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and some $ for this circuit, as you will be crossing a semi-desert
area with lots of spiny plants. The cash is for ice cream and refreshments
in the town of Mina. Begin at Rancho Cerro Gordo and loop around the
west side of the campground following dirt roads. After reaching the
camground's northwest corner, turn right then almost immediately left
(north) again following a small trail through an abandoned rancho.
This trail soon widens into a dirt road. Follow it straight until
you pass the water tower a couple hundred meters to your right. Turn
left onto a dirt street, and follow it a short distance until you
pass the old garbage dump on your right. Turn right here, and enjoy
a fast downhill past the dump. At the bottom you will cross an arroyo.
As you can see from the map there are several dirt roads you may follow
here in a generaly north-westerly direction; the one that stays nearest
the power line is the fastest. In any case you will have to hop one
or two gates. The road turns west where it reaches the train tracks,
and follows these. After a while, it crosses underneath the tracks
at a bridge, then continues west more or less within sight of the
railway. The trains passing through the desert here, with an attractive
backdrop of the mountains, make for a photogenic scene. The Badlands
begin on your right. Go off the road and explore! Look for goat tracks
that follow various gullies down to the river, and back up again.
There are many technical drop-offs, etc., that you can try here. Some
of the better tracks are marked on the map, but there are many more.
When you've had enough, use the map to find the best place to cross
the river. If you find a dirt road with a sewage treatment facility
on the other side, you are in the right place. Follow this road into
the town of Mina. Turn left when you reach the main street (it's called
Hidalgo). On your right before the church you will encounter the town
museum which is worth a visit for its archaeological and historical
content. A bit further, at the main plaza, you can buy delicious ice
cream and refreshments. If you like, venture across the highway to
the north end of town and climb a very steep hill (carry your bike)
with a chapel on top for a nice view of the valley and surrounding
mountains, including a distant view of the Potrero Chico canyon. Descend
the same hill on your bike (quite technical), re-cross the highway,
head left (east) on the main street and near the end of town pick
up a dirt track that parallels the highway to Hidalgo. The track begins
on the last north-south street a very short distance south of the
main street. It is the line of an aqueduct that supplies water for
Monterrey from deep and abundant wells located just to the west of
Mina. Follow this track across some arroyos, the power lines, past
some habitations, up a hill and back onto the highway. You may reach
this point from Mina much faster along the highway if you like; it
is safe because there is a wide shoulder. However, past here the highway
narrows and it would be imprudent to remain on it. Instead, fork right
and follow a street past some houses. The road quality degrades as
the track drops to cross the big arroyo that descends from Potrero
Grande to the north. However, it soon joins a bigger road that brings
you to a bridge across the Salinas River; cross it and continue on
a paved street into the central part of Hidalgo. Continuing straight
will take you to Hidalgo's main plaza; if you want to return quickly
to Rancho Cerro Gordo take a right on Galeana street, cross the tracks,
do a dogleg around the cement factory, and bike past the Carniceria
Mexicana up Pancho Villa street towards the canyon. As you exit the
town and climb the hill past the old quarries, take a right on either
of two dirt roads, then take the first left. Continue uphill until
you can turn right again and go past a smelly pig farm. After you
cross the Arroyo Potrero Chico, turn left towards the cliffs again,
keeping the arroyo on your left. When this road T's, take a right
and you're back home in a jiffy! |
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