“Live like life depends on it. Because it does.”
Sand whoops gave way to a wide gravel road that rolled up and down in long intervals. I crossed three rivers that were filled in for the race. A race truck passed me going 20 miles an hour faster than I was – and I was doing 65. He must have had trouble earlier to be this far back.
Finally, I pulled into the Baja Pit for gas just outside Scorpion Bay. The whole town must have been there watching the race. The pit staff offered me an 8-ounce bottle of water and a half a peanut butter sandwich. I would normally decline. Not this time. I needed it.
It was near 100 degrees. A guy held an umbrella over me as I choked down the little sandwich. I was cooking in my race jacket, pullover, and jersey. To get it all off would take some time and effort, and my pack was not big enough to get my jacket in. There was no place else to carry it and I didn’t want to ditch it as I had another night to face later. My time limit would be up at 1:00a.m.
I sped away. Amazingly, I felt pretty good. I was thirsty, and tired and hungry and fatigued – but there was no one factor or body part that was screaming much louder than any other. It was good.
I hit the paved road for six miles along the Pacific Ocean. I looked to my right and watched the blue waves turn to white foam. The hills were brown, with a black ribbon of asphalt undulating ahead of me. The sky was blue and clear, and the sun bore down on it all.
Thoughts of a worn man. We are blessed. To have all this. To be here at all. We’re just temporary dots on a big spinning planet. We’ve been given all this ability – to shape our world. To create. To experience. To love. And yes, we have been given this. We are not responsible for us being created. Hell, we don’t even know how we work. So…then…something else made us and set the table.
I headed back into the desert. It was way siltier than when we pre-ran it. The course got rockier as I knew it would. Rocks and silt. Rocks and silt. I was riding fast. I felt good. I felt lucky.
I was headed to mile 784 to the physical checkpoint. That’s where I’d meet my van and see my friends. I hadn’t seen them for over 12 hours now. The course went up a mountain and switch-backed; straight up on the right, straight down on the left. It was very hot.
The next Baja pit was 12 miles before the checkpoint. I pulled in. I was feeling it…something. I had to get off my bike and sit down.
I knew I was in trouble…
Wow!
Enjoying the journey! Thanks for taking us along.
Another knot in the thread and my first thought was oh noo, peanut allergie? Then I said nah, it must be dehydration and fatigue but finally I said, he is writing the story so stop quessing and wait until tomorrow to find out.
Incredibly tough journey presented in an amazing way.
The tables were set but we do have to do our best to learn to love the setting and make the most of it.