between Margarita stops... so ya gotta do what ya gotta do.

I did a tour from San Diego to Cabo back in '84 on that bike... with about 25 other cyclists. We all camped in the same location at night (at some rancho, or behind some store) but during the day, you were pretty much on your own. You might ride with one or two other cyclists if you had about the same pace. Every cyclist was self contained... you carried all your camping gear and your food with you. Often you'd come by a store somewhere during the day or next, where you could stock up. I also carried an extra 1/2 gallon of water on the front rack with the spare tire. It was quite humorous the items that became "coveted," such as a can of mandarin oranges, or a tin of spring water packed tuna.

As you cycled down the road you'd see a bike or two leaning against some tiny stucco building which might have a small COKE or BIMBO sign in the window... a sign you wouldn't even see if you were driving by at 55MPH... but to us cyclists, you'd know that was a "pit stop." I think we were a big part of the local economy in some places. Beans and eggs and tortillas for 90 centavos... ah, heaven.

Beers were a luxury item... if you happened to be at some camp that evening that was close to someplace that had cold cerveza, great. There was one stop that was behind a restaurant/store/gas station that featured lobster burritos and cold cerveza... it was well enjoyed. That was down near Guerrero Negro.

I remember one morning getting a real treat... a young girl was walking between the tents with a bucket of fresh, hot tamales... what a breakfast, and downright cheap too! (sure beat instant oatmeal). I have no idea where she came from or went... but those tamales were fantastic... some entrepreneur saw us hungry cyclists as a perfect opportunity.

The only downside to the whole trip... RV driving Americans that hogged the road. The Mexicans would straddle the center (usually there wasn't even a white line), but the gringos traveled in packs and tended to crowd the right side of the road. I think we cyclists did more for the local economy too, as we ate everywhere, and bought items at the smallest stores, whereas the RV folks tended to be fully self contained. (I couldn't get over all the satellite dishes that came out at night on the RVs.)

Overall, it was one of many long bike treks that I will never forget. (not to mention parts of Baja that made quite an impression at 12MPH... GRIN)