquesa I took the road to Malinalco, since it was planned to visit the Malinalco Archaeological Site before proceeding to Chalma.

Crossing the mountain that stands before reaching Joquincingo probed to be a considerable test to my then-condition :-) But after this hill, the road probed to be an idyllic one. Just green hills and a descending road. Some photos of this beautiful landscape between Joquincingo and Malinalco can be seen in the photoset. After Joquincingo the road turned itself into one of pure descent all the way to Malinalco.

At my arrival at Malinalco one fact that captured my attention was a black wooden cross, erected in one corner of the atrium church. I don't have the exact time I arrived at Malinalco, but it was too late to visit the archaeological site (it closed at 16:00). I decided then to follow my route, this time to Chalma, some kilometers along the road that had taken me to Malinalco.

At my arrival at Chalma, I decided to immediately go downwards to the Chalma sanctuary, down in the middle of the town. That descent over stairways can only be walked, not rode. As it was again too late to find the shrine open, I had to live with fact that I was only going to be able to take some pictures of my bike, in front of the shrine, but with its doors closed :-(

I hope to be able to re-make soon this route, in order to know the inside of that famous Chalma shrine. In the atrium church I could still find some photographers with its wooden horses for the kids photos.

Roaming a little along the town of Chalma, I could observe that there were several swimming pools and a big river. I hope some day I could submerge in one of them (either the swimming pools or the river), as the heat in this religious sanctuary is barely bearable.

On my way to the bus station of Chalma, I visited the local market, although in fact, the whole town is an enormous market. A lot of religious items are sold, from images to wooden crosses. Being myself an atheist, I declare myself an ignorant about the meaning and purposes of such a variety of religious items.

I boarded the return bus back home, arriving safe and sound at Mexico City a couple of hours later.

PS: In the photoset I have added some very interesting photographs that were taken in Chalma that same day by my wife, but with the advantage that they were taken several hours before (as my wife was not cycling to arrive at Chalma). In this way, the new photos show the Chalma church open, its interiors and most importantly: the arrival of an indigenous religious pilgrimage to the Chalma sanctuary. These photos are also available in the above mentioned photoset.

Thank you for reading. Till the next journey.

Chalcatzingo Archaeological Site (Morelos), 16.10.05

GPS Track Video

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GPS Track: GPX (MapSource, et al.) or KMZ (Google Earth)

GPS Cycling Data:






Distance: 130 Km. Ascent: 1104 m. Time: 5:12 hr, Avg Speed: 24.9 Km/hr, Max Speed: 61.3 Km/hr

Travel Report:

La Zona Arqueológica de Chalcatzingo, en el estado de Morelos. se encuentra casi en la frontera con el estado de Puebla. Para llegar a ella, debemos tomar la carretera que une a Cuautla (Mor) con Izúcar de Matamoros (Pue). Esta rodada se realizó el pasado domingo 16.10.05.

Comezamos a rodar en Taxqueña (DF), tomando Tlalpan y luego la autopista a Cuernavaca. Pasamos la caseta y seguimos hacia La Cima (Km 46, alt: 3,050 m snm). De ahí ya todo es bajada hasta un poco antes de Cuautla :-). Después de La Pera, tomamos la desviación a Cuautla, pasando por el conocido poblado de Tepoztlán. La ventaja de ir bajando es que el calor no se sentía. Sin embargo, unos 7 km antes de Cuautla, se acaba el descenso y entramos como a una "olla" donde no hay viento. Esto hizo que el calor aumentara :-(.

A nuestro paso por Cuautla tomamos unas fotos y seguimos por la carretera que va a Izúcar de Matamoros, en Puebla (visita que por cierto tenemos pendiente). La ruta en este tramo está hecha prácticamente de puros columpios. Tomamos la desviación a Jonacatepec, pero antes de llegar a este pueblo, tomamos la desviación a Chalcatzingo.

Este singular pueblo es la antesala de la Zona Arqueológica, sin embargo, aún debemos de rodar varios kilómetros sobre puro empedrado para accesar a la ZA. Sin embargo, ya una vez en ella, la vista, el paisaje y los descubrimientos arqueológicos son extraordinarios :-)

Gracias por leer. Hasta el próximo viaje.

