The road to Bitbit River of Norzagaray in the realms of the Sierra Madre Mountain Range

Early Sunday morning and I was set to pursue with my plan to ride and explore the way going to Bitbit River in Norzagaray. It's only about 16 kilometers away from where I live, just quite a short distance...I thought.

Showing the direction from Google Map

But before I left, I filled my tummy tank with some carbs to initially sustain my energy. I started with "Ibus" (steamed rice cake) and "Balisongsong" (steamed milled glutinous rice with shredded young coconut meat and sugar). 

I devoured one each of those "kakanin" and having felt just enough, I was ready to go! I reminded myself not to ride on full stomach.

This was a bike excursion for me since I haven't gone riding here in the Philippines since I started working abroad. Not during my previous vacations either.

Nearby bridge in one of San Jose River course. See how I made my horse ready for the ride? She was just so fresh like the morning breeze (this is how we make "landi" with our bikes... todo linis just to end up dirty at the end of the day 😍😎😓).

Road traffic along my way wasn't that worse but still I needed to be careful and maintain road courtesy at all times. The Del Monte-Norzagaray Road is a long stretch that is always a busy traffic but as I go farther from Bigte wet and dry market, the road is getting quiet. Not as much motorist can now be seen except for some vehicles and motorbikes once in a while. I didn't even noticed that I was continuously climbing uphill until I felt much pressure on my knees. The elevation was just getting higher as I hardly pushed but I just couldn't resist to break off and stop. I was enchanted with the beautiful nature side by side and due to my enthusiasm and confident perception of greater extent of fascinations ahead,  I made myself set to move on.

Natural rock formation along the road of Minuyan, Norzagaray. So downhearted to see a quarry works in progression below this unrefined natural wonder.

Up ahead I came across the gateway to the Pinagrealan cave. The signboard can be spotted easily from the main road with the arrow pointing the direction. The road towards the cave is unsurfaced, it's a rough and unpaved track.

Not in my itinerary though, but I was curious to check and just have a look. And besides, I needed something to eat...oh yeah, wait a minute...there's another arrow pointing to a restaurant in just 300 meters!

Off-road but seemed to be accessible by cars and even tricycles.

I didn't go nearer to the entrance of the cave since I had no intention of going inside, anyway. However, I consider it in my bucket list already...next vacation perhaps.

For as much as I have no story yet to tell about this cave, you may read this blog by San sa Pinas? to learn more.

Translation for non-Tagalog readers:

The Pinagrealan cave  which was first called Cave of Minuyan located at the foot of the mountains of the Sierra Madre part of Norzagaray. This was made a camp by the revolutionary Filipinos led by General Sinforoso Dela Cruz. It was the main hideout and fortress of the revolutionaries from 1896-1897.

In this cave lived the revolutionary army of General Emilio Aguinaldo and General Pio Del Pilar. There were diverse battles outside and around the cave. Inside the cave lies the house of General Aguinaldo built at the back of many standing door-shaped real marbles. Built in front of the cave were the barracks and nursing homes where wounded soldiers are treated.

This sign is made and subject to the resolution of Norzagaray's culture, history, arts and tourism council and the town's head of Norzagaray, Kgg. Feliciano P. Legaspi M.D. in the year 2012

Just a bit ahead of me, I spotted a single track. I was tempted to pedal through but reluctant to proceed farther. The place was not familiar to me at all, I had no idea where it will lead me so I decided to turn back and ride my way out to the main road.

Possibilities of ride exploration is one thing that I thought to consider for this place in the future. When that time comes, I will persuade some riding buddies to come along. Hopefully with those who are more familiar with the site's whereabouts. The scenery was just amazing and I was so optimistic, there's a great promise of adventures that may lay ahead.

Single Track!

There I went to proceed pedaling again in the main road. I was only about few kilometers away from the Bitbit river bridge according to my navigation tool. The elevation still kept on going up but the shade of the trees both sides along the road was a reward of comfort.

