Finally, I experience the CABA Zone

My first attempt to ride in Camp Aguinaldo Biker Adventure (CABA) Zone last November went to naught. The trail's closed. It was after the Paquiao - Cotto fight. Probably, the trail keeper's still watching the reruns of the fight. He he he . . .

Yesterday, or five months later, I went there pedal all the way from Novaliches (about 20 kms). I left home at 2:00 pm and arrived after an hour and a half. Yes, it's open.

I planned to make a round only just to experience the trails then pedal all the way back home. After one round, I decided for another round. After a rest, I went back inside the trails.

Ironically, I found it more difficult on my second round. I crashed once at the curve before the ascent to the van and made more stops than my first round. Maybe, I was just tired. I survived anyway and went home happy and satisfied.

Definitely, I'd go back and try the trails again.


Stop over at UP Diliman


The trail head

The trail exit




Another stop over at UP Diliman on my way home.

I pedal all the way to Bataan

Yesterday, the Filipinos celebrated the Araw ng Kagitingan. It's the day of the Fall of Bataan. The commemoration was mainly celebrated in Mount Samat in Pilar, Bataan.

To take part in the celebration, not in actual celebration, I pedaled all the way to Bataan province.

This is the route I'd taken:

Novaliches via:

• Urduja Subdivision
• Congressional Road
• Meycauayan City
• Manila North Road
• McArthur Highway
• Olongapo Gapan Road
• Bataan National Road

I traversed the following 19 towns:

• Caloocan City North
• Meycauayan City
• Marilao
• Bocaue
• Balagtas
• Guiguinto
• Malolos
• Calumpit
• Apalit
• Minalin
• Sto. Tomas
• San Fernando
• Bacolor
• Guagua
• Lubao
• Hermosa
• Orani
• Samal
• Abucay

The total distance is about 110 kilometers, which took me about 9 hours. I left home at 6:30 am and arrived Balanga at 3:30 pm.

I went home by riding a bus. From the bus stop at EDSA Quezon Avenue, I again pedaled all the way to Novaliches. I arrived home at about 9:30 pm.

Malolos boundary arch

Bulacan Provincial Capitol

McArthur Highway, Malolos

McArthur Highway, Minalin


My lunch of sisig kariman and shrimp siomai in a convenience store in Guagua

Gapan-Olongapo Road, Lubao

Finally, I reached the first town of Bataan - Hermosa

Layac, Dinalupihan

Orani Municipal Hall

Memorial at Orani Park

National Road, Balanga

Balanga junction (end of the line)

My merienda of dinuguan before going home

By bus in going home

AlitePot in the bus compartment

From the bus stop at EDSA - Quezon Ave., I pedaled all the way home

I vote to bike! (Tour of the Fireflies)

The 12th Tour of the Fireflies is happening 10 days from now or on April 18, 2010 from 7:00 am up to 1:00 pm. It's a tour by bike around eight towns of Metro Manila (Pasig, Quezon City, Marikina - Cainta - Taguig - Makati - Mandaluyong) and in seven cities outside of Metro Manila (Baguio, Bacolod, Palawan, Laoag, Leyte, Cagayan de Oro, and General Santos)

The theme is : I VOTE TO BIKE!

Rationale: Remind Filipinos that an act as simple as riding a bicycle to work, to school, to dates... is an act of being makabayan... no pollution is produced and one saves dollar reserves because there is no reliance on expensive imported fuel.

Vote for more bicycle racks in your community and commercial malls...

Vote for road space and NMT ordinances...

For more details, you may visit www.fireflybrigade.org and/or tourofthefireflies.multiply.com.

12th Tour of the Fireflies Route:

Frontera Dr.
--> Ortigas Ave.
<-- E. Rodriguez Jr. --> FVR Rd.
--> Marcos Highway
--> Imelda (AKA Felix) Ave.
--> Ortigas Ave. Ext.
<-- E. Rodriguez Jr. Ave. --> to Market Market
--> 26th St.
--> McKinley Pkwy -- Ayala Ave.
--> Makati Ave.
<-- Coronado St. --> San Francisco St.
--> Boni -- Pioneer
<-- Shaw Blvd. --> San Miguel Ave.
--> Julia Vargas Ave.
<-- Frontera Dr.

See the map here => Google Map

Easter Sunday ride

After pedaling for two consecutive days on paved roads, I decided to go on trails.

I left home at 1:00 pm and braved the scorching heat.

My route: from our place in Novaliches to Pangarap, Caloocan City to Macabud, Rodriquez to San Mateo, Rizal and back to Novaliches via Batasan Road.

I completed the loop in about 5 hours and arrived home at 6:00 pm.

Thanks to this deep well pump and a well I passed by earlier. I was able to cool off.

Due to hard vibrations, my rear light cover fell off.


A steaming chicken mami despite the hot weather.

A refreshing buko juice . . .

Along the Batasan Road.

Sunset from Neopolitan Park

AlitePot taking a bath.

Holy Saturday ride (Novaliches to San Mateo, Norzagaray, Bulacan)

My planned route was:

• San Jose del Monte City
• Norzagaray
• Angat
• Bustos
• Vice versa

I left home at about 11:00 am and pedaled north to Bulacan. I reached Norzagaray after 50 minutes. At the crossroad, however, I didn't know where to turn to. I stopped, opened my communicator and consulted my map. But, I couldn't figure out where I was.

I turned left but turned back after pedaling a few kilometers. Then, I went the other way.

It was a long uphill climb. After riding for sometime, I felt I was lost. So, I stopped at a store, bought a softdrink, then asked for direction. I was on the wrong way, all right. The store owner told me that I was going to Hilltop and gave me the directions to Angat. "It's okay and thank you very much", I told her. After paying, I proceeded going to Hilltop.

On another crossroad, there's a sign - straight ahead to Ipo Dam, turn left to Hilltop. I took the former. At the Ipo Dam gate, however, the guard didn't allow me to enter. I pedaled back and went up to Hilltop. I ended up (or down) to the bridge at the boundary of Barangays San Mateo and San Lorenzo.

This is a nice place for summer getaway

It' 2:30 pm already and time to go back home.

Arroz Caldo and Tokwa't Baboy for my merienda (and lunch too).