There was this thread on the ride and touring section of motorcyclephilippines.com/forums/ regarding an open endurance ride for Manila-Matnog-Manil in 24 hours. I've already been hearing rumors about this and was interested to join yet somewhat doubtful about it. Financially, I was still unsure, and I haven't done a long ride for quite some time. But deep inside, I consider it a challenge and I wanted to do it.
So, I signed up for the ride. Then there was this pre-ride meeting for us to toalk about how we are to do about this challenge run. I attended, still doubtful if I will join, but still interested to know what ill go around the meeting. For a while I thought that I don't belong on this meeting since I was the youngest, and It seems like in their eyes, I'm still a greenhorn. I brushed that insecurities aside, listened to their plans and occasional jokes, I stayed quite silent most of the time, joining the conversation once in a while. After the meeting was over, I realized that there were only few of us who will do this. So i decided to push through with this, no matter what they think of me, no matter if my bike's the underdog of the pack. I just want to do it, face the challenge, prove myself to the big guys.
Pre-ride meeting. From left, sir Tito, Ms Teth (wasn't able to join the ride), myself, sir Digger, sir Jiggy, sir YBR1
Estimated distance Matrix.My only problem was financial. the ride will take place on 12MN of Friday switching to Saturday. Usually, our payslips are given on a Friday and our ATM's are updated on a Saturday. And I needed to change my tires badly before Saturday, and I still don't have enough money. Luckily, (as if by fate) our payslips were given on Thursday, giving me instant cash on Friday! I took a leave on Friday, prepped my bike, myself and bought the necessities for the ride. Went to sleep at 3PM on friday, woke up at 8PM.
Petron McKinley(C-5)... Our meeting place as well as our starting point. I arrived first at 11 PM (Nov 27, Friday) together with two of my friends. We were scheduled to take off at exactly 12 MN (technically, Saturday). Sir Jobert, arrived next. He was to be the coordinator of the ride. Supposedly, he would ride with us but, due to his doctor's orders, he was forbidden to join. Next to come was sir Tito on his Hayate125, sir Digger on his CBR150, sir Jiggy on his SYM UB, and Mench on her Rouser200. Sir Jake arrived last on his Barako175.
We all took off at 12.01 (except YBR1). Sir YBR1 caught up with us on Sucat. Every thing was going well except for the massive traffic from Calamba all the way to Alaminos... (There was a truck mishap) from Calamba, sir Jake and Mench was with me... From Alaminos, sir Jake got separated because of his HID problem... The rest was separated ahead of us since they were running at a faster pace.
Mench and I hammered all the way until Sariaya. We were running at 80-90kph. From Sariaya, Mench got separated from me since I was a quite aggressive in overtakes, and Mench was a more cautious rider than I.
My GameplanMy first Gas stop is in Lucena and according to my data, I am 26 mins late (I think). I don't know the shortcut going to Tayabas and come out of Pagbilao, so I took the longer route entering Lucena Diversion road.
After that, passing Pagbilao was a nightmare on my ass and arms... the roads were bumpy with asphalt patches. Then I got lost and entered Bontoc Peninsula. To those familiar, the fork entry to Bontoc Peninsula is similar to the fork entry to EME (short bitukang manok). I overtook a van, didn't see the signs, end entered at the wrong fork. The Fork going to EME was right after that.
At firs I thought I was on the right track since the first set of curves was similar to that of EME, then I realized may folly 30 mins after... So I just kept going since I know I'd have to end up somewhere... Hopefully...
On a tight set of twisties I encountered my spill... Luckily it was a down hill very tight curve so I was taking it slow (20kph I think). No throttle, just braking slightly to slow down I didn't notice a small patch of sand in the middle of the road.. exactly at my line. Crash!!! No major injuries just a little muscle pain on my right arm, and my helmet saves the day again as my right temple slammed on the asphalt. Bike damages were just a few scratches. My pegs, side mirrors, handle bars, rear handle bars saved my bike's fairings...
Then I pushed on... asked some locals for the right direction (after checking meticulously that they're human, hehehe it was 2AM then, scary). They pointed me out to the fork going to Gumaca. To those familiar, I entered the towns (if I remember the names correctly) Agdanganan, Unisan, another town that I don't remember. But I was sure that it was Bontoc Peninsula since I've read somewhere online regarding the beautiful twisties off Gumaca. And it was a really good set of twisties, the road was smooth. The problem is it was dark and it was my first time there... on a lost condition, so I wasn't able to hammer down on it like I do on Marilaque.
Arriving in Gumaca town proper, I stopped and ate my first Snickers choco bar (I was running on sugar all the way! no meal stops!) Still had enough gas to push through until Calauag, where I met up with Jiggy and Mench.
