There was five, then nine, then eleven Jet Riders Club NCR riders, all willing and brave, mentally and physically fit to participate in this significant riding event, to endure the test of riding up north 1,490 kms. counter-clockwise North Luzon Loop Ride last April 17-20, 2008.

The four-day journey, principally to test the reliability and durability of Sym scooters especially the Joyride 200 and GTS 250, would serve as an unmatched showcase to span key sites of Northern Luzon. passing through the cities and provinces of Bulacan, Nueva Ecija, Nueva Viscaya, Isabela, Cagayan, Aparri, Kalinga Apayao, Ilocos Norte, ILocos Sur, La Union, Pangasinan, Tarlac and Pampanga.

We wish to thank specially Mitsukoshi Phils. Inc., distributor of SYM scooters, Castrol Phils. for all the assistance given to us. Special thanks also to all the SYM branch managers up north, SYM Roxas, SYM Tuguegarao, SYM Aparri, SYM Batac, etc. for giving us cordial reception. Special thanks also to our member Ron Purisima aka rontristan, for making almost all the arrangements and communications who also acted as our ride coordinator and chief marshall that made this ride possible. Also Jabar from Tuguegarao(friend of Ron) and GT2xrm(Glenn) from Vigan.

DAY 1 April 17 Thursday
Assembly time at 12midnight, Balintawak Shell…tried to sleep but to no avail…im so exciteddddd.
12:30 am Take off, with 9 members all geared up and ready for the big ride.

3am Arrived in San Jose, Nueve Ecija, rest briefly, clock total of 21/2 hrs. drive KM 161

530am Brief stop at the Isabela arch, took some pictures….and then we found out the first casualty…..a dead bird almost smashing thru my radiator grill, just like a kamikaze plane……poor bird tsk, tsk..

6am Breakfast at Chowking Santiago, Isabela

8:30pm Paid courtesy call at SYM Roxas, Isabela branch KM 329

9:00am Some minor incident though 1 hr. before reaching Tuguegarao, we encountered a provincial policeman who is arrogant or mal-educated or whatever terms to describe him…pulling out his pistol from his holster just to tell us that where to make a detour coz a somekind of an activity on the main hi-way in full view of hundreds of people watching a parade…coz our lead man did not notice his direction and intructions. So instincly when i saw his actions, i simply approach and told him that, “sir if that gun is cocked and loaded, its better to pull that trigger”…..heheh got nervous on that, whewww….then i told him that it is illegal for him to do that..and that Napolcom will not allow that,,,and that im a member of the press and im gonna take some pictures of him holding that gun. Immediately realizing his mistake, the policeman returned his gun to his holster. And just like that as if nothing just happened…..then we rode away. Forgot to jot down his name….damn….

10am Arrived Tuguegarao, Cagayan, stayed at the Ivory Hotel in the city proper…nice hotel indeed..and we needed that cool airconditioning. Clock total of 10hrs from Manila. KM 483

12nn Took lunch, and had a very much needed sleep.. p.s. its sooooo scorching hot outside, we ate lunch as if we were eating in a bartolina.

3:30pm Paid courtesy call at SYM Tuguegarao branch, served us Chowking halo halo….mmmmm sarap..
then proceeded to Callao cave….its a jaw dropping experience, the scene is so fascinating seeing a naturally made cave.. carved for thousands of years..took a dip in the river. Went back to the hotel Ivory…dreaming by 10pm……zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz

DAY 2 April 18 Friday
6am Supposed to take off for Aparri, but our president Roel del Rosario called up to wait for them, they took off 10pm thurday night..expectedly arrived at 8am. We let them sleep for 2hrs before we proceeded.

10am Took off for Aparri, made a brief stop at the Calvary Hills in Iguig, Cagayan..here you can see more than life size statues of the station of the cross.

12nn Arrived in Aparri, paid courtesy call in SYM Apari branch, we were serve of course halo halo….were supposed to have lunch in Claveria actually….and brief stop at the Magapit bridge for pictures.

3:45pm Touchdown Claveria in which they said as the northernmost tip of Luzon. We were greeted by the municipal councilor of Claveria Honorable Archie Layus. There we had our lunch and its just like a feast. KM 612

5pm Cooling time, we proceeded to Macatel falls in Sta. Praxedes, its a 10 km ride from Claveria..nearing the falls you can hear water rushing downstream….and yes its refreshing and there we recharge our exhausted tired bodies for 30 minutes. Spent overnight after a once again a feastfull dinner courtesy of our member Ron Purisima who”s uncle Mr. Mauro Daguigan owns the resort (Teppang R).

Read more about the Jet Rider’s ride here.