Relief has taken place before me when I felt there was a change as I went on, the clear roadway was slanting down...the best part of riding a bicycle where your pedaling is at rest. Holding control on my handlebars and brakes, I positioned my upper body aerodynamically and glided down the road.

I was mesmerized once again by the nature around so I decided to stop and cool down. The spell of the wind and the captivating beauty of the hills were just irresistible.

One spot that overlooks the mountains. The Bitbit river is lying down the fold.

Extensive cordon of  hills and mountains.

Downward-sloping road that narrows down to the Bitbit River Bridge.

Here is one worth to read blog about the Bitbit River in Norzagaray, Bulacan.

As I've thought, it was just quite a short distance but at no time anticipated the challenging climbs, nevertheless, nature has rewarded my ride with unfathomable admiration and lot of surprises!

Road to Kharara...an epic ride to the high arid coast

Reminiscing one of my unforgettable ride four years ago...I just can't resist to revisit that moment in this short blog.

It was a calm day but the summer heat silently brought humidity that morning of March in 2014. There were seven of us who planned to do an epic ride and decided to hit the target point, Al Kharara.
We've been to the place 2 years back before this planned pursuit but on car convoy. The trails of Al Kharara have left us good memories and due to the spectacular scenery, it bewildered our bicycle-filled minds. Tormented by fascination and our fervent desire, we were fanatical and determined to return back. This time, pedal all the way on our mountain-bikes.

Starting point: Skate Shack, Salwa Road
Target destination: Al Kharara
Riders: Rowell Feliciano, GlennGuevarra, Andrew Tangonan, Francis Atienza; Eric Jarder; Ferdie Bermejo
Support Crew: John Bonalos (on Nissan Tiida); Mr. Shaju (on Nissan Pathfinder); Mrs. Feliciano (Medic on board)

Photos by John Bonalos

From left: Eric Jarder, Glenn Guevarra, Francis Atienza, Andrew Tangonan, Roel Johnvid Moses, Me, Saju and John Bonalos (behind the camera)

Along Wholesale Market Road

Old Road somewhere in Wukair

The sun had risen ahead of us

An old abandoned road heading to where our GPS was leading

Our first climb encounter with the dunes

Seemed exhausted but we need to keep moving..we're still far from our destination

Come on Pathy, follow us up!

After the climb, there was a descent of course. Gliding...that's how you'll play your MTB on down-flowing sands.

Bananas, anyone?

Obtaining some breathing space for our weary lungs.

Can't go on without this compulsory tradition and fashionable trend for Mountain Bikers

Solo pose of my rig during this journey

The journey continues...a road gulped by a ferocious rolling dunes.

The other side of the road gobbled by the fiery sands behind us.

Left his camera behind, John was able to jump in front and said...cheese!

Another good spot to strike a pose.

Leave us alone, we want by ourselves this time!

What? A sedan was able to hold the tail of the 4 x 4? That's my Tiida piloted by John all the way.

When the road ends...

...the real adventure begins.

Getting near to our target destination.

End of the old road...just a few meters away, there lies the Al Kharrara village

What a relief! Eric had his shower...that was refreshing!

Due to the rising temperature, we were not able to go and ride inside the trail. Besides, I needed to catch up with the Friday prayer and the group will still be riding all the way back to the start point. Me and John rode our way back by car and left our tough five buddies who endured to complete the epic ride. I really was guilt-ridden that time but the call to my religious obligation was inviolable.

My respect is always with these guys whom I rode half the epic ride four years ago and still looking forward to do this unforgettable journey with them again...but perhaps...with you out there pondering to do the same.

 Distance Riders: 150+ kilometers (Rowell Feliciano, GlennGuevarra, Andrew Tangonan, Francis Atienza & Eric Jarder); 75+ kilometers (Ferdie Bermejo)
Total time: 11+ hours (Rowell Feliciano, GlennGuevarra, Andrew Tangonan, Francis Atienza & Eric Jarder); 7+ hours (Ferdie Bermejo)

Work it out with Paragis: Its benefits while cycling or doing your favorite sports

Have you ever heard of Paragis?
Have you ever wonder what is it?

