A ride to Chinatown!
Since I’ve got my scoot last summer, I have joined only a couple of gatherings organized for Filipino scooteristas: the Get-together Scooterista Party held last April at 2211 Works (that’s where I usually bring PYKE for repairs), and the Vespa Meet @ Filling Station in May. But the other Sunday’s gathering was different. It was my first time to join a group ride.
PYKE finally got to hang out with friends
Though the itenerary wasn’t as demanding as an out-of- town ride, it was still quite an experience for someone who has always been a solo rider. The closest thing I’ve ever done was having led a student motorcade with my Yamaha FZR-wannabe (it’s actually just an XS250) from San Beda (Mendiola) to ULTRA for the NCAA Championship back in ’91. But I was the only motorcycle in a long line of cars back then… okay, may apat na parak ahead of me to escort us, but it’s still not a ‘ride’!
Anyway, last Sunday’s destination was Binondo — Manila’s very own Chinatown. The plan was actually hatched in this thread at Vespinoy forum. It was literally a food trip joined in by some members like me and spearheaded by Vestsinoy (Charlie) whom I had a pleasure of meeting a couple of times before so I didn’t feel ‘awkward’ being a total stranger among a group who regularly meet & ride.
Our meeting place was the Shell Gas Station at the Fort. Ten waspie & lambie riders were there. After some chit-chat and a few sticks of cigarettes, we headed to the Baywalk area to meet-up with the QC guys. From there, we proceeded to Binondo. Leading the pack was Vestsinoy who obviously knew the narrow alleyways in the district as we made twist and turns throughout ’til we got to our destination: Wah Sun!
Wah Sun frontage
Minggoy, a rider and a very talented photographer snapped some shots that night as posted in his Flicker account. Below is my subjective fave! 
BAYWALK – that’s Ron on his vintage scoot with PYKE & me at the background
It was a great experience to finally be able to join a group ride. I’m actually on standby for the next one.
Kiong Hee!
-o-
{▫}
J0HNRANA
john[dot]rana[at]gmail[dot]com
Uy pati si Pyke mahilig tumabi sa gwapo’t magaganda?
Nice scoots!
looking at the picutures, i think you have the best vespa there.
Kuya, hindi naman masyado! bwahahaha!
Biro lang, baka magalit mga kasama ko sa ride. vintage scoot yung iba dyan kaya talagang iba ang tindig ng scoot nila. bangis!
di nga nagpapa-iwan si pyke! bangis din! dapat ang next stop, Bicol!
Di yata kaya ng pwet ko ang Bicol, pare. Tagaytay lang muna para medyo attainable.
Huh? Anong kinalaman ng ‘pwet’ sa vespa? Bakit nasa tabi ng pinaka-astig na scoot? Hmmm…:)
Opps, seri, si Ron pala yun!
Torn, you gotta be a rider then to understand what I mean.
teka teka! Torn? Nabasa ko din yan sa blog ni Boie a, ano ibig sabihin nun?
John, so sa rider lang? Hindi applicable sa ridee? Hehehe
pre,
read the comments here to know how ‘Torn’ came about.
Torn it is!
please, I would like to have a picture that shows how to fill a Vespa…I need it precisely for an illustration. Thank you, Simon Dupuis