The night we conquered Marilaque (Sierra Madre Mountains)

[raredog]

After being absent in group rides for more than two years. I could say that this is one memorable ride for me. It started only this friday, when my ride buddy Deo (padre damaso) called me and asked if I want to join a group ride, which he said rxbandits organized on a thread in MCP. I was hesistant to say yes kaagad, kase si Geely (my scooter) is not really in good condition for the past few days, namamatayan siya kse naglu-loose sa wiring ng CDI, plus I only have 2 ball guides instead of three (nde ko pa napapalitan yung isang nasira).

So I said, "Kailan at saan ba yung ride?" then I was surprised with his reply. "Ngayong gabi, sa Marilaque (Sierra Madre). Whatttthaa!! "Are you insane?" Tonite at that place? Well, after telling me about the thread and going at my house that night with his friend Norman, I was mega-sure na seryoso na nga ito.

So we went to Tropical Hut and waited for the group of rxbandits (DannyM4, Sting, and Eric). whew...when I saw them arrived with their ride, I whispered to Deo "Sasama pa ba tayo?" Kase naman po, their group compose of big bikes and cruisers...waaaahhhhh. Baka iwanan lang tayo niyan....puro lang tayo naka-scooter. But they told us naman na walang iwanan, slow-paced lang ang takbo. Ok, we said, anjan na eh...hehehe

Now the ride... Why this ride will be memorable for me, because this will be the first time na tatakbo ako ng gabi, ng hindi prepared, at sa isang lugar pa na very remote. Going up there was smooth, there was no traffic at all, because it's already past 10pm. After We passed Cogeo, the wind got much colder, and street lights are getting rare. Darker and darker as we go uphill, zigzagging on the very nice curvaceous cemented road.

It's kinda creepy out there, totally NO LIGHTS!!!, sabi ko nga sa sarili ko sa sinehan tumagal ka lang ng mga 5 minutes kita mo na katabi mo eh, pero dito grabe nde talaga kami magkakitaan, silhouettes lang.

All I can see clearly was around 20 feet ahead of me. (para kang naglalaro sa arcade) Speed up at your own risk, kase unlike kung morning ride you get to know malayo pa lang kung kakanan or kakaliwa, but that night is totally different, totally awesome, and totally challenging I should say!!! Most of us that night experienced almost overshooting the curves, kase nga ang sarap talaga ng feeling, natawa nga ako kse twice ni Norman kinain yung kabilang lane sa sobrang hataw, eh siempre sinusundan ko siya so pati ako nao-overshoot. There was a time pa na nagugulat na lang ako dahil napupunta yung marker ng kalye sa right side ko eh...hahaha!!!

So ayun, around midnite, tambay kami infront of Sierra Madre Resort/Motel which looks like an abandoned house that night. Kwento-kwento, stargazing and yosi break. After mga 30 minutes we decided na to go down and hit the road.

One of the highlights pa sa ride na ito is when we meet along the way rxbandits brother (forgot his name) around 3/4 na sa natakbo namin. Sabi ko "Bro ang tindi mo!!! Kinaya mong mag-isang sumunod dito!". I guess he's really excited to be with this ride kaya yun ang naging inspirasyon nya that night. I salute you bro!!

Except for a minor electrical problem rxbandits had with his ride, we went down smoothly, the pacing is much more faster and intense, kase nga pababa, grabe, you can feel talaga the arenalin rush pumping thru your veins!!! Whewwww...grabeeeeehhhh....sarapppppp

We arrived at Brickroad, STA. LUCIA at around 2am. I thank God as we congratulates ourselves for a very nice and safe ride we had. And looking forward for another insane ride ahead of us.

[raredog]

2 more pics

[Dakar8080]

Sir can you give directions on how to get to Marilaque. I'm from the south. Heard so many nice things about the road and the place. Can't find it in the map. Thanks

[garylamanilao]

Hi Dakar8080,

Entry point is along Marcos Highway in Marikina. East bound. Marcos Highway intersecting Sumulong Highway is basically the entry point marker. I can't recall exactly how long a back-and-forth trip to Sierra Madre is, but I guess its around +/- 80 km. Best to fill up beforehand, I believe there's no Gasoline station after Cogeo.

Hope that helps,

[garylamanilao]

Night riding in Marilaque... it's like "Initial D" on motorcycles. I wonder which group would claim this wonderful road. I hope someday, someone would organize a Marilaque TT (legally - ofcourse)... not that I'm fast or skilled (I'm slow and very cautious), I guess it's just that it's such a fine road that's so unutilized. Just my thoughts.

Ride safely guys,


Gary

[Dakar8080]

Thank you Sir Gary. I plan to ride in daylight. Enjoy the view and twisties. I too ride slow and safe.

