Cabo San Lucas - Finale (Stage
8)
As I was packing up the
tent for the last time; there was almost some sadness in the air, because
something was coming to an end in a few days. Then from there it was a short
32-mile ride to La Paz where I went to find a hotel room near the Malecon. There
I found the Hotel Lorimar, which was cheap and clean plus within walking
distance of everything. After checking in, I showered off the accumulated gunk
from the past couple of days and provided my stomach with food and drink. With
a population of over 200,000, the city has a lot to offer, as well as the
pleasant feel of civilization. I spent a few enjoyable days in La Paz just
walking about city streets, along the harbor and visiting some gorgeous beaches
a bit north of town. Also for the last time, I bumped into Rin, who took the
ferry across to the mainland to continue his journey to South America.
The highlight of La Paz,
as it turned out, was meeting Kristie. She just came back from a two-week
sailing trip in the Sea of Cortez and happened to spend an extra couple of days
in the city before going back to Vancouver when our paths crossed. This was
also the turning point of my life and the rest is history. . . .
Now there were only 100
miles between me and Cabo San Lucas. Leaving La Paz in good spirits and typical
Baja sunshine was a good start to a fresh beginning. Not even a flat tire,
which was the first and only one while bicycling in Mexico, could change that.
There might be a lot of garbage scattered around the roadside, but no sharp
objects such as nails and screws are to be found (they must all get picked up
and reused). It was an easy 50-mile ride with a slight headwind to Todos
Santos. Hungry and with plenty of eateries to choose from, I got some tacos in
the center of town, which was also a great spot for people watching. At one
time Todos Santos was the sugarcane capital of Baja until the freshwater spring
dried out; then about 30 years later in
the 80’s the spring came back again and the town was revived. Today it is
overrun with tourists and art galleries, although there is a large community
farming vegetables, chilies, avocados, papayas, mangos. . . .
The last night in the
motel was full of excitement and thoughts in anticipation of reaching the goal
the following day. It was a long and restless night, so I got up early and
started the final ride. It was only 50 miles to go, but they were rather
challenging. With a strong head / cross
wind and lots of traffic, it was hard to hear the trucks coming up from behind
and because of it, I saw their tires from a little closer than I would have
liked to at times. To enjoy the scenery and watch the gigantic waves crash in
the Pacific Ocean, I actually had to stop, but time was plenty available and I
stopped often. Finally riding into Cabo San Lucas was a great feeling of
accomplishment and I absorbed the moment. I stopped at the Swiss Pastry Café to
visit my friend Peter, then went on to his place where his wife Sham had cooked
up a delicious Indian Curry dinner for the occasion. Thanks.
This is the end of a great
journey and remaining are many lasting memories, friends and experiences, but most important of all, I found a new outlook in life. Now I’m just wondering what the next
adventure will be. . . .
Until next time, a bit
further down the road. . . .
Tony Bike
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