(Super late post)
As I type this blog I can still feel slight numbness on my
right arm from the very long distance it endured last March 28, 2013 in the
very roads of Mc Arthur highway going to Angeles, Pampanga all the way to
Mabalacat Terminal.
So how do I describe thee? It was a long, enjoyable, hot
ride from UP Diliman to Mabalacat, Pampanga. (Yes!
As simple as that.)
Aside from excitement bubbling inside me, I had a little bit
of nervousness inside my stomach because it was just my second bike
ride and my first serious bike ride.
Paul and I woke up at 2AM (Freakin’ 2AM!) and prepared for
the bike ride in about 45 minutes. We were already outside the house before 3AM and we were already at the meeting area before 3:30AM.
We left UP Diliman at 5:10AM and started our 12-hour bike
ride to Pampanga. Like what we do in the mountains, there was the team leader
who was very kind to recite the rules for the newbie (newbie = that’s me!), the
members who lined up behind the leader, and the sweeper who patiently waits for
everybody else when they stop for a rest. (Funny thing was I acted as the
sweeper several times before the team leader gave up his position and became
the sweeper.) Uh huh?! Who’s the newbie now? :P
We had breakfast at one of the carinderias somewhere in
Quezon City. Unfortunately I am not well versed on that side of the city so I
don’t know where the place is. They have nice presentations with their food
though. Thumbs up on that!^_^
After the sumptuous breakfast we headed to SM Marilao for
our first stop over. I didn’t know SM Marilao was so near Quezon City until
that blessed Thursday afternoon. I actually enjoyed the Patintero-ride with all
the buses, jitneys, tricycles and bike riders. One thing I learned from this
leg was bikers are like joggers and mountaineers. They greet each other by
ringing their “bells”.
The ride from SM Marilao to Malolos, Bulacan was the beginning of my adversary. It was a hot Holy Thursday and I’m starting to notice the heat from the road. When we crossed the Bulacan mark, I was hoping that Malolos is just around the corner. Unfortunately we had to bike a few more kilometers to the church with all those vehicles piling up for Visita Iglesia. Nonetheless we reached the magnificent Barasoain church just when the clock strikes 10AM. (Just in time for mirienda!)
Oh! Mind you. The church is our landmark for 50Km. Halfway
there!^_^
After our brief stay in Barasoain church we went straight to
Bulacan Capitol. The capitol reminds me of the Cagayan Capitol. Hmm. I wonder
if they have the same architect.
Bulacan capitol up - Cagayan Capitol down
Fast forward…………….
The ride going to Apalit, Pampanga was more of a challenge.
It was really hot and I can feel my sore butt and my arms are beginning to numb.
Every time we stop for a break meant (uhhhmmmm) just like h3!l.^_^
It was a relief when we finally stopped for lunch. (Angels singing
Halleluya.)
I had no more strength to take pictures of our food but I
reserved some energy to take this.
After 45mins of rest, we hit the long and winding (and
please can I add “super HOT”) road to Angeles, Pampanga. At one point I thought
we were just as crazy as those taong
grasa who were roaming around with just a helmet for heat protection. I
really thanked myself for stopping by this section of the road. I had the time
to appreciate the mountain from afar.
More than 20Km more and we were finally done with the
“Century Ride”. It was one heck of an experience for a newbie like me. I
enjoyed it and endured it. It was one thing I can be proud of myself worth
telling my grandchildren to be. ^_^
We rode Victory Liner bus on the way home. Funny thing was,
we biked for 12 hours to reach a point where buses would only take it an hour
and a half to travel to our meeting place.
Till next time^_^ uhmmm. pwede mountain bike naman.^_^
