Up to now I still can't believe it myself. It was such a humbling experience so far as it being the most number of kilometers pedaled in a single ride (all in all its more than 180kms. from the ride to Quezon then touring the town of Infanta)!
It happened last October 30, 2004, me with my friends in the Firefly Brigade decided to take up the challenge to be able to ride from Makati City to Infanta Quezon.
We left Makati City by 430am to ride with Rochelle Cuyco all the way to our designated meeting point in Burger King in Marcos Hi-way for our launch by 700am.
From Marcos Hiway, we pedaled our way towards Sumulong Hiway to reach Antipolo in Rizal. Our first stop was the "mangahan store" along Sumulong Hiway for a quick rest from our first uphill ride. The we traveled again towards Teresa town in Rizal all the way to Bugarin in Pililla Rizal. With relative uphills, this part was uneventful. Morong Rizal was such a breeze albeit a but hot and humid. We have to make some stops along the way as to rest from the rising temperature and scourching heat! It was like pedaling inside a steamer! All of us were exhausted and needed much replenishment of liquids. Thank God we brought in enough water bottles and Camelbaks for hydration.
Then we pedaled our way towards Siniloan and Famy Laguna.
It was such a sight to experience the views and the local people as they find us as an amusing bunch struggling to pedal the uphills -- at times as a pack and at times by our lonesome. No matter how painful pedaling was, it was very uplifting when we get some smiles and 'hellos' from the locals. I guess they all enjoyed watching our sheer determination and tenaticies in finishing the whole ride by only our own strengths pedaling (or probably thinks of us as bunch of crazy people too! hehehe). Whatever it was, it was such a lovely experience worth every pain that we've gone through.
Arriving in Famy in Laguna for a much needed break and rest by 100pm approximately. We all ate in one of the local eateries in the center of town. Food servings and the place was not at all bad for us weary riders -- ciltysleekers at that! -- from us coming all the way from Makati. The place was so inviting to lounge around after some heavy meals that we all together partake with fun and gusto.
After the rest, now was the journey going uphills to the Quezon Province. First town from Famy Laguna was Real Quezon.
It was a very gruelling ride for all of us! The heat was so scourchingly hot that it slowed down our pedaling pace. It was compounded by the face that all roads are going uphills! But despite the agonies in all our faces, we still had some chances to joke around and laugh merrily (probably each of us asking ourselves why are we so crazy enough to do this madness! hehe). Nevertheless we reached the peak of the uphill in the mountain and everything is downhill from there. Yahoo!
Now comes the fun and enjoyable part of the ride.
It was fun doing the downhills effortlessly. And it was a lovely ride as we go down the winding road with cold winds and drizzling rains all over us. Plus the lovely and enthralling sight of seeing low fog formations along the road that we've pedaled.
By the afternoon, the rain was pouring to us a bit stronger and its getting to be a bit colder. I even have to lend to Roche my yellow raingear.
Along the road, we've seen quite a number of lovely waterfalls! Beautiful! Had it not be raining incessantly and us a bit numbed from cold, we would've stopped and bathe in these falls! I know... it sounds crazy and foolish. But fun!
We reached the town of Real Quezon by 7pm. It was just me, Roche and Ricky who pedaled last. Most of our buddies were ahead of us. It was pitch black in some portion of the road and the only light we had was the ones mounted in our bikes and helmets.
And we've seen a tree full of fireflies! Amazing! It was as if the tree was sparkling with little lights all over it.
830pm we finally arrived. The journey was finally fulfilled.
