July 27, 2014 06:15-0945 am
To keep myself motivated not only in upgrading "Black Beauty" but riding her as well, I have lately made it a point to have a long ride either on a Saturday or a Sunday as my schedule permits. This last week I have been thinking of making the Tagaytay route, however, as I will be on solo flight, the uphill climb will be too much for me. This made me decide why not the other way around, a downhill ride from Tagaytay Rotonda to Mall of Asia MOA Earth Globe Rotonda.
I have to asked my driver to come early today. We left for Tagaytay at 5am. While on the way to Tagaytay, I did my ride plan with my driver. The projected ride was an easy downhill ride, however, I did not feel easy as what if I have a flat tyre, I am not really a savvy guy on changing tyres more so if the flat will be at the back wheel. I told my driver to await for me at Pala-Pala about half way the stretch just to make sure I have a support vehicle as a backup.
At 6:15am without too much ado, I started my downhill ride. I have not even reached 5km and a speeding Toyota RAV4 overtook me on my left side and after clearing me a 100 meters ahead she hit a crossing dog that made a big smashing sound with the fender of the CRV coming off at the same time and the dog catapulted to the side road. The CRV did not even care to stop and double check what he hit (am pretty sure he felt it otherwise why will the fender fly-off) I stopped to see what can be done to the dog, however, the dog was dead instantly. I wanted to take a picture of the dog, but, my conscience was against it just to give respect to the dead dog.
For the 1st hour, I timed myself to have done 27+ kilometres which was quite fast for my standard. After reaching Pala-Pala I saw my driver a the side road and signalled him to proceed ahead to MOA.
The second half of the ride was a different story all together. With no more downhills and with a terrible congested road, there is nothing much you could do but just glide with the traffic. From Las Pinas Bamboo Organ Church it was like being a dare devil driver. You have jeepneys, motorcycles, bikes, hawker push cart and what have you to share the road. Worst is when you have a speeding jeepney overtake you and make a sudden stop in front of you either to pick-up or drop a passenger, such a very dangerous move or you have pedestrians crossing in traffic from left to right that you will not notice them because of the blocked vision of the vehicles lined up which my cause you to hit the pedestrian.
At around 8:45 I was already at the MOA Earth Globe and my driver was on time to pick me up. At exactly 9am I was already at Paragon Plaza, just on time to have the driver pick up my grandchildren on our usual Saturday bonding.
What a good feeling to have done the Tagaytay Rotonda to MOA Earth Globe Rotonda. Where to next week?
