Day 106: Silly accommodation problems
Yes, I am behind again…
Left El Rosario with far off distant hopes of getting to Tepic today. That is 210 km so was never going to happen but on this particular morning I was a hopeful creature.
Continued for the whole day on the 15D road. This is the road that cyclists are not supposed to be on that I mentioned in the last entry. However, there was a large shoulder, not much traffic and pretty pleasant cycling, even if a little boring. It always made me worry a little when I saw a toll booth in the distance, that they would reprimand me, or fine me or something. But was always waved through these toll booths without problem.
Hit the outskirts of a small town called Ruiz just after sunset and just as the odometer ticked over 150 km. Not a bad day I think, as I turn off my Garmin. I would soon regret this.
Found myself at a small, simple motel type place on the outskirts of town. The owner seemed friendly and would charge me 400 pesos for the night. It was at this point, I realized that I had no more physical cash, and this place just about had electricity so no chance of paying with a card.
No problem I think, I will just go to an ATM and get cash. The owner recommended an OXXO and Kiosco nearby where they could give me cash back. I hopped back on my bike and tried both. While my card worked to buy bullshit “food”, it didn’t work to get Cashback. But now at least I have snacks… Progress I guess…
Ok, no problem. I will just cycle into town proper and find an ATM. After cycling around the surprisingly bustling little town, wedged with people, food stalls and sound systems competing for which was loudest, I found all the banks were closed. Well, all except one, which refused to give me money. I heard rumors of an ATM that would be open but couldn’t for the life of me find it.
It was now dark, I was now tired and fueled mostly on Oreo cookies so decided on a new strategy. Instead of looking for an ATM, I would just look for a ever so slightly fancier hotel where I could pay by card. I had all my stuff with me so no reason not to do this, other than I promised to the nice owner that I would be back… So this triggered another round of cycling up and down the streets of this little town and stopping at each motel/hotel type place. Every one of them was full. I must have tried about 5. Hhmm that is strange, I think to myself.
I pulled up Google Maps. There was one other fancier looking option outside the far end of town, a good 5 kms away. I realized that I would definitely have crossed 160km / 100 miles officially if I hadn’t turned off my Garmin. Fuck. But I decided to go there… And it was full again. WTF. What is going on? Haven’t come across a full place since starting my trip and now everything in this random little town is full. Do I smell that bad?… Don’t answer that.
So I decided I have 2 options left to me. First is to go back to the original motel and pay with the small amount of USD I have hidden for emergencies. But this isn’t a real emergency so I ruled this out. The 2nd option is go back to the motel and ask if I could pay in the morning. Decided option 2 sounds better but both options involve cycling back to the first motel on the other end of town, so back on the night roads it is.
On the way back I passed through the center square again… I know these streets surprisingly well considering I have only been here an hour or so. An American guy comes up to me as I am stopped at an intersection and says in stereotypical American volume, “HEY, Are you cycling though fucking Mexico?… On a bike?”. Fantastic, a friend! After an exchange of pleasantries, I learn he is married to a Mexican woman so they are here for the holidays. He also explains that there was a huge basketball (IIRC) competition finals in the town that night which explains my lack of luck with (h/m)otels. They then walked me to an ATM, which was only a block away. I am pretty sure I had cycled that street at least twice!
After saying goodbye to newfound friends, and with money in hand, I cycled in the dark back to the original motel. The owner gave me a quizzing look as I tried to explain the 2 hour delayed return in terrible spanglish. At least I did keep my promise to return!
Bed finally.. After too many additional kms. Is there a lesson here?… Yea, Probably.
