Unforgettable bike ride at Marinduque last April 8, 2018

Wheels of Happiness

Rizal Philippines
April 9, 2018

We remember the  infamous fall of Bataan today. Our white masters left the  Filipino allies to suffer at the  hands of now their biggest trading partner Japan.

                                                Panalangin after breakfast at Gasan

Today we just arrived from Lucena City after a very beautiful sojourn at Marinduque yesterday April 8.  It was a very memorable ride:   We did not ride from Lucena any more to home:

      1.  Umuulan
      2. Wet biking shoes. Riding with wet shoes could cause the sole to separate from upper. It usually does.
      3.  Anyway it was a Marinduque ride not Lucena to Angono ride is not part of the title. Anyway, bonding iyon. Kaya ipinakaon ni VM ang truck which left at 5 am and arrived 9 am.

1.  It was first time boat ride for some of the kapadyak.  And with it the usual nausea and vomiting

2.  Great views and places to see:

12 best attractions of Marinduque

Marvelous Marinduque

     1.  The Moriones images;

     2. The great churces of Gasan, Sta Cruz and Boac

     3.  The Elephant Island   (tobe renamed Marinduque island)

     4. The Mt Malindig Volcano (1,000+ meters) at Buenavista

     5.  White beaches at Torijos (substitute for Boracay which will be closed for half a year)

3. Great food and many sponsors:

    1.  Dinner at Sec Noes place: sinigang, pakwan;  breakfast:   tuyo, pritong dried fish, and fried egg

    2.  Dinner at Ernies place  at Sta Cruz:  grilled tuna, pansit, chicken curry of native chicken;  may pabaon pang buko

    3.  Pabaon ng staff nina Gerry sa Mitsubishi:   chicken curry, pansit (kinain sa Star Horse ferry) at grilled tuna exactly the same fare at Ernies place.

   4.  Pahalohalo ni Ado sa Torijos.  Birthday niya nang April 7, 7 pm.

   5. Palunch ni Deacon Exequiel Diego sa Manay Quioniones pansistan at Pakil

4. Realities of environmental degradation. We saw dry river because an American mining company diverted the river flow.

5.  Complete biking experience:

    1. Hard long ascent especially at Buenavista and Sta Cruz

    2.  Long flats and chance for FTP from Boac to Gasan;   speeding at 35 to 40 kph.

    3.  Ride along scenic coastal area;

    4. Fast down hill at 50 kph from Buenvista (jarring road) and slippery descent in pouring rain at Sta.
        Cruz

    5.  Biking with tight schedule to get the boat.

    6.  Riding up hills in driving blinding rain;  and descending at slippery and steep hills.  Parang Mt. Province ang steepness

6.  Unforgettable stories and experience.:

    1.  Ringtone from snoring of tired pilot;

    2.  Getting a plastic full of shit to protect the cellphone. Yukks.

    3.  Tall waves at the boat going home causing some members to puke.

    4.  Getting mongo pellets in the face of another after choking.

    5.  Having a company of superbikes:  2 dogmas, and 1 sworks.

    6.  Rushing to catch the 4:30 boat up a steep hills (3 stages) at Mogpog.  Umuulan pa

    7.   Somebody fell because he saw two goats copulating. He  did not see that he was at the edge of the
          road.  Mabuti may wire fence. Hindi na daw siya titingin.  

Sana maulit.... Salamat sa nagplano ng ride na ito at nag execute  and nag sponsor.

Who were there:   Engr June, VM, Sec Noe, Ado Ocampo,  Gerry Y, Gerry Cataps, Pres Luis, Boks G, Jess V, Jimmy, Joel,  Me Engr June. Jeffrey, Exequiel Diego, and Angel Balubar

Some remarked that those who joined were names that started in J or sounded like one:

      Joel
      Jeffrey
      Joel
      Jorge
      Jess
      Gerry Y
      Gerry C
      Jaime

     That is 8 out of 16

We missed the following:  7 days, Richard, Vhen Apran, Alan, Netoy

                                          Engr June at Shell Gasoline  Station near Famy

                                          The Defender 110 "team vehicle"

                                            Other Recylists at the back of the truck

                                                      Gerry Cataps

                                                    Gerry C and  Ernie

                                            Snack break at Tayabas, over there are 3 mucho
                                             dinero MTB with Lynskey bike and CF frames

                                                    Chito and Pres Luis

                                                   Ado

                                           Church in Tayabas with longest aisle  about 100 meters

                                                   May kasalan

                                   Arriving at Dalahican port, unloading bike from truck and loading
                                                      at Defender and at the boat. Here paying the
                                                      terminal and bike fee
                                           

                                                     8 bikes atop the  Defender

At the Starhorse roofdeck

                                          At the observation deck

                                           The Defender and the bikes as seen from the deck

                                     Pres Luis, VM, Jon Jon, Tess Gonzaga (wife of Ado) enjoying the view

                                           Resting and sleeping during the 3 hour trip

                               Engr June, Bernadette, Joel, Ado, Angel, and  Exequiel Diego


Approaching the Marinduque port

                                             Passing through one of  the Tres Reyes

                                                The Resort Island for hire

                                              The power barge at a distance

                                               Visiting the Boac Church

 April 8

                                                Coach Jimmy leading the warm up

                                              Sumptous breakfast, nakabili ng medyas na tig P120.00

                                               A Roman soldier threatening chop a cyclist.. Iwas na

                                       A Saguinsin Works bike  my Bianchi is over there

                                                   Bahay nina Sec Noe sa Gasan

                                         The Defender at Gasan preparing to start the ride

                                             Stopping to assist Engr June with his  flat

                                    Tinutulungan ni Jimmy si Engr. June

                                                    Group picture atop at hill

                                                  The defunct Elephant Resort

                                                     Ado and wife Tess

                                            Nothing like it biking along a bay

                                              Magnificent view of Elephant Island

                                            Pres Luis, Ernie, Sec Noe, Exequiel, Jon2

                                                           JBiker selfie

                                                 Mt. Mt MalindigVolcano, 1000 meters tall

                                                Stop over at point nearest Elephant Island

                               Bellaroca Island Resort at Buenavista

                                        Posing at Buenavista,with Elephant Island as background

                                         Another view of Mt. Malindig always shrouded by clouds
                                                          Experts say it is an active volcano

                                                    One of the hills of Buenavista

                                                   Pahalo2 ni Ado sa Torrijos, nataranta si Ate

White Beach of Torrijos, sub sa Boracay

                                                    Engr June at Poctoy's white beach resort

Malapit sa Sta Cruz

                                               Waiting to be gassed up at Joepen Gas station

                                                Talap lunch at Ernies Place at Malabon Sta Cruz

                                                       Tapos na tsibog kina Mang Ernie

                                                  Picture with Larry our lunch host at Sta Cruz

                                                  Old picturesque church of Sta Cruz

                                                        Beautiful array of Saints at 3 ritablo

                                                     Ornate design for pulpit

                                               Ms. Earth Philippines candidate from Sta Cruz
                                                    posing with Recyclists at Sta Cruz church

                                                Massive 5 meters retaining wall going up Mogpog

At the Quezon Premier hotel

                                                    S works bike sleeping with us

                                         The  10 bed dorm sleeping place for us last night

                                            The stairwell

                                                          Bike firm he2

                           Jimmy and I had coffee across the diversion road;  his uncle pala
                           owns the land which is leased by many businesses

                                     The hotel facade;  it is owned by a provincial politician

                                               I thought this was Elephant hotel

                                           May dinosaur pang figure