“We can move water easily with plastic pipes. We can move shade around with nursery cloth like a tinker toy for animals and plants. Yet we have developed this necessity to grow food with chemical fertiliser because we have forgotten the magic of manure.”
Joel Salatin
WEEK 19 | México a Caballo
We set off from the awesome Rancho El Rosal, just outside of Pachuca de Soto, to head towards Queretaro. We took a different route than last year, mainly to get away from the busy Hidalgo roads while also trying a flatter route.
The first day, after ridng thru lots of rocky trails, ended up in the beginning of the Shit Valley, a fertile green valley fed by city sewage water. I followed canals and empty train tracks for the next 3 days. Everything was super green, and, yes a little smelly. My personal take is that, YES, this waste water should be used to fertilize fields, but, NO, it should be treated/ composted first. What do you think?
I made my way near Tula, but the area wasn’t very friendly or safe in my mind. I was happy to carry in further.
After crossing the tip of the Presa Edho, I made my way up and above the Shit Fields, to take a day off at an Envangelical Center. Roxy rested up and ate a lot of grass. I visited a huge tree. Then we went further up and I started feeling like I had a cold. Probably because I had slept in some areas with a draft at night, but it could have also been having to listen to fanatics for 2 days trying to help me save my soul.
By the time I made it to Huichapan, I was getting weaker. I made it into that town on September 14, Día de Charro. I stayed at the Lienzo Charro and slept alot. There were lots of horses parked around after a huge group ride/ cabalgata. If I had felt better I would have taken more photos. Long riding can be hard on your health, and this week it was.
The week way beautiful, even though smelly. The views this whole week, and around Huichapan were quite nice.
Chris MacLuckies’ professional career began with a decade-long stint as an organic vegetable grower in Ontario Canada. His career is prolific in breadth and scope. He has farmed organics commercially, volunteered in Guatemala, ran a gardening business, raised and raced sled dogs, tended his livestock, and ridden his horse on a multi-country expedition.
Chris is a certified TEFL ESL English Teacher, author of seven books, freelance content creator, and outdoor travel gear designer.
