January 29, 2006

Tlahuapan (Puebla), 29.01.06



GPS Track Video



Photoset Show

GPS Cycling Data:






Distance: 116.2 Km, Ascent: 1602 m, Time: 5:30 hr, Avg Speed: 20.9 Km/hr, Max Speed: 64.6 Km/hr

Travel Report:

This ride was made with the company of two fellow cyclists, although they choosed to return back to Mexico City once we had arrived at the Llano Grande summit, where we had an excellent meal.

Having started this ride at 08:20 at the terminal La Paz, we told ourselves farewell in Llano Grande (elev: 3220 m) at 12:00, with me (again) as the sole cyclist still wishing to make the round cycling ride to the town of Sta Rita Tlahuapan (elev: 2600 m), in the eastern state of Puebla, at the other side of Llano Grande.

I rode that 600 m descent to Tlahuapan. Once in that picturesque town, I headed towards its main square, where its beautiful church, municipal palace and local market are located. You can have a view of this red-brick stunning church (interiors included) and also of a religious procession at the photoset.

Once I had finished my photo session, I headed back towards the paid highway, this time in western direction, to Mexico City. I started that 600 m ascent from Tlahuapan to the Llano Grande summit at 14:17, arriving at the summit at 16:03, riding downwards after that. The cycling ride finished at the eastern terminal of La Paz at 17:29, with full diurnal light !

Ah, please don't forget to view the GPS track video shown above, as this was the first of its kind that I was able to record :-)

Thank you for reading. Till the next journey.

January 22, 2006

Rio Frio (Mexico), 22.01.06


Photoset Show

GPS Cycling Data:






Distance: 95 Km, Ascent: 1200 m, Time: 4:28 hr, Avg Speed: 21.1 Km/hr, Max Speed: 63.7 Km/hr

Travel Report:

This ride started in the the eastern terminal La Paz at 11:30, reaching the Huixtoco toll collect station (elev: 2250 m) at 12:21, Llano Grande summit (elev: 3220 m) at 15:41 and finally Rio Frio (elev: 2980 m) at 16.10, on the eastern side of Llano Grande. The road taken was the paid highway to Puebla.

The church of Rio Frio has always resembled me like a church in a ghost town: it is falling apart in pieces :-( I don't know why, but it is the only church that I have memory of, that shows such a state of self-indulgence and abandonment. You can have a look at it in the following photoset.

Although the church interior is well conserved and in fact, beautiful, it is its exterior that ensombers my heart. Only half of its facade stands up, painted in a serene white color. The other half of the facade and associated building, show severe and intriguing signs of abandonment. Why ? I really don't know ... but I would be interested in knowing :-)

The atrium of the church is more decorated, along with the town's kiosk, which looked like any other town kiosk.

After finishing that photo session, I took the paid highway again, this time in Mexico City direction, arriving at the Huixtoco toll collect station at 17:55, and to the end of the journey: the eastern terminal La Paz at 18:46, with the first signs of night at our back :-)

Thank you for reading. Till the next journey.