30 Nov 25 "Should be okay"

A very hot and muggy day, a lazy start and full English breakfasts all round.

Mark took a day of to Chill in the South China sea at our base in Subic bay.

A lesuirley 60km circular route for the others in the sunshine.

Stopping at a viewpoint we were befriended by some emaciated hungry kittens, as we munched on a water mellon from a passing vendor.

Russ an BJ had very different perspectives:

Whilst the others carried on to a scenic lake:

 

BJ ,the softie, headed back to the shops. Sardines gratefully devoured

Meeting up again followed a long sandy track beside the river hat seemed to be a neverending aggregate quarry

 

 

Before arriving at the coast.

Terry had an upset stomach so he and Russ headed back to base where Terry soon felt better after vomitting up yesterdays 7_11 hotdog.🤮

That left David and BJ to do the scenic route. 30km through clean rural villages on narrow tracks

 

Then uphill to a road that may..... or may not go back to Subic bay. Despite the sign we pressed on.

The concrete road was good but suddenly stopped at the top, turning into a clay and large sharp stony track. The further we ventured the poorer the track until we reached a small landslide.

 

After a conflab BJ arranged some rocks and we were able to manhandle our bikes a across the small ravine and carried on down the hill. 

 

The surface grew worse and worse and a local farmer made it clear we could not get across to the tantalising concrete road 400m ahead....but what do locals know?

It was BJ, normally the more cautious, that suggested it was "do_able". Turns out that was a bad call.

Reaching 2 big slippery steps if we continued there was no going back so common sense belatedly kicked in.

We had to backtrack and by that I mean manhandle the bikes around using the stand as a pivot. Then thow a load of stones into the claggy small stream. 

With heaving chests we walked and pushed and slogged until we got each bike back up to ground where we could remount...after a long panting rest.

Typical it was the hottest, muggiest day yet and we had no tools and no spare parts. A chain snap or rain would have been catastrophic.

A rough ride back to the initial landslip and more hefting and swearing. Exhausted we made it back to the road, stopping at the first shop to neck a litre of water each.

Physically recovered we set off for home when the heavens opened. It was blissfull cool rain, but thank the gods it had not happened 20 mins earlier.

 

The pics do not really capture the ordeal. What an adventure.

 

All reunited back at hotel and a swim in the sea as lightening flashed and thunder rumbled overhead.