Baja Divide

January 22, 2025

Baja Divide - Day 7

January 1, 2025

Vicente Guerrero to Venustiano Carranza (Santa María) - 41 Miles

Start 7:49 AM

Finish 2:37 PM

Total Duration 6:48

Moving Time 5:08

Stopped Time 1:40

Ascent 1,951’

Descent 2,030’

Tour Total 309 Miles

Details at: https://ridewithgps.com/trips/245501154

I slept soundly in Room 11 at the Hotel San Martín in Vicente Guerrero. Instead of going out for dinner, I called it an early night, heading to bed shortly after 9 PM, having wished my friends and family on the East Coast a Happy New Year.

This morning began with a chilly 52° and heavy fog. Before setting off, I grabbed a coffee and pastry from the reception area. I wore my full kit, which by now was in desperate need of laundering. Last night, I had done some additional patchwork on my pants using duct tape and thread.

Visibility on the road was poor, and nothing in town was open. The route quickly diverged from the highway, leading me onto dirt tracks through fields. The fog was so thick I could barely see a thing. The trail crossed open fields without visible tracks before eventually aligning with discernible paths through brush. Along the way, I spotted several large jackrabbits with long ears, the kind coyotes are said to prey upon. However, I’d heard that the rabbit population was low lately, leaving coyotes hungry.

Beautiful tracks led me up into the hills and down through a narrow canyon with striking layered red rocks, dried bushes, cactus, and sage.

Entering the outskirts of the next town, Santa Fe, I passed planted fields that looked like parsley. A local man wished me a Happy New Year as I rode out of town past rows of plastic greenhouses, which I later learned were used for cultivating berries.

At one point, I lost the route, which somehow ended up on the other side of a fence. I should have trusted my instincts instead of the GPS. Following the fence through thick underbrush, burrs clung to my leg warmers and socks, their sharp barbs pinching and cutting into me. When the fence zigzagged further away from my destination, I found a spot to climb over. I tossed my bike and bags over first, then carefully balanced on the barbed wire, knowing a misstep could have dire consequences. Thankfully, I made it over unscathed.

I continued past hundreds of raspberry greenhouses. Fortunately, an open gate on the other side allowed me to rejoin the route.

Later, I encountered a mechanical issue: my chain slipped between the largest cassette ring and the spokes. Carefully, I worked to free it without causing damage. My chain desperately needed lubrication, which I’d address later.

I rolled into the outskirts of San Quintín, greeted by the sound of New Year’s Day music blasting from people’s homes. San Quintín, a Mex 1 highway town, offered a brief respite at an OXXO convenience store where I grabbed two ham sandwiches, a strawberry liquado, and a Gatorade. It was noon, and I had covered 22 miles.

The route led me to the coast, where I rode flat dirt paths near marshlands and passed several small volcanoes. Many of the newer homes in the area were built on stilts, suggesting a precaution against tsunamis.

I spotted a bustling fish taco stand that looked incredible and immediately regretted my earlier OXXO sandwiches.

The journey continued through a long stretch of soft sand, requiring significant hike-a-bike efforts. Passing through another small village, I saw fields of strawberries growing beside the road.

Back on Highway Mex 1, I rode through Ejido Papalote before the route veered off again onto tarmac. After pedaling through another sandy section, I reached more pavement. By then, I had covered 40 miles with two hours of daylight remaining.

A sign for the Hotel Mission Santa Maria caught my eye, and I decided to check it out. The hotel featured an oceanfront view and offered dinner—a far better option than camping in the desert. I opted for the comfort of a bed for one more night.