Touring Report

May 21,
Lucena∼Tagaytay

An 8:30 departure was planned for this morning but when the time arrived, our two Vietnamese riders had not shown up. When one of the staff was sent to check on them, it turned out that they had simply overslept. "My wake-up call didn't come either. I woke up with my own alarm," said always-considerate Chuchat, covering for his two teammates. Soon, Cuong Hoang Thach showed up, looking OK after having taken off part of yesterday's ride due to his fall. The other Vietnamese rider, Le Huy Hoa was also fine and ready to go.
Today's planned distance was not long but we would be passing through many towns, so the pace would be slow. After 40 minutes on the road, the Philippine press rider, Dino Ray V. Directo III, got a flat tire. Although there had been no mechanical trouble with the T135 machines, this was the fourth flat tire the team had suffered since the start of the Philippine leg of the tour. The support staff worked quickly to change the flat tire and within 10 minutes our caravan was back on the road. Our Philippine rider Lester teased his stout friend Dino, saying, "It's because he ate too much at last night's dinner."
At 10:30 a.m. we arrived at our first destination of the day, the Norkis Lipa City 3S [3S = Sales, Service, Spare Parts] dealership. We were met there with a big and lively reception by the dealership staff and many members of the local United Batangas Riders Club. After the ASEAN riders and club members and staff took photos in front of the shop, everyone was invited inside. The ASEAN riders were presented with souvenirs by Mr. Eusebio Antonio, the Norkis marketing manager for this region.
Leaving the dealership, we stopped at a nearby restaurant for a slightly early lunch. Shortly after noon, the clouds began to look ominous, and we got news that it was raining in Tagaytay, our next destination. So, the riders put on their rain suits before we left the restaurant. As we passed through the town of Lipa, the going was slow because of the many slow-moving Jeepneys and tricycle taxis. There were also neighborhoods that happened to have fiestas (festivals) going on that made it even harder for us to make progress, despite our motorcycle police escort. What's more, although we had anticipated rain, what we got was hot sunlight that raised the road temperature to nearly 40 degrees C. The riders had to stop to take off their rain gear and get something to drink because of the heat.
From the seaside town of Taal we began our ascent to Tagaytay, which lies at an elevation of 700 meters. The road climbed quickly as we passed along the west shore of Lake Taal. As we climbed, we could see the vast expanse of the sea behind us and soon the expanse of Lake Taal to our right. About an hour after beginning our climb from Taal, we reached the highland town of Tagaytay. After a stop for refueling and a short rest, the members of the local Yamaha Automatic Touring Club came to welcome the ASEAN riders. After the members were introduced, everyone gathered for a photo. After that, handshakes went all around and the ASEAN and local riders made friends as they talked about their mutual hobby.
Leaving the gas station, it was just a short ride to our hotel, which we reached at 3:00 in the afternoon. The view from the hotel of Lake Taal and the Taal Volcano beyond was a delight to see. Tomorrow we will have a day rest off the bikes with only some touring by bus. And, since the morning start will be later than usual, the riders were able to enjoy the evening dinner party longer.

Lucena∼Tagaytay

The usual scene before the morning start. The riders join together in a "Yamaha" cheer before starting to ride

On the winding uphill from Taal to Tagaytay. On the rider's right is the expanse of Lake Taal

In front of the Norkis Lipa City 3S [3S = Sales, Service, Spare Parts] dealership, the local riding club members, the dealership staff and the ASEAN riders gather for a photo

After a long, winding climb, the riders cruise through the streets of Tagaytay