Well, perhaps you will have the same retort as mine since I never heard of it either. It was not until I came across a TV episode entitled "Bangis ng Paragis" by Jessica Soho that made my curiosity boost. You may watch the episode here.

Funny that it was when I learned that the grass I was so curious about is just a common type of turf. It just grows anywhere even on dry compacted soils.

Here are some of our folks call it: bakis-bakisan, bang-angan, bikad-bikad, bila-bila, sabung-sabungan, palastiki, sambali, parangis; in English, some call it yardgrass, wiregrass, goosegrass, etc.. and its scientific name is Eleusine indica.

Photo @ ParagisGrass & Magnesium FB page (fresh paragis grass)

Photo @ Paragisgrass & Magnesium FB page (dried paragis grass)

Let's proceed with my main point about this grass and how did it benefited me. I tried boiling a teabag of dried paragis just to satisfy my curiosity. And from then on, I drink it regularly. I'm using dried paragis tea bag since there is no available fresh raw plant nearby where I live. And besides, dried paragis stays long and more practical to keep for a longer period.

Here's how you will do:

Photo @ ParagisGrass & Magnesium FB page

1. Bring to boil 1.5 liters of water.
2. Put 1 teabag of dried paragis or 1 handful palm-tight if you're using the fresh grass
   
3. Let it boil for 15 minutes. Note: If you are using the fresh grass, it must be boiled for 10 minutes only. Remember, 10 minutes only and don't let the boiling time beyond that.
4. Let it cool and put in a pitcher.
5. Drink 1 glass 3x a day, it is advisable to drink after meals
6. Do it everyday. (Dried paragis teabag can be used to boil 2 times; for fresh leaves, use it once only). 
7. Refrigerate the remaining drink to maintain its freshness. 
8. Drink it hot or cold, you will surely love the taste!

Photo @ ParagisGrass & Magnesium FB page

Photo credit to the owner

Paragis by the way is a common grass food for some animals. It means that this plant is non-poisonous and safe for humans too. There is nothing to worry as long as it is prepared properly and thoroughly cleansed. You may also consider the safety of the place where the grass is harvested making sure it is free from pollution, contamination and toxic materials from filthy grounds. It is recommended to harvest the grass from a farm, along riverbeds or just in your backyard as long as the area is not prone to foreign contaminants and unclean matters.

I have been taking prescription medicine for hypertension and was advised by our company doctor to maintain desirable weight and do physical activities. Going into diet is my common struggle specially when confronted with irresistible menus in front of me. Fighting for self-denial is difficult to hide. To justify my cravings, I tend to just shrug my shoulder and say "I'll do my diet later". But when I started drinking paragis, I feel the difference! There was a change in my appetite, the cravings are still there but became manageable. It helped me loose weight too.

Going on with my usual biking routine and intermittent mild running, it became my habit to bring with me paragis drink instead of plain water. On long rides and race events, I add honey which blends perfectly. The mixture serves as a power drink to help me keep going.

Al Kheesa trail in Qatar

Original packaging of dried paragis teabags with loving remarks "Nagmamahal, Lita Jugo". Tita Lita was featured in KMJS episode "Bangis ng Paragis".

Paragis drink has been part of my family's daily diet. My Asthmatic daughter who drink it regularly doesn't experience difficult breathing anymore. This miracle drink even treat regular cough and colds. Having this teabags always on my cupboard serves as my refreshment rescue and an immediate home remedy for common illnesses. Read here to learn more of its health benefits.

Giving up on expensive commercial drinks is smart move towards healthy lifestyle. It is hard to imagine that most of these have different captivating colors and claim to contain 100% natural flavors but though it may seem strange, they almost taste the same! Health is wealth as the saying goes... and if we continue spending lots of bucks buying chemically processed foods and drinks, we just tend to giveaway our precious wealth to the giants' pockets leaving ourselves helpless at the end. We should be responsible of what we put inside our body, we must be vigilant of the ingredients and make it a habit to read the labels before trying to consume such things.

The next time you walk around, look at those plants and weeds along your way. There might be paragis that grows... the green grass of hope.

