2019 July 11 – from Belmopan
This may be the first time in my touring years I’ve actually had to bail during a ride.
I’m sure it was due to the long and dehydrating ride the day before. Starting at 5am and riding into the dark. With a stop for electrolytes from cramping muscles.
It started out well enough aside from all the construction. Our plan was to go to the turn off at Georgeville and then go part way up the dirt road with the aim the following day to go to the Caracol Ruins. The largest in Belize.
But the road was very difficult with short steep very rocky climbs. Getting occasional front wheel liftoff. But mostly it was just hot. I found myself resting at every hill bottom, mid hill, and top. After a bit I could get no relief at all and began to worry about my health. Looking back it was apparent I had heat exhaustion and perhaps incipient heat stroke. Ratna, who is a doctor, suggested I give it up. She was right.
So they proceeded and I turned around to head for San Ignacio. We arranged to communicate in a couple of days and I would look for lodging meanwhile to wait for them.
Fortunately however some kind souls that had seen us as they were headed in our direction stopped for me not long after I headed back. They suggested I ride in their pickup and I gladly took them up on their offer. Reaching San Ignacio I found it was market day. I bought some fruit and found a nice hostel. I had no way of knowing I would actually stay there for 3 days. Not restarting the trip until the 15th of July.
Even though the map below shows over 50K I actually did about 40K. Getting my ride shortly after turning around.
No pictures for the day. The early part was dominated by construction and I wasn’t up to it later.
Max elevation: 156 m
Min elevation: 33 m
Total climbing: 1349 m