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sand if I don ' t reach a decent speed, lean back, keep the momentum and hold the bars loosely, I come off anyway. It ' s all about commitment and picking your path and looking ahead, but like everyone I sometimes overdo the front brake, or the bike just goes over for no reason I can fathom, even on this latest ride.
It ' s all good and well people saying, ' it ' s all commitment ', but if you haven ' t practiced, the commitment is futile. Start by paddling through and work from there. I try to redo the same sandy route over and over again. It will come.
Mud is a similar problem for bikers, but this ride was in the dry season, so I will leave mud for next time.
Another huge bonus of this amazing riding destination is that Oaxaca also has a stunning coastline and the fact that in one day you can go from beautiful tropical beaches, through dry and dusty valleys, up into the jungle coffee region and then into pine forests at 2,500 metres. But don ' t rush the Oaxacan coast which is a 600-kilometre-long beach of magical beauty. If snorkeling and sea life is your thing there are whales, turtles, dolphins, sailfish and tuna in abundance as well as every species of brightly coloured fish. Small boats take you out deep-sea fishing or just around the numerous bays and coming in is an adrenaline rush as the boats skate across the sand at high speed on strips of wood laid out by the ' boatboys '.
The beaches have seafood palapas, open walled, thatched huts, serving ice cold coconuts and fresh fish and salads and fruits.
When you are satiated with sea life, head into the mountains with the green parrots, iguanas, boa constrictors, black howler monkeys and if you are lucky, or maybe unlucky, you may meet a jaguar.
Did I mention the Mexican people in this article? No?
They are absolutely amazing people and incredibly welcoming and friendly. No higher praise needed.
Peace, love and respect to you, the reader, to Mexico and to this complicated but exquisite planet we live on. SJC
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