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The ASEAN riders had been unable to go on our scheduled tour of the Mena Crisologo area by calesas yesterday due to the rain, but they were able to make up for it before our departure today, riding their T135s. Leaving the hotel, they rode around the central area of the city before entering Mena Crisologo street. After riding along the cobblestone avenue, where shops had not yet opened and few people were about, our PAN-ASEAN TOURING caravan left the city of Vigan.
Starting today, we travel toward Manila, heading south on the same roads we rode coming north. The plan for the day was to cover 320 km, which is the longest run scheduled for a single day (we also traveled 320 km on the 4th day of our tour). We had just taken the road to Candon the day before, but the clear weather made the ocean look a lot bluer. With heavy traffic and narrow, rough roads, we were unable to set a very good pace, but reached the gas station at Candon in about an hour. There, we were greeted by a childrens' marching band. Retreating into the shade as usual, our riders filled up on water and sports drinks.
After a 30-minute break, we headed for San Fernando, where we were scheduled to have lunch. The towns we passed through were crowded, as usual, but escorted by the motorcycle police and members of the local users' club, we were able to make it through with relative ease. We reached the restaurant in about an hour and thirty minutes. After eating lunch in the cool restaurant, the riders pulled together chairs to lie down for a short nap.
Even at times like this the youngest rider, Maico Buncio, and Roy Adrianto are always full of energy. Borrowing cameras from the cameramen accompanying the tour, they began taking pictures. Showing each other what they had taken, they would have a good laugh and then go back to take more. They seemed to have a great time playing jokes on the sleeping riders. Their favorite target was our Vietnamese rider Le Huy Hoa, who always falls asleep regardless of the time or place.
We left the restaurant at 1:00 pm. After riding south along the coast, we turned toward the mountains, headed for Urdaneta. While the narrow roads went from asphalt to concrete, the surface of the roads themselves were not bad, and neither was the traffic. We reached the gas station at Urdaneta before the scheduled time. Even shaded areas measured over 30 degrees C, but Maico was his usual playful self, taking pictures with a borrowed camera.
We had planned on resting briefly at Guimba before heading for Cabanatuan, the day's destination, but since we were traveling at a much faster pace than we had anticipated, we decided to make the entire trip in one leg. Riding through traffic jams in a few cities on the way, we arrived at our hotel at 4:30, a lot earlier than we had planned. Outside the hotel, we were surprised to discover a calf roasting on a spit. It is called lechon baka (baka meaning cow). Unlike pork lechon, it is an expensive dish that is served only on very special occasions such as weddings. At the dinner party, the ASEAN riders were welcomed by the owner of Wheeltek Motorsales Corp., Mr. Odulio, and his wife. Wheeltek is the largest business partner of Norkis Corp.
In fact, the party was also a celebration of the 32nd anniversary of Mr. and Mrs. Odulio's marriage. After the pair shook hands with the riders, and presented each of them with souvenirs, the team joined in celebrating the couple's anniversary. Since tomorrow will be a short ride, and we are not scheduled to depart until the afternoon, the riders were able to enjoy the celebration to the fullest. After today's run there are just two days left in the Philippine leg, which also means there are only two more days remaining until we reach the goal of the PAN-ASEAN tour that has been in progress for six months now.
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Vigan∼Cabanatuan
Riding in Vigan, with the St. Paul Metropolitan Cathedral in the background
The ASEAN riders riding through the Mena Crisologo. Exploring this World Heritage site, yesterday on calesa, today with the T135
At the gas station in Candon. The children looked a bit nervous during the ceremony, but smiled when the camera was pointed at them
The welcome by Mr. and Mrs. Odulio of Wheeltek Motorsales Corp. The riders, in turn, celebrated their anniversary
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