I visited my Tatay Ben(my foster parent) in Plaridel, Bulacan last weekend. I lived in his place 6 years ago when I was still a student. I am not into running before so I haven’t tried the roads of Bulacan yet. As I was on my way, I was trying to plot out the route of my run. But the “kwentuhan” during the night extended until past midnight so I ditched the idea of a long, easy 15K run as part of tapering for the upcoming TBR Dream Marathon. We just had a walk to the public market to buy some fresh carabao milk (P20/bottle), suman(P20/bundle), puto(P20/5pcs.) and goto(P15/serving). I really miss these foods.
Around 10:00am I was looking for something to do until I saw these:
A Japanese bike
Hmmmm? Me on that bike? That’s hilarious! But I have to try the Bulacan roads before I go back to Manila. So why not do some cross-traning? I borrowed the bike and the camera and roam around Bulacan. I braved the scorching heat riding with that odd-looking Japanese bike. My route was a simple loop starting from Bintog, Plaridel- Bustos-Baliwag-Pulilan then back again to Plaridel. It was approximately 23KMs, I started 10:45am and was back 1:30pm. Talk about heat-training.
Start: Bintog, Plaridel going to Bustos (8Km ride)
Medyo maputi nako before this ride kaya kailangan na ulit magpa-araw.
Then after some election chats and “kamustahan” I headed to the neighboring town of Baliwag.
Baliwag Clock Tower, time check: 1:07pm
Bridge connecting Bustos to Baliwag
I survived the heat because of fresh and ice-cold buko juice (P10/cup). Available on the streets of the 4 towns. Super refreshing and healthy too!
After more than an hour of pedaling… I’m back to Plaridel
Clockwise from left: San Agustine Parish Church, Baliuag; Bustos Public Market; Angat River flowing through Plaridel, and the Pulilan Public Market with the Kneeling-Carabao of which Pulilan is famous of.
I had a nice tan on my legs. I rediscovered a bit from the historic Bulacan. I had my cross-training for the Marathon. I visited my friends. I survived the scorching heat. I enjoyed 3 cups of Buko juice. I tried the roads of Plaridel, Bustos, Baliwag and Pulilan.
Thanks to my Tatay Ben and Nanay Allen for the invite to have a mini-vacation (for lending me the bike and the camera too). I enjoyed it! See you again next year and blessings to your soon-to-be baby.
James, seems as though you had lots of fun on that bike, and the camera too. Nothing to do an iron man with, but hey, peddling is still peddling I guess. I guess you could do an Iron man with that. When is the Marathon? Best wishes! What is buko juice made from? How is it healthy? Thanks for sharing the pics, great Post. God Bless!
It's always fun when you're around friends, food and rolls(bike). I haven't tried buko juice the way it was in years… have a great day
@kenley,marathon is on May22, so excited. buko juice is just coconut juice with ice and some sugar.
@di, thanks man! the juice were timely and refreshing. better than gatorade!
wwoohhhaaaa….what is that James? hahaha… you sure are so brave to cross 4 towns with a Japanese bike! I also had a japanese bike before (with a harley-davidson looking steering wheel) but never used it away for more than two villages.That was a great adventure James! Fun, hilarious, and enjoyable! I want to join you sometime on your long runs if family time permits. 😉 see you when?
@sure alfred! TBR classmates tayo diba? kita kits in 10days