It’s a Pine Weekend Ride! – Part 2

The ride to Baguio took about eight hours inclusive of our stopovers: breakfast in Hacieneda Luisita, gas stops in Tarlac and La Union and a couple of pullovers for a spare tire change in Pampanga (Pal) and Marcos Highway (Dian). We arrived in Pine Breeze at lunchtime. The place had some nice Ifugao huts good that could fit three people but we all opted for the less-adventurous concrete dwellings as we know that the evenings could get very cold. The rest of that afternoon was pretty laidback. Some took their siesta, others went with Vicoy (a Baguio-based Vespa rider) for a short ride around the city and the rest stayed for some cold beer and warm chitchats. The evening served as socials with the rest of Baguio riders dropped by to welcome us. We got to know the faces behind the handles and avatars. It’s weird to have seen the scooter of kennonballer (can’t get any Baguio-er than that!) before I’ve actually met him. I saw it in bad shape last year due to an accident but I didn’t know how it exactly happened. That day, I saw him limping and finally heard his story. We also learned from the Bagiuo boys that motorcycles are not allowed in Session Road!

the out-of-towners with the Baguio riders
(photo courtesy of Dennis)

The following morning, we decided to go out for breakfast. While we wait for the road to clear on a double-sloped corner just outside Pine Breeze, Edmund miscalculated his step for balance and his GT fell to its side. It felt terribly hopeless not being able to help a fellow rider pull up his scoot since the rest of us were on a downhill slope as well, holding our handbreaks and being in an impossible position to simply hop out of our scoots. There were some minor dents and scratches on the GT but Edmund was okay. That Saturday was the scheduled ride to Mt. Data. Because of my “fancy moves” incident, I was already glad and contented having reached Baguio on my Vespa and felt that going further would just be pushing my luck too far. The conflicting info on how far Mt. Data is, didn’t help either (100+ kms, paved road and four hours of travel just didn’t add up). I then decided that if anybody would opt to stay in the city, then I’ll stay too. 11 out of the 16 riders decided to proceed. As we — the remaining guys — watch the group about to takeoff by 11AM, I’ve confirmed with a local guy that Mt. Data is indeed 4 hours away, and the 100+ km 48 km destination (based on Edmund‘s odometer) is not Mt. Data but the Highest Point (of the Phil. Highway System) which takes about 1.5 to two hours tops.

Cliff at the ‘Highest Point’ marker

The five of us decided to just take our scoots on a City Tour for our own adventure. We went around Club John Hay, Wright Park, The Mansion, Mines View Park and Good Shepherd for some pasalubong shopping. Yey had a ‘falling out’ with his scoot, Pilar at the gas station (resulting to a misaligned fender), the PSG tried to shoo our wasps away as we stop and posed in from of The Mansion, and Pal had two separate altercations with a couple of taxi drivers and got the ‘dayo lang kayo dito!’ retort. Finally, we had a late lunch at Kubo Grille in Legarda. Too bad, the Pinikpikan on the menu wasn’t available. Been curious how that chicken dish taste like. We met with the Mt. Data group at the karinderias near Burnham Park before the entire group headed back to Pine Breeze.

Pal, me & Mike at a stop along Wright Park
(photo courtesy of Direkyey)

We took off from Baguio at 7AM that Sunday with the group’s pace smoother and faster. No flat tires, no major traffic situation, nor any “near-death experience” on our way back. The only drawbacks were that bridge under repair in Pamapanga (or was that in Bulacan already?) and the showers which met us in Valenzuela; but even those were no biggie D. We touchdown EDSA at about 2PM. Waited awhile for the back-up van to arrive to get our bags, clicked a few shots for some final photo-ups, hand shakes for a nice ride and went our separate ways.

Remember how it felt like when you first learn how to ride a bicycle or when you got your first paycheck? That’s exactly how I felt as I was riding home that day. Felt like I had a badge of honor. But I was able to do it not because of my riding skills or the condition of PYKE. I was able to do it because I ‘ve got 15 other riders with me. It’s been one great weekend. Thanks for the company, you guys!

P.S. Here are more pictures from that weekend ride:

• Vespinoy’s Photo Album
• Direkyey’s Flickr Album

Vinni, Viddi, Vicci!

-o-
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J0HNRANA

john[dot]rana[at]gmail[dot]com