Baja Peninsula 3

Roel in San Jose de Comondú.

Near the end of my 9 days without internet, there was a Facebook post requesting information on my whereabouts from other Baja Divide riders. A Dutch cyclist named Roel recognized me from that post as we stumbled upon each other in Mulejé.

The Baja Divide route includes taking a boat from Mulejé across the bay to a peninsula. But Roel was getting over a sickness, and I was feeling unmotivated, so we both took the highway.

Traffic along this section of highway was minimal and slow. And the smooth road made it easier to enjoy epic views of the sea of Cortez.

Roel and I ended up riding all the way to La Paz together.

Stone wall supporting an irrigation canal.

Irrigation canal.

Roel has served in the military, and his career is fiscal security. Roel says that people who don't travel because they have a house and a family are just making excuses.

Roel once competed in a 72 hour bikepacking race, with 15000 meters (49,000feet) of elevation gain. That is bonkers!

Goats exploring a graveyard.

Roel doesn't want kids, because it would conflict with his adventurous lifestyle.

An impressive mission building in San Javier.

Roel and I ran into a bikepacking.com employee, Evan Christiansen, who was riding the route south to north. We joined him at the nearby rancho for one night.

A palapa at the rancho where we stayed. Palapas have very thick palm leaf roofs, and usually open sides. It's optimized for hot weather: insulation from the sun, but good airflow.

Dead fox. Although it lay in the road, there was no sign of it being hit by a car.

Feasting in Ciudad Constitutión.

'Don't litter', proceeding a burning dump. 

Roel's bike. Surly Krampus. No generator hub, 1x derailleur drivetrain. 29x3 in the front, 29x2.6 in the rear. Hydraulic brakes, flat bars with bar ends, and 'inner' bar ends.