In Calauag, I was 1 hr late in accordance to my target time. Since Mench was now together with Jiggy, I decided to push through already while they were taking their weewee break. I seriously had to recover lost time.
Next stop was Sipocot where, reduced my time differential from 1 hr to 45 mins delay. It was 6:45 AM (I think). I wasn't able to hammer down on Quirino highway (which is indeed fixed real good!) since the road was moist from condensed fog and light drizzle... A formula for slippery surface.
Next stop was the long run to Daraga! Upon arriving, I was able to reduce my time differential to 15 mins! I made good use of the sunshine, dry roads, and long stretches. I was able to hammer down again at 80-90 kph. 100kph on a few good flats and downhill sections.
From Shell Daraga I was now 15 mins ahead of target time. I arrived there at 8:30 (I think). continued on the challenging twisties of Sorsogon, reached Seaoil Irosin at 15 mins ahead of target time. Reached Matnog at exactly 11:00. Took another Snickers Bar (yeah sugar power!), and a hard boiled egg (for the blood to go burning baby!), took a smoke finished it halfway and took off.
Views from Sorsogon
Crabhouse
Sorsogon Welcome Arch
Our Turnaround point. Matnog Pier ArchSeaoil Irosin, again. At this time I realized that sir Jobert was monitoring our movement and was needing info from me. I really didn't bother texting (not my habit, hehe) since I thought I was only supposed to text sir sir Jobert if there was trouble. Up on my crash earlier I didn't bother texting since It was minor and I was still up and running.
Too bad I wasn't able to reply since there was no signal for Sun Cellular... That's why sir Jobert was only able to make updates of me on Daraga already, where I gassed up at Shell.
As sir Jobert stated, I pushed through all the way to Sipocot, skipping Naga where sir Jake rests, as I told sir Jobert thru text. I was serious in making good use of daylight go back as fast as possible.
Petron Sipocot, I met up with sir Tito, we were 20 mins ahead of target time so we took some time to have a break. In Petron Sipocot I saw the Kawasaki Rider's Club of the Philippines (KRCP), IT Riders Philippines (ITRP), and some of sir Tito's friends riding in badass Harleys on apebars. (deymn, I wish had one of those!)
sir Tito and I left together but since his Hayate 125 was a monster, I had let him take the lead and go at his own monster pace. Back then If I could only spank my Wave to go faster I'll do it, hehehe!
I reached Calauag only mins ahead of time, at around 5:45 (I think), just took gas and just went on. I didn't bother texting sir Jobert at this time coz I was already tired and I just wanted to go ahead right after filling up for gas.
Before reaching Gumaca, nasty rain slowed down my pace... Lights refracted on my helmet's lens so visual was too low. I was only able to hammer down at 60 kph. Fortunately, weather was good again right after the Gumaca Pier. There I hammered down hard! Good thing there was this truck ahead of me which was way fast! He was hammering at 80-100 kph, he only slowed down a little on the curves. I used his pace and movement to my advantage. He was a perfect spear head.
Upon entering EME (finally I got it right this time), I was thankful that the flashlight people was still there... I took the course slow and steady since the pavement seems moist and slippery.
Reached Lucena at around 7:45 PM (still in time), texted sir Jobert regarding my status, took a rest ate up another snickers bar (Sugar power!), took my first Bacchus just to make sure, took a smoke. and rest my tired body for a while.
On the final run back, traffic was good all the way to Calamba. But upon entry to Calamba (past the SLEX exit) is where my nightmare started. I was tired and irritated already, and traffic had to add insult to injury. At this point I did to be a bit more aggressive than usual. I badly needed it since I was gunning to return at an earlier time. I was a good thing that my computation from Lucena-Manila was a generous 4 hrs allowance.
So that is that, I arrived at around 11 PM (I think), and was surprised at the welcoming party... I was very much thankful for my friends who welcomed me back. My friends at Team MCP, all of them gave me a warm welcome. It was stress relieving.
Ahead of me on the finish line were sir Digger, sir YBR1 (we used our forum handle names most of the time), sir Tito. Also our ride coordinator sir Jobert, was present, verifying our accomplishment. Sir Jake arrived next only minutes after my arrival. Shared some stories bust most of us needed one thing... rest.
My formula for finishing this run... A good rest for preparation, stress tabs for every 8 hrs of travel... Snickers bars for the hunger, I didn't take any meals since I know it would make me feel sleepy. Gatorade to replenish liquids plus the necessary nutrients, water... And energy drink only for the final leg of the travel.
What I lack in bike performance, ride experience, and fuel tank capacity, I make up for Youthful energy and passion for riding! I still love my bike, kahit na underdog ang Wave ko. hehehehe! Ride Safe Always!
