In the morning, Grandpa took me on a tour of Salvacion before I left. He knew everyone in the barangay, of course, and he introduced me to everyone, including his five brothers. Five brothers and no sisters at all. And then DNA evened up the affair quite a bit by…
Category: Catanduanes Bike Trip
Taking a Ferry to the Island of Catanduanes
I treated my time in Legazpi as kind of a shakeout period for me and my bicycle. I was just getting used to not working anymore, not being in Taiwan anymore, and learning to ride my bicycle again with a full touring load. Before I left Legazpi, I decided to…
All
Continue Reading
Cycling Catanduanes 2 – A Night in Salvacion
The real adventure began at the end of my first day when I stopped at the little barangay of Salvacion and met Grandpa and his sea of granddaughters. As I rode along, I pondered just where I was going to spend the night. I was prepared to spend the night…
All
Continue Reading
Cycling Catanduanes 1 – “Are you sure?”
The manager of the hotel in Virac raised her eyebrows at me when I told her of my plans to ride my bicycle to Pandan – the town at the northern tip of Catanduanes. “Are you sure?” she said, with her eyes widening and her voice rising a couple of…
All
Continue Reading
Photo Walkabout in Virac, Catanduanes
Friday April 12, 2013 6:30 a.m. Virac, Catanduanes, Philippines I lost the war of the little things this morning. The man in the room beside me was snoring like a freight train and at an incredible pace. I can’t imagine breathing that fast while sleeping let alone snoring that loud…
All
Continue Reading
Exploring Virac and Catanduanes
Thursday April 11, 2013 6:30 a.m. Virac, Catanduanes If I were informed that I was here on this world as a kind of messiah to deliver my important message, I know exactly what my message would be. “Hooks,” I would begin my first sermon, “are good! Hooks cost next to…
All
Continue Reading
Cycling to Tabac; Ferry to Catanduanes
Wednesday April 10, 2013 6:00 a.m. Boat from Tobaco, Luzon to Virac, Catanduanes, Philippines I almost didn’t make it out of Legazpi yesterday. I woke up feeling that I just wanted to hang out for another day. That feeling was reinforced by everything – the relative comfort of my private…