Ride of a lifetime to Vigan Ilocos Norte Last February16 2018

Wheels of Happiness

Rizal Philippines
January 18, 2018

                                                   Having  great refreshment and lunch at  Holy
                                                      Gardens La Union

This post had a chance to join a ride of a lifetime to Vigan Ilocos Sur last February 16, 2018.There was a portion I missed yesterday: the ride to Paoay some 64 km, to see the historic town and visit the ancestral house of late Pres. FM.

This post thanks Angono Recylists:   its leadership:   Pres Luis,  Sec Noe for the support, Richard Ang for finance.its adviser:   Vice Mayor Jun Vic, Engr. June for accommodating the tropa at his place in Urdaneta, Pangasinan where we ate and spent the night of February 15.  And to Vhen Apran for lending me his bike (he brought it but did not ride, but I broke my Bianchi bike in San Fernando)

Ride of a lifetime

It was bike of lifetime for me because:

1.  I finished the 224 leg of the journey. Contrary to claims, the only flat portion was up to Pozzorubio. From Sison to Ilocos Sur, the roads were hilly.  Especially nearing Vigan

2.  I rode solo up front from Urdaneta to Sison, and from Rosario to Agoo:  they let me get away

3.  We visited two religious shrines:    our  Lady of Manoag and Basilica of Agoo.  And of course the  heritage park of  Vigan.

4. It was the only ride where I completed my preparation of  200  kms a week

                                           Unscheduled pit stop at Shell Rosario.  Matrapik dahil
                                                          sa annual PMA homecoming

                                              2 expensive steeds:  S works of VM, Dogma of Engr June

                                                Pres Luis and Allan (back to cam)

                                               First to arrive in Agoo: first 50 kims

                                                Followed by Jeff

                                                       VM Jun Vic

                                                 JB on his Bianchi:   test driving the manufacturers
                                                               claims

                                                              Engr June Francisco:  our
                                                         2nd time gracious host at Urdaneta
                                                            Thank you again Engineer

Grape picking at Caba

                                                     Pick your  own (as in US) for P350.00/kg
                                                            a new tourist attraction

                                                         Pit stop at a convenience store in Bauang

                                                       The repainted B bike

At Holy Gardens La Union lunch break

                                                      Vhen and Master

                                                      Nag raration ng tinolang manok
                                              Special request:  tinola, lechong manok and liempo:  DONE

                                                    Engr June at a rest stop

                                                 Unscheduled stop at Bangar still 90 km to Vigan

                                                     Master E resting

                                              About to start:  90 km pa Vigan

                                            Boundary of La Union and Ilocos Sur

                                                    Candon City welcome arch

Our bikes

                                 Vhen lent me his bike:  with lightweight Amcla rim (1.3 kg only)
                                  8 speed Sintesi.  The loan enabled me to finish the ride to Vigan
                                        sabi ni Richard, mas mabilis ako dito

                                            Vhen prepped the bike for my ride. Thanks Vhen