[padre damaso]

I enjoyed the night ride to marilaque very much and syempre masaya kasama sila rxbandit, eric, sting, dannym4, raredog, norman and the brother of rxbandit. Hoping we can do it again soon.

[rxbandits]

nice pics...nasa iyo pa ba yung pics na naka helera mga bikes natin!?

[raredog]

sori bosing rxbandits, pero that was the time when my camera got low-batt, sayang nga dahil ganda pa naman sana nung shot na yun. Paki check na lang po sa iba nating kasama na kumuha yata ng pics thru their cellphone.

[rxbandits]

okies....may next time pa naman...lolz

[heightdeprived]

sayang 'di ako nakasama.. something came up kasi eh.. :( sensiya na sir rxbandits, nu'ngna text kita siguro too late na talaga para makasunod.. :(

[Tat]

Twisties Ride in the Dark! Congrats!

[rjmvirgotaurus]

@ rxbandits and to all of you guys,
congrats on your safe night ride to marilaque. isa kayong alamat......

[raredog]

Originally Posted by rjmvirgotaurus

@ rxbandits and to all of you guys,
congrats on your safe night ride to marilaque. isa kayong alamat......

sir we survived naman, kaya po nde pa kami alamat joke lang po.

thanks po sir sa compliments, night riding based from what I've experienced po is fun and exciting, just don't push it to the limits, kase nga the place is very remote, kapag nag-overshoot ka at sumemplang hindi ka madaling makita ng mga kasamahan mo.

[Col.TED]

Congrats on your successful Marilaque night ride,sirs!!!!!



BTW.......bakit yung first pic ganun???......medyo eerie yung kuha,hehehe
http://www.motorcyclephilippines.com...1&d=1151155003

[Dani_M4]

grabe talaga sir, sarap nung ride natin! nakakatakot lang talaga kasi sobra ang dilim.

first time kong magride sa marilaque, ganda pala dun, lalo na siguro kung sa umaga yun.

buti na lang nakasama ako, thank you sa lahat, JP, Jun, Sting, Norman, Deo, Raredog at dun sa kapatid ni JP.

[vince15]

galing! congrats!...

[ysalexlyon]

Nyaykss!!! oo nga Col.Ted! bakit ganun yung 2 nilang kasama?

[rxbandits]

hahah oo nga no!...nga pala guys ayon kay sting kaya siya naiwan is dahil may tumawid daw sa kalye...di niya alam kung tao daw....pero nag panic stop daw siya

[Dani_M4]

kaya nagkaganun yn pix kasi gumalaw agad pagkatapos nun flash.

sir raredog, d ba inulit natin yun pix na yun?

wala naman tayo na-experience na medyo kakaiba, yun nga lang may mga lasing sa kalsada, at kinawayan pa tayo. hehe

yun nga pala kay sting na may biglang tumawid na hindi malaman kung tao ba o hindi, yun lang siguro medyo kakaiba.

Sting, hirap ng pogi ano, pati kakaiba na-attract syo pre. hehehe

[rxbandits]

@dani m4

oo nga....ahehe


TO ALL:

time for another night ride!!!....how does famy laguna sound? same time! if your up for it then let me know
friday june30th

0927-999-6094

[padre damaso]

sama ulit ako kya lang sana not this coming weekend week days pwede din. Mag baon kaya tayo ng kwan...he he he

[raredog]

Originally Posted by Col.TED

Congrats on your successful Marilaque night ride,sirs!!!!!



BTW.......bakit yung first pic ganun???......medyo eerie yung kuha,hehehe
http://www.motorcyclephilippines.com...1&d=1151155003

kaya po ganun yung pic.
1. naka night mode yung setting nung camera ko, mabagal po speed ng shutter
2. masyado kami malayo sa camera (which is naka timer lang), nde na gaano abot ng flash yung distance namin, i have to adjust it sa photoshop yung brightness

natakot lang talaga ako dun sa 3 tao na nakita natin sa daan.

1. isang nakahiga
2. isang kumakaway na parang me sinesenyas
3. at isang nakatayo
4. ang pinagtataka ko lang, kung lasing man yung mga yun. Saan sila uminom? Kase no nearby house/store dun sa place???

hahaha.....magtakutan ba

Dedicated to all my co-riders that night!

[raredog]

Originally Posted by rxbandits

TO ALL:

time for another night ride!!!....how does famy laguna sound? same time! if your up for it then let me know
friday june30th

Bka tawagin na tayong NightRiders nyan bosing, hehehe

Suggest ko lang, bakit kaya nde natin itapat sa fullmoon, para mas maganda, maliwanag at mas creepy bwahahahaha

[rxbandits]

Bka tawagin na tayong NightRiders nyan bosing, hehehe

Suggest ko lang, bakit kaya nde natin itapat sa fullmoon, para mas maganda, maliwanag at mas creepy bwahahahaha

walang kaso yan...we will certainly do it again