Year end ride to the Grotto of Our Lady of Lourdes

It's New Year Eve! The last day of 2009. At 12 midnight, we'll welcome the New Year - the year 2010.

As my year end ride, I pedaled from our place in Novaliches, Quezon City to Our Lady Lourdes Grotto in San Jose Del Monte City, Bulacan. It's about 28-kilometer ride back and forth.

On the way, I met another biker, who came all the way from Marikina and was going to Malolos, Bulacan. We rode together up to the Grotto. His name is Mang Ado; and, he's 61 years old.

At the back of the church, it features the Stations of the Cross with life-size statues. And, I biked around the stations.

The First Station - Jesus is condemned to death.

To Second Station

Jesus is given his cross.

To Third Station

Jesus falls the first time.


To Fourth Station

Jesus meets his Mother.

To Fifth Station

Simon of Cyrene carries the cross.

To Sixth Station

Veronica wipes the face of Jesus

To Seventh Station

Jesus falls the second time.

To Eight Station

Jesus meets the daughters of Jerusalem

To Ninth Station

Jesus falls the third time.

To Tenth Station

Jesus is stripped of his garments

To Eleventh Station

Crucifixion: Jesus is nailed to the cross.

To Twelfth Station

Jesus dies on the cross.

Jesus' body is removed from the cross.

To Fourteenth Station

Jesus is laid in the tomb and covered in incense.

Amen!
I was already hungry and ate a bowl of arroz caldo.

Before going home, I passed by the Grotto Vista; and, it's open.

Afternoon ride to Timberland

On my way home, my feet were itching to pedal again. Thus, I proceeded to San Mateo to scratch the itching.

I parked my car at Froys Plaze along Kambal Road Ext. From there, I pedaled towards E. Delos Santos St. to warm up. I U-turned at the intersection and ascended to Timberland Heights.

Before returning back to my car, I detoured entering the road to Shotgun (but didn't go up) and exiting at the Abuab Road and Kambal Road.

My rider

Henceforth, I'm biking with a rider. His name is ElmoPot. He started riding with me last Christmas day to Mount Samat.

Christmas ride to Mt. Samat

We'd spent the Christmas eve and are spending the Christmas Day with my sister-in-law and her family in Balanga City. And, this is the best opportunity for me to try one of Bataan's bike trails.

I woke early at 7:00 AM. After eating my breakfast of fried smoked milkfish, fried egg, and lengua, I took off at quarter to 8:00 AM. My destination - Mount Samat, which is located in the next town of Pilar.


From Dona Francisca Subdivision, the distance to the foot of the mountain is about 10 kilometers. And, the uphill climb is about 7 kilometers.


To make the climb more challenging, I pedaled on unpaved shoulders. I just used the paved road, when it's too difficult or dangerous to ride on the shoulders. It was a grueling two-hour climb. I made so many stops to catch my breath.









But, finally, I made it.