Queretaro (Queretaro), 09.10.05

Photoset Show

GPS Cycling Data: Distance: 203.8 Km, Ascent: 1294 m, Time: 7:59 hr, Avg. Speed: 25.5 Km/hr, Max. Speed: 60.1 Km/hr.

Travel Report:

With this ride I would close a cycle that involves ten cycling rides that I would term as my beginning cycling rides. These ten cycling rides represent my first solo cycling rides, performed to know ten different cities around Mexico City and the road conditions of the routes needed to arrived at them.

The destinations of theses ten beginners cycling rides were: Cuernavaca, Morelos (70 km); Tlalmanalco, Mexico State (60 km); Amecameca, Mexico State (38 km); Tula, Hidalgo (78 km); Xochitepec, Morelos (94 km); Pachuca, Hidalgo (87 Km); Toluca, Mexico State (60 km); Puebla, Puebla (112 km); Tlaxcala, Tlaxcala (104 km); and Querétaro, Querétaro (204 km).

As you could probably infere, I was trying to test me, cycling solo, to the cities that surround Mexico City (Mexico capital), in all four directions: north, south, east and west. I was also trying to advance in each ride the number of kilometers cycled along the route, and also the total ascent required to complete each ride. I mean: I was trying to adapt to longer and higher rides, between Mexico City and its surrounding cities.

As I was a novice knowing by first hand those inter-cities routes, I was extremely pleased with what I was doing :-) In fact, I miss now that novice happiness, because when I ride again that very same routes, I don't feel as happy as in my novice years :-( But I guess, that is the way life is !

Once I finished this ten cycling ride novice cycle, I changed my kind of destinations. I started to prefer visiting archaeological sites, dispersed in the states that surround Mexico City. But that is another story :-)

Let's talk about this cycling ride to Querétaro ! The ride started in the north-western Metro terminal of El Rosario, in Mexico City. I avoided the Periferico, and instead choosed to ride the free highway to Cuautitlán. At the thermoelectric power plant of Lechería I merged myself with the (paid) highway to Querétaro, reaching soon the toll collect station of Tepoztlán. Passing Coyotepec, wonderful vistas and landscapes can be appreciated along the route.

After Tepeji del Rio comes a steep ascent towards Jilotepec, agravated by the desert-like temperature conditions of the environment along this northern route.

After Jilotepec I arrived at the toll collect station of Palmillas. A recent rain had already fallen on this region, Fortunately, all I saw of the rain was the water on the pavement :-) After the last toll station, the side lane of the highway had morphed in an incredible cement lane ! Just as the main (car) lanes in the highway ! It is not required to say that this change of terrain made us cycling faster :-)

Passing by San Juan del Río, the terrain is relatively plain. So, it helped us advancing faster. This probed to be a helpful aid, since Queretaro is located mote than 200 km away from Mexico City.

Cycling a little more I arrived with no big problem finally at Queretaro ! My wife was already waiting for me at the Kiosk in the center of the city :-)

We took a lot of photographies of the city of the beautiful city of Querétaro, between that day and the next (as we decided to stay another day in the city). All those photos are shown in the following photoset.

Thank you for reading. Till the next travel.

Tlaxcala (Tlaxcala), 02.10.05

Photoset Show

GPS Cycling Data: Distance: 103.2 Km, Ascent: 1140 m, Time: 4:50 hr, Avg. Speed: 21.2 Km/hr, Max. Speed: 58 Km/hr.

Travel Report:

This ride started at the eastern sub-urban train terminal La Paz. From there I took the paid highway to Puebla, leaving it at the Texmelucan deviation. From Texmelucan I took the paid highway to Tlaxcala, in what probed to be an expensive mistake (time wise), as for when I arrived at the toll collect station of this highway to Tlaxcala, I was not allowed to cross the station, not even paying the fee as a car ! What the hell ! I was obliged to circle the toll station by the country-side. This turn around costed me more than an hour, since there was no easy way to circumvent that station.

Once I could find again the highway to Tlaxcala, it was a piece of cake arriving at Tlaxcala. A gentle rain was my companion in this last leg of this journey to Tlaxcala.

After a short walk around the center of the city, having a look at its beautiful buildings, which include the Cathedral and the Government Palace, my wife (who had arrived before me as she was not cycling) and I decided to dinner at the Portales of the city, in a restaurant whose taste probed to be an exquisite one :-) You can have a glimpse of those beautiful colonial buildings in the center of Tlaxcala at the following photoset.

