I had no idea how amazing this ride would be when I picked the route. It could have been one of the worst rides I’ve ever done, but it turned out to be one of the best.

Ride Summary

Experience

A long, long wait for road construction. The entire road closed to repaving and cars could only pass in one direction every 30 minutes of so. I ended up waiting about an hour. But the scenery couldn’t be better. I got to stretch.
I waited about 30 minutes on the way back. It was dangerously hot by then. The flagger let me take shelter in the small sliver of shade made by her car. Then she rounded up the lead car to carry me and my bike through the construction, masks and all.
By the time I got to my destination, the Blond Strawberry, I was starving. But the coffee shop was closed all summer, assumably due to COVID. Distraught, I decided to get food at the town’s only small grocery. That’s when I saw an unmarked cafe, Melinko’s Aero Cafe. The owner, Laureano, and his wife extended such jovial hospitality that I quickly felt like a longtime friend. I get the feeling the regulars feel the same way too. Which is saying something, considering the cafe and adjacent museum just opened a week before. I got wrapped up in the enthusiasm and excitement of the people there. I felt so lucky to have stumbled upon this off-the-map gem. This is ride riding to new places is all about.

Weather

Calm, sunny and hot.

Spotted

Flying monkeys!

Roads

Rutted rural asphalt, active road construction with hot, wet, chipseal.

Mechanicals

None.