33. Land of Enchantment - Really?

I am in the Land of Enchantment, my last American state before the border 💪. It’s getting tough—I quickly taste the unique relief of the Tusa Mountains. I escape the rain, but not the terrain my route traverses. I get bogged down and waste a lot of time trying to get past the peanut butter muck. Adventure and challenge are here!

Defiant

The trail is totally impassable! Lots of gravel, and I’m flexible and riding in a standing position. Gravel is stylish for that 🕺. But it climbs, and soon I find myself in a bed of stones. I have to push. In the descent, my bike bounces everywhere. It’s like hard rock AC/DC in fast forward. Forget about being smooth... I pray that nothing breaks.

Letting Go

It’s impossible to control things today. My average speed is ridiculous. But that’s okay; my fighting spirit keeps me going. No matter how long or where, I push forward. I clear my mind and face the difficulties head-on. I’m like a fakir on the saddle, I accelerate downhill, and I push when it’s not moving. I dodge puddles and mud.

Peanut Butter

I pick up speed and notice a bike tire track? I think I can catch up. Then, I see nothing coming; the surface looked just sandy, but it sticks to the wheels. I skid and, whoops, I fall. My knee is a bit scraped; I’ll have bruises, but it’s nothing serious. Except that... the bike won’t budge. I push it 1.5 meters, and the wheel is stuck. The mud sticks to the wheel and thickens. I go to the edge where there are some stones. Well, the stones stick to the wheel too! 😱. I grab a stick to clear the mud. I make another meter. Now I need to think about my options... Night is approaching, and I don’t plan to linger. I push/clean, I carry. It’s really a hassle, and it takes me 1.5 hours to get out of it. But I made it out; that’s what counts. I ride a bit at night to make up some of my lost time.

Tomorrow I’m aiming for a lodge in Abiquiu. The weather isn’t improving enough, so I’ll probably adapt my route for the next few days (Cuba, Grant). There’s no need to persist with the peanut butter; I’ve learned my lesson 😉.

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