Thank you for reading. Till the next travel.

Puebla (Puebla), 25.09.05

Photoset Show

GPS Cycling Data: Distance: 111.7 Km, Ascent: 1329 m, Time: 6:06 hr, Avg. Speed: 18.3 Km/hr, Max. Speed: 63 Km/hr.

Travel Report:

This ride started in the eastern sub-urban train terminal La Paz. From there I took the paid highway to Puebla, passing on my way: Huixtoco toll collect station (elev: 2250 m), Llano Grande summit (3220 m), Texmelucan (2250 m), and from here, direct to the beautiful city of Puebla :-)

One little problem: as I had wrongly started to ride too late, in the last kilometers towards Puebla the night caught me, and worst of all: owed to the fact that the highway had been expanded to six lanes, the side lane where cyclists usually ride to arrive at Puebla was non-existant. In this fashion, without diurnal light, without side lane, and without cycling lamps, I was not able to cycle in the main (car) lane. On some parts I had to abandon the highway and cycle at the dirt side of the highway, but without sun or moon, this task probed to be a very difficult one. The good news was that it were only some segments that had not the side-lane. Once in the entrance of Puebla, I was again safe :-)

I took some photos of the road and also, from the city of Puebla. You can see them at the following photoset.

Thank you for reading. Till the next travel.

Toluca (Mexico), 18.09.05

Photoset Show

GPS Cycling Data: Distance: 56.3 Km, Ascent: 940 m, Time: 2:36 hr, Avg. Speed: 21.5 Km/hr, Max. Speed: 71.4 Km/hr.

Travel Report:

This ride started in the western Metro terminal Observatorio. I ascended later by Reforma, and Santa Fe, up to the junction to the paid highway to Toluca. I took it, having to make a bypass at the toll collect station of La Venta. As there I was not allowed to cross the station by bike, I had to take momentarily the free highway, re-incorporating 200 m later to the paid highway :-)

After arriving at the summit (elev: 3200 m), I descended all the way to La Marquesa, and later to Lerma. After Lerma, I took the Tollocan Boulevard, which took me direct to the Tolo god monument, in the heart of Toluca. From here I headed to the center of this capital city of Toluca.

I visited its beautiful main Plaza, Cathedral, State Government Palace, and also its Portales. The photos of these stunning buildings can be seen in the photoset.

Meanwhile, my wife, who had travelled independently (not by bike), also visited the nearby Calixtlahuaca Archaeological Site. Her photographs of this beautiful and interesting archaeological site, along with my pictures of the cycling ride to Toluca can be seen at the following photoset.

Thank you for reading. Till the next travel.

Pachuca (Hidalgo), 11.09.05

Photoset Show

GPS Cycling Data: Distance: 86.2 Km, Ascent: 518 m, Time: 4:09 hr, Avg. Speed: 20.8 Km/hr, Max. Speed: 61.2 Km/hr.

Travel Report:

This ride started at the Indios Verdes Metro terminal. From here I took the paid highway to Pachuca, passing soon the toll station.

The road to Pachuca is relatively plain, with the only inconveniences of a strong head wind, and the terrain conditions of the side lane: a lot of little stones (tezontle stones).

As soon as I reached Pachuca, I headed towards its center, where its monumental clock stands. From there, my wife (who had independently travelled from Mexico City) and I went to eat at the local market.

After our meal, we had a walking tour by the center of Pachuca. My wife previously was able to enter in the mining city museum. Her photographs of this interesting museum and of the rest of city, along with mines of the cycling road can be seen in the previously linked photoset.

Thank you reading. Till the next travel.

Xochitepec (Morelos), 04.09.05

Photoset Show

GPS Cycling Data:: Distance: 94 Km, Ascent: 915 m, Time: 3:54 hr, Avg. Speed: 23.9 Km/hr, Max. Speed: 67.1 Km/hr.

Travel Report:

This ride started in the southern Metro terminal Taxqueña. From there I took Tlalpan and later the free highway to Cuernavaca.

I stopped briefly at the Mirador Restaurant sightseeing point, in order to take some photographs of the incredible vistas from the whole Mexico City valley there attainable.

Later on along the route I crossed: Parres, La Cima summit, Tres Marías, Huitzilac, and Cuernavaca. From Cuernavaca, I took the paid highway to Acapulco, reaching soon Alpuyeca. It was only a short leg from here that i found the town of Xochitepec.

