Back in Boulder

Back in Boulder, originally uploaded by My bicycle tour.

I’m back in Boulder.
At 11:00 am on Thursday the 15th Ryan and I safely road into Boulder. We were met in south Boulder by a group of loving friends and family. While reuniting with Boulder we road our bikes all over town honking our horns and ringing our bells with delight. What an amazing trip this has been I can hardly believe that I’m back. Thanks folks for checking my blog site. Ryan and I would never have maid it with out all kindness and generosity from people like you.

Sincerely,

Jeff Giffin
360-393-9976

Ben Boyer and a Duzer

Ben Boyer and a Duzer, originally uploaded by My bicycle tour.

Ben Boyer (My favorite high school teacher) and Ethan Vanduzer helped us along by riding the last 20 miles from Golden to Boulder with us. Thanks guys!

North on Colorado I-25

North on Colorado I-25, originally uploaded by My bicycle tour.

Riding north of Walsenburg on I-25, we encountered our first snow. The road however was not slick, I-25 is well maintained and has a huge shoulder, which makes it good for riding.

Colorful colorado

Colorful colorado, originally uploaded by My bicycle tour.

Ryan and I got an early start the day we crossed the Colorado boarder. Raton pass turned out to be more beautiful then difficult. From the top of this 7,000 ft. high pass the landscape is transforms from New Mexico becoming covered by alpine bushes pine and fur trees, white capped 14’s looming to the north. Even southern Colorado reminds me of home.

Look it's green

Look it's green, originally uploaded by My bicycle tour.

We are now in the mountains of New Mexico and closer then ever to Colorado. Things are starting to look a little bit more like home. Yea,haaaa be home in a week!

Leaving Albuquerque

Leaving Albuquerque, originally uploaded by My bicycle tour.

After three God blessed days in the warmth of Nina and Nicolie's house we set of again. Nicolie, convinced that we were having too much fun with out him, desided to joined us for wonderfully freezing day.

Men in tights

Men in tights, originally uploaded by My bicycle tour.

While hidding from the cold in Albuquerque we put on a fasion show.

Good morning Rio Grande

Good morning Rio Grande, originally uploaded by My bicycle tour.

Even though it looks warm it's not. A view from the tents.

Dancing in T or C

Dancing in T or C, originally uploaded by My bicycle tour.

Ryan I performing our anti-wind dance. It didn't work in fact it got much colder. I guess we need practuse.

Bagel thief

Bagel thief, originally uploaded by My bicycle tour.

Many lovely individuals have assisted Ryan and I on our Journey. When Noel and Jessica offered to let us take some Bagels for the road we took them all.

Bagel shop

Bagel shop, originally uploaded by My bicycle tour.

This husband wife team runs the best bagel shop south of Boulder. They like T or C and told us the history of How Truth or Consequences got it's name. A T.V. show in the 1950's offered to pay any town in American if they would change there name. They would also host the T.V. in this town. So what was Hot Springs New Mexico became T or C and they still have great hot springs.

elephant butte

elephant butte, originally uploaded by My bicycle tour.

Heading into Truth or Consequences we battled some strong winds. It was all worth it for the hot springs.

Radium springs sun set

Radium springs sun set, originally uploaded by My bicycle tour.

Just north of the worlds capital of Green Chili's is Radium Springs. We camped out here and had a beautiful sun set.

American &$%, Yeah

American &$%, Yeah, originally uploaded by My bicycle tour.

It feels good to be an american.

Drive the Texas way please

Drive the Texas way please, originally uploaded by My bicycle tour.

After the smoothest boarder crossing of my life. We entered into El Paso, Texas. It was a stark contrast from the Juarez. Tall building and quiet streets. "Were is every body" I asked Ryan "There all at work"
he replied.

Mr. Juarez

Mr. Juarez, originally uploaded by My bicycle tour.

Yeeehaaaa...We made it to Juárez. It might not be the Paris of Europe but after this day it feels like it. Tomarrow we're going to walk our bike 3 blocks from our hotel and cross over to the good old USA… by by Mexico it's been fun.

Lunch time

Lunch time, originally uploaded by My bicycle tour.

One last lunch in Mexico. Bananas, Tortillas, Avocados.. Umm

Sandunes

Sandunes, originally uploaded by My bicycle tour.

Along the way we pasted some really nice dunes, I wanted to stop and play but was just too tired so I kept going.

I'm cold

I'm cold, originally uploaded by My bicycle tour.

Leaving Villa Ahumada we knew that we had a big day to get to Juarez and we didn’t need the winds help so we headed out at 7:00am our earliest start time yet. At that time things are calmer and colder in the desert. I got all bundled up and put socks on my hands for warmth.

El sueco

El sueco, originally uploaded by My bicycle tour.

The next day seemed calm so we busted out an easy 40 miles before you guessed it, the wind thing again. The next 40 miles to El Sueco (The Swede) where grueling. We made friends with Rodriego the owner of El Sueco.(it's gas station with a resturant) He hooked us up with a bed to sleep in and all the burritos we could eat. Uhh… I think I ate too much.

sleeping at the chili farm

sleeping at the chili farm, originally uploaded by My bicycle tour.

We couldn’t have picked a worse time to leave Chihuahua. It had been calm and sunny for the previous four days while we lounged around lost in Chihuahua time. The day we left it was seriously windy, gusts of over 50 miles an hour pounded us with sand and dirt. When we finally stopped at a Chili farm 40 Kilometers out of town, we sand and dirt coated our bodies.

