Mini Bike Tour of Burgos, Bangui and Pagudpud

Last weekend, around 30 of my friends from TSP visited my hometown of Laoag, Ilocos Norte, for a 3-day bike tour. On their first day (Saturday), the group biked from Laoag to Paoay and Batac following a similar route Al and I took last April with our foldies. Unfortunately, I was not able to join them because I had to attend an FGD on enforced disappearances and extra-judicial killings (Don't ask me, I also don't know why I was invited).

Anyway, the next day (Sunday), I joined them for their Laoag-Pagudpud bike ride. Most of the group were billeted at Ilocos Rosewell Hotel in San Nicolas town, near Robinsons mall.

They originally planned to bike all  the way (80 kms.) from Laoag to Pagudpud, however, they were so exhausted from the bike ride the day before that they decided to start midway, in Burgos town, instead.

So, I borrowed our Kia Elf truck and hired a passenger jeepney for the day. We loaded our folding bikes on the truck, boarded the jeepney, and we were on our way at 8:45am.

Our first stop was my grandfather's shrine in Brgy. 20, Laoag City. We got off the jeepney and had our first group photo.

After that, we proceeded north and passed Bacarra town. We took a short break at a bakery in Pasuquin town where the group tasted our local pastry, the Biscocho. And then we continued with our journey.

At the Pasuquin Bakery

When we got to Burgos town at around 10am, the group went up the Cape Bojeador Lighthouse. We spent a considerable length of time there due to non-stop picture-taking. 

Al and I waiting for the others

Anyway, after about 20 minutes, when we got to gather all the people together, our TSP contingent transferred to nearby Kapurpurawan Rock, where we enjoyed the scenery of the natural rock formation next to the South China Sea (Ehem, I meant West Philippine Sea).

Although I'm a local, this was my first time at Kapurpurawan!

At 11:45am, we boarded the jeepney and proceeded to Burgos Poblacion. Once there, we were met by the bikers of Sokisok Bike Club. They were there to support and assist us.

Yes, this is a bike ride, Virginia! And, yes, after riding a jeepney for 40 kms., we finally unloaded our bikes and unfolded them!

Papa Rocky getting some help from Sokisok in replacing his Vector's inner tube.

So we started our mini bike tour in Burgos at 12:15pm! From poblacion to Bangui town it was all uphill! I was supposed to be the ride leader since I'm from here, but people just kept on overtaking me. I was biking so slow! (I hate uphill climbs!) 

The group took a break at Bangui Viewdeck. We rehydrated, ate siopao (Thanks, Marc!) and took lots of group pictures.

With Sokisok Bikers of Bacarra.



From the viewdeck, we biked downhill. Reached speeds of up to 45 kph! At the base, we took a left turn at Brgy. Taguipuro and biked towards the Bangui Windmills.

BCP Represent!

Brommie Skywalker at the Bangui Windmills

Tina, Ruth and I leaving Bangui Windmills

From there, the group left the bay and rode back to the national highway. We biked further up north, passed Bangui Poblacion until we reached the welcome arc of Pagudpud town!

That's me on the bridge before entering Pagudpud!

We all caught our breath and had another group picture taking. And then another uphill climb as we entered Pagudpud town proper. After 3 hours (including stops and breaks), we reached our final destination, Saud Beach! We had pedaled a total of 34 kilometers.

We ate late lunch at our family resthouse at 3pm. Later, the others rode the jeepney to visit the Patapat Viaduct. I stayed behind, chatted with Marc, Ruth, Romy and Mang Joseph, and enjoyed a cold beer.

At 5, we cleaned our bikes. We loaded them onto the truck. And at 6-6:30pm, we all drove back to Laoag City.

The next day (Monday), the TSP bikers boarded a bus and this time took a day trip to Vigan in Ilocos Sur--folding bikes in tow, of course. I had already left for Manila.

Anyhoo, I think my friends enjoyed their visit. (Thanks to Al and Geraldine Castillo for arranging their transpo and lodging!) They got to tour most of Ilocos Norte and Ilocos Sur within just 3 days, and do so on their bikes! So cool! I wish we can do this again in other places here in the Philippines, like let's say, Corregidor, Cebu or even Davao. Heck, there's even a call to organize one in Batanes! Go, go, go!!!

Good times! Ride a bicycle! You get to appreciate the scenery way better!

*Photos in this post courtesy of Al Castillo, Christian Ronquillo, Ruth Rodriguez, Zaldy Austria, and Dr. Glynson Cua. Thank you.