Our Bike Ride Today to Calauag December 29, 2011

Bike and Save the Earth

We woke up at 4 am so that we can leave early. It rained the night before,.  Fortunately, it stopped raining by 5 am.  We cleaned bikes, put some more air.  Had coffee.  Took a bath to clean yesterdays grime and sweat.  We did not wear anymore the now soiled and sweat filled new Recyclists uniform. At 6 we went back to Joe de Veras place so that we could have breakfast;  but he was still closed.  We ended up having breakfast at Jenkas;  it was on road leading to the AH26.  Fried egg and rice was l6 which was quite cheap;  coffee was l2.

We were able to leave at exactly 630.  We were at Plaridel by 700 am, Gumaca by  800, Lopez by 830 and Calauag by 9:l5.   I towed them and I would say I was doing 25 to 30.  There were about a dozen hills similar to that of Baras Tanay hill climb (km 52) and they would have strengthened us a lot. That solo hill looks nothing to me now.

The stretch between Gumaca and Lopez was long. About l5 km.  (It could not be longer between Atimonan and Pagbilao hehehe)

The delivery truck of Maruja casket nearly bumped me and drove me off the road in Gumaca. Plate Number KFC 788. What the  #?!!.  They are true to their name- early deaths for bike riders?  I hope they do not use their caskets ahead of others. (We run 6 memorial parks all over the country;  Maruja casket is not a supplier we wish to have?!!!)

I saw a bus leaving for Cubao at Calauag and inquired for the departure and fare.  They said it was 30l and they would wait for us and load our bikes for free. They bus left at 930 and we had lunch again at Atimonan, at the back of Kingfisher 2, at the bus terminal.  We had ampalaya, chicken, plapla rice and Mountain Dew.  It would have cost us Pl50.  Libre sabaw.  We were at Lucena by l2, 3 at San Pablo City, and 4 at Sto Tomas.  Too much traffic at Sto Tomas because of fiesta.  We were a Robinson by 530.  And at Angono by 7:00.  Angel had another flat in Pasig.  We lost each other in Pasig but regrouped at Highway 2000.

Thank you guys:  Angel and Gerry Cataps.

                                     By the dawn's early light,  biking towards Plaridel

                   Jorgeus biker and Gerry near Along Coastline of Plaridel

            Gerry along coast of Gumaca,  here, the camera memory was gone

                                    Lunch at Atimonan bus terminal

           Reassembling the bikes At Robinson pioneer after alighting from Lucena Lines bus

                              Bikes fully reassembled

      The only proof that we were in Calauag, Lucena Lines bus ticket with origin KM 228

You are strong, brave, great! God bless.

Brian Caraan of Atimonan Welcomed Us on our Arrival

Bike and Save the Earth

We arrived almost 7 pm (644) to be exact in Atimonan.  We had picture taking near 7ll in front of the municipal building.  Then as we were inquiring from tricycle drivers as to where we could spend the night (we didnt want to be Joseph and Mary not finding a place to stay?!) a group of bikers came and said hello and welcome to us.  It was Brian Caraan who said he was former Prez of Atimonan bikers.  They number 50 in all;  and he has a bike shop.  He showed us around the church and Kingfisher 2 (near the fishport) and Kingfisher  (near St. Peter and the cemetery)  at the back of Kingfisher l is the seashore. They said, it is owned by Jose Mendoza It was good experience for us.

Brian offered us his place to stay in case we could not afford kingfisher.  That was nice.  He said that he often welcomed national cyclist whenever they spend the night at Atimonan.

Thanks Brian.

                                         That is Brian at Extreme Right

                             Brian, Angel, Gerry and the rest of Atimonan Bikers

                           The Lights and Night Views in Atimonan are nice
                                 

                                   The Church Yard

                                      The Fountain in front of the Church

          We attended the morning mass,  Superlines spent for the church rehab

                                PNB office is near the church

Some Roadside Troubles on the Way to Calauag

Bike and Save the Earth

 It could not be avoided.  We prayed hard before the trip.  But there were things that happenned on the way:

Angel got four flats:   one in Cardona, after leaving the church, one in Luisiana,  one in Gumaca and one in  Pasig on the way home.

                    Angel had his third flat in Gumaca;  he has 3 spare interior

I got one flat in Luisiana,  I slid and fell on a curve in Luisiana while avoiding a sideswipe with a tricycle;  fortunately I was  able to uncleat.  Then in Gumaca on the way to Lopez, slid while negotiating a railroad track;  I had uncleated, but the track was tall and slippery and fell on my right side.  I softned the fall with my gloved hand and slightly scratched my knee.  Otherwise I was OK;  I was able to average 25 kph towing them to  Lopez, after the fall.  Now my knee is starting to hurt.