Welcome to Chihuahau

Welcome to Chihuahau, originally uploaded by My bicycle tour.

We were very excited to get to the city of Chihuahua. The home of Poncho Villa and great bars. Poncho Villa was a very important general in the Mexican revolution in the early 1900’s. The most impressive thing he did (Besides having over fifty wives) was to mount his horses shoes backwards so that enemy armies would think he was traveling in the other direction. Pretty tricky my kind of dude.

Sun set in Las Marias

Sun set in Las Marias, originally uploaded by My bicycle tour.

Right in the middle of the Zona del Silencio you can find the town of Las Marias. It’s not on the maps don’t even try. They have great sun sets there.

Zona Del Silencio

Zona Del Silencio, originally uploaded by My bicycle tour.

Riding north of Torreon I thought that we were in the middle of no where, but then to my relief this sign came along and I leaned that we were in the Zona del Silencio. (much better)

kids

kids, originally uploaded by My bicycle tour.

Ryan and I had a fun time talking with these girls. They asked us if we were married and we said ¨no, we are just little boys are you?¨

cock fight 2

cock fight 2, originally uploaded by My bicycle tour.

At the Hotel Cuencame you can sleep for cheap and if your lucky you can witness the owner Mane training his prize fighting cocks. Yeah just like a bunch of good old boyz we sat around all morning talking about our cocks.

Cuencame

Cuencame, originally uploaded by My bicycle tour.

I thought that leaving Zacatecas ment the last of cool towns but I was wrong. As we continue heading north we starting to see more the Mexico from movies. Dry dusty towns with tumble weeds. Cuencame had such an interesting name we opted to stay for two nights. Also ¨mis nagas esta dolor¨

Rio grande sun set

Rio grande sun set, originally uploaded by My bicycle tour.

The sun set as seen from our shabby hotel in Rio Grande.

La punta

La punta, originally uploaded by My bicycle tour.

The next night we slept in a random town called La punta. Duzer worked some magic and we got to spend the night in the La punta after school center. It was quite a Mexico experience and being the first Gingos to visit ment that we were very popular especially with the kids who followed around town.

Zacatecas dancers

Zacatecas dancers, originally uploaded by My bicycle tour.

One night Ryan and I were watching dancing girls, before we knew it every one was watching us be the main joke of a clown show. We both enjoyed it because we are both aspiring clowns at hart.

Zacatecas roof top

Zacatecas roof top, originally uploaded by My bicycle tour.

Zacatecas at 2500 meters above sea level is the highest point on out ride. We tried to get even higher by sleeping on the roof of our hostel. We had the best view in the city and paid less for it. It was wonderful feeling to wake up each day having the cathedral and the city right below us

low rider

low rider, originally uploaded by My bicycle tour.

In Aguascalietes we stopped for some repairs Duzer need a new tire and I broke another spoke. At the bike shop we found this low rider, boy would that go over well at the Cuzer ride.

rear view mirror

rear view mirror, originally uploaded by My bicycle tour.

After Guanajuato we headed north to Zacatecas. We thought it would be a four day ride but it turned out to be only 2 1/2 days Lucky us. Duzer is usually pushing ahead while I hang back lost in my thoughts, however every once in a while I get a head and this is a commons sight I see.

Map photo at GuanaJuato

Map photo at GuanaJuato
Originally uploaded by My bicycle tour.

If you follow the orange high-lighted line you can tell where I have been so far.

little hole in the wall

little hole in the wall
Originally uploaded by My bicycle tour.

I don´t know what the gates of heaven look light but I bet they do not look like this.

chihuahua in Guanajuato

chihuahua in Guanajuato
Originally uploaded by My bicycle tour.

This little guy thought that he was very fierce.

Man kicking it in Guanajuato

Man kicking it in Guanajuato
Originally uploaded by My bicycle tour.

University of Guanjuato

University of Guanjuato
Originally uploaded by My bicycle tour.

The University of Guanajuato is has a perfect location. I sure wouldn´t mind going to school here.

Guanajauto from above

Guanajauto from above
Originally uploaded by My bicycle tour.

A view from above with a tunnel

Ryan running

Ryan running
Originally uploaded by My bicycle tour.

Ryan was so overjoyed to be in Guanajuato he couldn´t stop running.

Guanajuato down town

Guanajuato down town
Originally uploaded by My bicycle tour.

Guanjauto from below

Guanjauto from below
Originally uploaded by My bicycle tour.

My first impression of Guanajuato was from below the city. We entered the city via a labyrinth of tunnels.
I didn´t know where we going and I got tired of riding on cobble stones. We lucky exited the labyrinth right in the best spot.

mural in Irapuato

mural in Irapuato
Originally uploaded by My bicycle tour.

Strawberry heaven

Strawberry heaven
Originally uploaded by My bicycle tour.

Irapauto is number one when it comes to Strawberries. If that`s what kind of industry it is I´m all for it.

From Morelia to Irapuato

From Morelia to Irapuato
Originally uploaded by My bicycle tour.

We stayed one night in Morelia and then headed north to the industreal city of Irapuato. We passed some nice mountain lakes on the way.

The main Cathedral in Morelia with fountains in the forground.

The main Cathedral in Morelia with fountains in the forground.
Originally uploaded by My bicycle tour.