This ride was intended to arrive at the Xochicalco Arcaeological Site, but it was then too late to arrive at the site at opening hours. So I had to cut short my cycling ride and had to finish it at the above mentioned town of Xochitepec, nearby Alpuyeca.

In Xochitepec I paid a visit to its beautiful Main Plaza, church, Municipal Palace and Morelos enormous statue.

My wife, who had independently travelled (not by bike), could had a glimpse of the gigantic Xochicalco archaeological site. Her photographs, along with mines of the cycling ride, can be seen at the previuosly linked photoset.

Thank you for reading. Till the next travel.

Tula Archaeological Site (Hidalgo), 21.08.05

Photoset Show

GPS Cycling Data: Distance: 78 Km, Ascent: 426 m, Time: 3:11 hr, Avg. Speed: 24.4 Km/hr, Max. Speed: 51.3 Km/hr.

Report:

This ride started at the northern Rosario Metro terminal. From there I took the road to Tlalnepantla and later to Cuautitlán, merging myself with the paid highway to Querétaro after passing the Lechería thermo-electrical power plant.

I crossed along the route: Coyotepec, Tepeji del Río and the Jilotepec deviation. After Jilotepec I took the Tula deviation. Once there, stands a small climbing, but after that, the road is mainly plain.

Once in the city of Tula, I headed immediately to the Tula Archaeological Site, but as I had started the ride really late back in Mexico City, at my arrival at the archaeological site, I found it closed :-(

You can have a look at the few photos that I took along the road at the previuosly linked photoset.

I hope soon to be able to re-make this route, now departing at a decent hour from Mexico City, so I could enter at the beautiful and really interesting Tula Archaeological Site.

Thank you reading. Till the next travel.

Amecameca (Mexico), 14.08.05

Photoset Show

GPS Cycling Data: Distance: 37.7 Km, Ascent: 310 m, Time: 1:47 hr, Average Speed: 21.1 Km/hr, Max Speed: 52.5 km/hr

Travel Report:

This ride started at the eastern La Paz Metro terminal station. From there I took the paid Puebla highway, and just before reaching the Huixtoco toll station, I took the Amecameca deviation, arriving at this city a little later.

In the city, the Nut Festival was taking place, with dancing and other activities around this tasty fruit taking place around the whole city center ! Really, the Main Plaza of Amecameca was full with expositions, and selling points of nut related products :-)

I went to the Amecameca church to take some photographs, even entering in this ancient building in order to admire its altar and adjacent convent. You can have a look at the taken pictures of the interior of this ancient church and associated convent in the previously linked photoset.

Thank you for reading. Till the next travel.

Tlalmanalco (Mexico), 07.08.05

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Travel Report:

I started this ride with a group of cyclists at the Zocalo of Mexico City, but as they decided to use a bus to arrive at Tlalmanalco, I opted for taking the Metro train all the way up to La Paz eastern terminus, and after that, I cycled towards Amecameca and later to Tlalmanalco.

When I arrived at that town I asked for the groups of cyclists, and I could find their trail :-) The problem arised when the trail started riding into a dirt road towards a hill, typical MTB road !

As I am not very fond on MTB, i decided to wait there for the return of the group. Soon one member of the group descended and we exchanged some words.

After waiting for the rest for half an hour, I decided to return to Mexico City. I took a bus for that matter.

Thank you for reading. Till the next travel.

Cuernavaca (Morelos), 24.07.05

Photoset Show

Travel Report:

This was my first inter-urban, solo cycling ride in the highways ! It wasn't mean to have been rode solo, but as when I wake up that Sunday the cycling group I used to ride with had already departed, I had to make the route alone.

I decided to take the free highway to Cuernavaca, although the group has used the toll highway. I choosed the free highway because it is shorter, with only 70 Km between Mexico City and Cuernavaca.

When I arrived at the Cuauhnahuac Museum, in the center of Cuernavaca, it was a surprise to me meeting there the cycling group ! I had been able to make up a 3 hours delay and meet the group in Cuernavaca ! Not bad for a beginner, huh ?

After that, the group return to Mexico City via bus. I remained a little more in the city in order to eat and have a look at the city. I also returned to Mexico City via bus.

Thank you for reading. Till the next travel.