Well I hope this is not gittish but there are times one genuinely wants to share a special experience with friends and acquaintances, real or virtual. I still get the odd PM from BR-er's so I must have a few left.
160km ride, four Harleys, one French, two American and me (indeterminate) into the mountains south of Manila today. Very serious curves allied to 1-in-4 gradients and you better get that right on a 600lb bike or you won't get another go. I won't want to do that again without spare underwear. Phew. This is truly beautiful country.
Lake Ta'al is actually set inside a huge volcano. Inside the lake is another volcano, which has another lake inside that. The views are breathtaking, the more so when contemplated from the restaurant verandah while addressing a 1" prime rib with all the trimmings (9 Pounds your money). There are two world class golf-courses set into the mountainside. I am not a golfer but am told the Philippines has world class golf at low prices. Certainly the Japs love it. It's probably the 15 year old girl caddies who include cold beer on their carts that help. Then take the cable car over precipitous views in 20 C temps vs the oppressive 34 C today of Metro Manila.
Growlette is sulking because most of the girls are the pale-skinned Manila Filipino-Chinese ones and she has the browner skin of the provinciana. Not that it matters to me, but it is a status thing here.
Traffic (incredibly) was minimal and our small convoy hit over 100mph a few times on the country roads. On the tollway on the return trip a truck evidently holed a piston. He was on the hard shoulder (dangerous because everybody uses that if the traffic slows up) and the fog of stinky burnt oil smoke blacked out the view so badly that the cops were directing traffic (except you couldn't see them). I hit that at 80mph and spent an anxious moment pointing the thing and hoping somebody up there likes me.
What I really hate is the oil droppings when you pull up at the toll booth to pay. Then just as you get there having waited your turn in line some nice man in an Expedition with his hazards on and a government license plate followed by two Nissan Patrols with blacked out windows, no plates and sirens going decides he wants your place in line and shoves infront like you weren't there. If you accelerate away you risk losing it on a half-inch of black grease and either way you get an oily boot which not only slips off your footrest all the time but makes a mess of that nice Chinese rug and gets you an earful from the Ball & Chain when you get home.
Got an advanced case of wind-burn, too.
After that,we hit the pub and demolish a bottle of Jack between us while resolving world issues. Catherine moaning about how that new Corbin seat I bought is hard on her little buns. What to do. But she does look good in leather.
She's taking her Motorcyle Foundation Safety Course next month on 18th. Dadi if I pass can I get a Harley Sportster? (experience hugs and enveloped in lots of black fragrant hair)
Nothing like digging a hole and falling into it.
Some days are like jewels. Today was such a one.
...Growler the Git out.
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This is truly beautiful country. Lake Ta'al is actually set inside a huge volcano. Inside the lake is another volcano, which has another lake inside that. >>The views are breathtaking.
I can certainly agree with your comments. We visited the lake many years ago but were a little concerned at the smoking countryside. Obviously things have moved on as I recall many poor roads outside Manila.
I'm off to find the slides then I will have that view on the wall in the wet SE. Thanks for the reminder.
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Henry K: (nearly said "hk", but that means "Honey-ko", and this is a family forum), I think you would find the roads vastly improved. Many are still the two lane cement type as opposed to tarmac but surfaces are generally good, if bumpy. If you take the back roads you avoid the buses, too. On a bike with some mates it's just superb. The burning off of the fields is still there but that is after all a natural part of farming and is only now in the dry season. We're going down there again next but further on to Matabungkay, where a couple of the guys have beach houses. You may know it. Road down there is fine.
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Growler, my apologies if this is presumptuous/out of place.....
I was talking about you (or rather your postings) at dinner tonight with friends/family. This post sums up everything I was talking about.
I am envious, I'm also very, very drunk. My inebriation does not effect my opinion, just the fact that i'm expressing it, rather than nodding sagely and keeping quiet.
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"Dadi if I pass can I get a Harley Sportster?
Hehe G - this is 'payback' for the Mustang! And remember at the time you thought you could get away with a few odds and ends from Victoria's Secret?
Suckered, my man, suckered ...
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LOL Ian if this had to come from anybody it had to be you.
As for payback oh yes you bet, give 'em a hand they bite yer arm off. But they're so gorgeous what to do. I have had an eye on a local 2/hand Sporty 883 for a second bike actually so I could probably do a snow job......
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