Day 5-6 El Tuito to Villa del Mar

Day 5 - February 12th, 2016 - El Tuito to Villa del Mar

We left Estrellita’s around 11am, cycled uphill into a small town called Llano Grande. After all the climbing the last few days, we are happy to finally catch some downhill! Pavement turned into cobblestone and then cobblestone turned to dirt. We had a slow descent with lots of washboard on the dirt road, but we were rewarded for the climb with a stunning descent to the ocean. Everyone we've been meeting has been so kind, open & warm. Even the dogs who bark as we cycle by end up becoming our friends!

We cycled into Tehuamixtle only to realize this was not the beach we intended to camp with showers, so we pushed our bikes back up the steep dirt road out of town and came to a beautiful bay with a small beach town called Villa del Mar. There was no camping or showers here but it was getting dark so we decide to stay. We realized we over-shot the campground by 10 miles or so. We watched the sunset in Villa del Mar and asked to camp at El Cielito, a charming resort on the beach in Villa del Mar. The bugs on the beach were pretty feisty, so Edgar, the manager at El Cielito, invited us to camp on a grassy area overlooking the beach.

The beach is beautiful but giant, powerful waves and a swift undertow make it dangerous to swim. We meet The Andersons who allow us to shower in their room and after three days of cycling, it was the best shower either of us have had in a long time! Another tourist tells us there are whales off the coast. We are loving it, but Erin is mentally exhausted from three days of cycling. We decide to stay an extra day to rest, recover and write.

Cycling is fun but also challenging. Bicycles are incredibly efficient. The fact that we can strap 40-50+ lbs of gear on our bikes and slowly pedal our way uphill all day is pretty remarkable. The ascents can be painfully slow but eventually you get there! And when you do...

Day 6 – February 13th, 2016 in Villa del Mar

It was so nice to have a rest day in Villa del Mar. The mind needed a break! Camping, working, exploring, laughing and loving each other helps provide a strong sense of home while we are on the road. Having amenities again makes us realize how important it is to not take things like running water and electricity for granted. We are so thankful to have these privileges, especially as it boosts our spirits to once again feel clean. In exchange for a place to stay, we took some nice photos of Erin getting a massage at El Cielito. Tough life! We decide to try to get an early start tomorrow and head for Punta Peñitas.