Forum member darknight27 shares with us his ride report of their wild and wet ride!

It was the 23rd of July, 2006 and I woke up at around 6:00am to prepare my things, my bike and myself for the XPHILS-Laguna Boys ride to Cavinti, Laguna. This ride was planned during our July 19, 2006 Meeting. I left our house past 7am to meet the rest of the pack at Walter Mart Sta. Rosa. When I arrived at the meeting place, Michael (Batman) and Sir Jaime was already there waiting for the rest of the guys. Unfortunately hard rain started to pour at around 7:30am which delayed the arrival of the other members. It was already past 8:00AM when Sir Jess (Jsamlaguna), Sir Jake and Sir Jong (Fedaplus) arrived on the meeting place, we immediately left for Shell-Golden City to meet Sir Rey. At the Shell station, the rest of the guys went on a “CR” break and we took some pictures before we leave. We left the Shell Station past 8:30AM with Sir Jaime (Spearhead), Jong on his scoot, Jake, Michael, Me, Sir Rey and Jess (Sweeper). Next destination is Jollibee-UP Junction to meet a fellow member. It was a slow ride to Los Baños since it was still raining and the road is wet. Upon reaching Jollibee-UP Junction at around 9:30AM, Sir Jim (Psalm62) and wife joined the group. Next stop-over was at the Bay-Los Banos Boundary, we took some pictures, Sir Jim and wife was able to shake hands and formally meet the rest of the group. After 5 minutes of rest and konting chikahan , we started to get ready and ride.

It was a long highway ride from Bay to Pagsanjan, we were able to cruise between 60-100kph since the road is quite wide and only a few cages on the road. Grabe sarap ng hangin and ganda ng view along the road! At Pila, Laguna we had to stop at a PNP-AFP checkpoint for their routine inspection …. Malapit na kasi ang SONA eh!. The inspection and a few chikahan with a police officer lasted for about 5 minutes and we’re off again. Next stopover was at Pagsanjan, Laguna. It was picture time once again for the pack! The weather was already ok when we reached Pagsanjan, though the road is already wet there was no sign that it is going to rain so the rest of the guys took-off our rain gears. After 10 minutes of rest, we took off for Cavinti. As we leave Pagsanjan Town Proper and reach the mountain side, road started to change….. its time for the TWISTIES! Yahoo!!! I’ve been to Marilague and to Real Quezon but the Pagsanjan-Cavinti twisties is super exciting and heart-pounding! The road is quite narrow and twisties are sharp! You can really feel the “adrenalin Rush” on this twisties and as we banked on the zigzagging up-slope and down-slope road! I was really amazed when we reached the Brgy. Sisilmin Bridge, imagine yung bridge eh baha, flowing with water from the river? The pack have to slow down dahil madulas yung tulay kasi malumot. After the bridge, it’s twisties time once again! But this time we have to slow down because the road is muddy. Then another flooded bridge at Brgy Cansuso, but a shorter one compared to the first bridge, Then twisties ulit….. hay nakakapagod! At around 11:30AM, we arrived at the house of Mang Tuding at Brgy Paowin. We ate lunch at Mang Tuding’s house, grabe sarap ng pritong tilapia, sinigang na tilapia, labong with gata and madaming rice! Sarap din ng desert namin na Buko-Pandan!

After lunch we ride our bikes to Paowin Elementary school, we left at bikes in front of the school and we transferred to 3-min boatride “Island Resort”, some of the guys sat and relaxed, while others toured around the island, taking pictures and enjoying the natural surroundings…. Sarap kasi ng sariwang hangin! After a while, the group gathered in the “native cottage to drink “Lambanog” with matching pulutan na freshly-caught Inihaw na Tilapia and Pipino! That is the time that we were able to get to know Sir Jim and his wife since this is the first time he joined the group. Did you know that Jim’s wife, Mrs. Trixie Clemente is a Municipal Councilor of Ragay Camarines Sur? She even invited us to visit her place this coming August 11-12, 2006 to witness and celebrate their Town Fiesta. Giving us an idea… Laguna Boys next destination: Ragay Camarines Sur! Hmmm… pwede!!!! By 3:00PM, the group started to pack things up, we didn’t finish the next bottle of Lambanog since we still have to ride back home. Instead of riding the boat, we decided to trail the “forest” back to where we parked our bikes. Its almost a 15-minute walk, just enough para mawala ang tama ng lambanog.

Upon reaching the school, we immediately prepared our things and bikes, but umulan na naman!!! We waited until the rain fades, and off we go! On the way back, we dropped by Sir Jaime’s house in Cavinti, ate suman prepared by his sister and off we go again! As we leave Cavinti we passed by a “huramintado”, grabe ang haba ng itak niya! We stopped for a while baka kasi pagdaan namin eh itakin kami! heheheh! Luckily he has intention to harm us kaya go na ulit ang grupo! We passed by the same route going to Pagsanjan. Next stop-over was at Pagsanjan, Laguna. On the way to Sta. Cruz, hard rain started to fall again…. Grabe basa kaming lahat!!! Before we reached Pila, Laguna we have to do an emergency stop at the Total Gas Station to fix Jake’s Z200 which encountered a problem with his starter. It took us almost 30-minutes to give remedy to the problem. Then off we go again! Jim and wife separated from the pack when we reached Los Banos. While Sir Jaime separated from the pack when we reached Brgy Putol. I and Michael separated from the pack when we reached Brgy. Sala, leaving Jong, Jess, Jake and Sir Rey on their way home. I arrived home at around 8:00PM, wet and tired.

Photos of this ride can be viewed here.
The ride thread is here.