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Today was our Thai rider Chuchat's birthday. Before the usual morning warm-up exercises everyone joined in a song of Happy Birthday. We left the hotel at 6:00 a.m. After just ten minutes of riding in the first sunlight of dawn, we arrived at the port of Allen. Having started from the island of Cebu and crossed the island of Leyte and Samar, the tour was now ready to enter the island of Luzon. The boat crossing took about an hour, during which the riders had breakfast. Most preferred the shade of the benches on deck to the half-cooled cabin. Today's touring officially started from the port of Matnog on Luzon.
Before our boat landed at Matnog we could see a small band and a large crowd of people gathered on shore to greet us. Then they saw us off as we started our day of touring. The roads of Luzon were a joy to ride. Although the amount of traffic was no different, the roads were in good condition and we were able to make good progress.
An hour or so after leaving Matnog, we arrived at the town of Sorsogon. Although it was still only 10:00 in the morning, our breakfast had just been a simple lunch box on the ferry, so we stopped here for a very early lunch. After lunch we had an interview with the local radio station. The interviewing reporter had a telephone line to the radio station and the ASEAN riders were surprised and a bit excited to hear the things that Chuchat was saying in response to the interviewer's questions coming over the radio at the same time. After Chuchat it was Gary's turn to be interviewed. There was a big round of appreciative applause waiting when the two were finished.
Everyone had a rest before heading over to the Sorsogon state government building. When we arrived we found a large crowd already waiting to greet us. The T135s were lined up in front of the building and everyone posed for big commemorative photo, which was made up mostly of the crowd of people who had gathered around our famous actor, Gary.
After about an hour back on the road our touring caravan reached the state government building of the neighboring state of Albay. We were welcomed here by the Lt. Governor of Albay, Mr. James Galisin, who also happens to be a great motorcycle lover and serves as chairman of the local off-road bike club. He was very happy to pose for photos with the ASEAN riders.
After that, we visited the "Cagsawa Church Ruins," which is a famous vantage point for viewing the Mayon Volcano. The church was buried during the 1814 eruption of the volcano, leaving only its bell tower above ground. Viewed from here, Mayon is a beautifully symmetric volcano and very scenic.
After a gas stop and a short rest we were back on the road toward our destination for the day, Naga. But, shortly after starting out, rain began to fall. Soon it was falling so hard that out caravan pulled off the road and everyone put on their rainwear. But, it turned out to be a short squall and soon after we got back on the road the rain stopped.
When we were met by the local Raptors Riders Automatic Club at the edge of town, the rain had been over for some time. We rode together from there with the club members through the streets of Naga to our hotel. A welcoming ceremony was waiting for us here in the square, Plaza Quezon, in front of the hotel, with performances of pambamsang awit (national dance) and pandango sa ilaw traditional dance. When the ceremony was over we checked in at the hotel to end another successful day of touring.
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Allen∼Naga
Leaving the hotel at 6:00 a.m. in the first sunlight of dawn, headed toward Allen
Local children joined in the flag-off ceremony at Matnog, our starting point on the island of Luzon
Sudden squall forced the riders to pull off and put on their rainwear. The sky was dark and the rain strong, but it let up and the road was dry by the time we reached the next town
Road conditions improved on the island of Luzon, where the ASEAN riders enjoyed riding through the tightly winding roads
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