To know more about paragis and its miracle wonders, visit this page on Facebook. 

Al Adaid Desert Challenge 2018 - Part 1 (Race Simulation)

From left: John Bonalos, me, William Yerro, Maricar Estacio, Andrej Filip, Saad Ferzam

When I was informed by my colleague, John, to do a race simulation ride at Khor Al Adaid, immediately I said "yes"! Indeed I was excited for two reasons. Firstly, my instinct of joy to ride and the next in mind was to scrutinize my level of capacity whether to push my limited limits to survive when the race comes. On the other hand however, I could have another two reasons as well. The advantage of familiarizing the terrain and to decide whether to push through with joining the race or quit. But hey, I've done the registration and already paid my entry fee which only meant there will be no turning back!

A few km from the start point, ahead of us will be the ocean of sands and rolling dunes.

OK, I'm ready!

Armed with excitement and thrill, we were all set and start pedaling. The weather was just fine and notwithstanding what lies ahead, my fear was far beyond hesitation - that's because we had a couple of four by four vehicle support that would back us up.

Midway of the route are waves of dunes.

Traversing the vast northern desert left us no choice but to dismount and push our mountain bikes. This is where my leg muscles started to feel tensions. Running or just walking on dry sands will immediately consume your energy let alone climbing and descending on hilly dunes. The good side however, the sun was still kind to us and the wind still showed comfort from time to time.

A selfie with Egay. I tried to hold my breath for a while and managed to smile for this.

While in the middle of the desert, Egay got down from the support vehicle and did a selfie shot just in time when I was approaching near him. Of course I needed to smile and pretend to look smart, pretty smart for me not to be closer otherwise the photo will reveal my pretensions.

This wasn't a selfie shot but this time the photo revealed my low inertia but the photo-bomber at the back was still in high spirit. No wonder, she's Maricar Estacio - a DH and Enduro goddess in her time!

It seemed that Saad was regulating his tire pressure and Eddie offered help while John and Andrej were checking the GPS. 

The final stage at last!

The good news? We all managed to reach the finish line! Not on a race-pace though but doing the simulation was just good as doing the actual race.

Happy together while going back en-route to where we parked our cars.

A big thanks to the two big guys from Qatar cycling Federation (QCF) who gave us the opportunity to be part of this mission: Mr. Andrej Filip and Mr. John Bonalos, the Event Director and Operations Director respectively of the Al Adaid Desert Challenge 2018. A big shout of course to Eddie Padilla and Edgard "Egay" Galang for the lift and support.
The Riders: Andrej Filip, Maricar Estacio, William Yerro, Saad Ferzam, Me
Photo Credits: John Bonalos, Eddie Padilla, Egay Galang

Wadi al Sail…an MTB Trail that it was

Wadi Al Sail is a neighborhood just within the heart of Doha, it was once a settlement with housing units and establishments. Behind this settlement lies a tenantless empty zone which can still be seen along Khalifa Street corner Majlis Al Taawon Street leading to Al Corniche. Though much renovation and development have undergone in recent years and settlements are gone, the empty sector remains intact until now. Memories protrude along the hilly hills where some tracks remained clear, for a decade ago, it was a haven for early Mountain bikers.

The hilly section of Wadi Al Sail.

Minaret of the Grand State Mosque in the distant.

Stone wall between the park and the barren section.

Going back at the park, oh yes, there's a part to climb!

And of course, a long way down overlooking the metro towers from above!

The crawling stone wall beside the bike lane at the south-side serves as the borderline between the present and part of the past. Those who once rolled their MTB rigs here a decade ago would definitely stop within this spot for a while and playback some of their memories. The charm of the past will bring their feet to cross the other side and feel the ground once more. 

Notes to consider: 

1. The park has already been opened for public but lot of finishing works are still in progress.
2. Cycle paths are still not fully constructed. 
3. Bicycle lanes and pedestrian pathways are mostly constructed side by side. Taking a lot of care when cycling there is a must.
4. No enough signboards yet on cross-lines and blind spots. 
5. The undeveloped part is under entry restriction.