Up and around.

It was hot in Vigan, already sweating before I even started riding. Heading north to do a loop around the north coast.

Out of the mountains now and firmly on the main roads. Not too busy though and a decent ride.

The north coast is, apparently, famous for it's wind farms. Plenty of the turbines dotted about with the necessary wind blowing the bike around.

Then I arrived in Blue Lagoon, Pagudpud. Riding in, it looked like a beach resort would look in a post apocalyptic zombie movie. Battered and shuttered buildings with a fierce wind coming off the sea. This didn't look promising.

Arrived at my "Transient House" (many of the lower end guesthouses have named themselves as "Transient". I guess that's me?! No power as the supply had, apparently "burnt down"! I'd arrived early too, to get some laundry done; not going to happen...! The power did eventually come back on, but did little to brighten the place up. Really don't get beach holidays. 

Soundtrack: "Just like Heaven" - The Cure

I awoke to the sound of rain. The wind had died down, just enough to give the rain a shot. I could wait it out, or stay another night....but....Noooooooo! I wanted; I needed to escape! On with the waterproofs and away, the freedom of the open road screaming to me!! 

The weather came and went a bit, eventually becoming predictable enough to dispense with the waterproofs. Just as well, because I was slowly broiling in them. The road along the north Luzon coast is very rideable, heartily recommended to any bikers who finds themselves in this part of the world. Some recently cleared landslides littered the road, some declaring "enter at your own risk!" The forces that be seem to put a lot of effort in keeping the roads open.

I'd escaped Blue Lagoon without breakfast and I was getting hungry. I saw signs for a Jollibee (local fast food joint in the Phillipines) 50 km down the road. That'll do. It took a while to cover the distance, my craving for the processed food getting stronger. Eventually arriving .....there was a queue of cars lined up outside and no room to park the bike up! I think it is newly opened up here in the remote north and locals from miles around had come to sample it's dubious delicacies. Bollocks to that. I rolled on a few 100 metres to a roadside burger van type place instead. Two burgers and a pepsi for 94 pence; you can't put a price on class like that!!

It was at this point I had intended to turn inland through the hills to get to my destination, but low dark cloud clung to the horizon, so I continued along the valley route where the weather prospects looked more promising. An uneventful ride brought me to Tuguegarao and a really nice hotel (cheap!).

Finally got my laundry done! Woohoo.

Soundtrack: "Hurt" - Johnny Cash 

Itchy feet kept me moving. I'm really going to have to take a day off from riding soon. But every place I've been to so far hasn't screamed "stay another day!" at me. So, it was the 300Km to Baler on the East coast. Why? Why do I keep doing this? I hate beach resorts! Maybe it was because my highly rated accommodation from Booking.com is most politely described as "grim", but I instantly took a dislike to Baler. These kind of places just creep me out; I don't know why?? Never again! Us homosapiens have evolved to live on land, we shouldn't be anywhere near the sea!

The ride in was good, especially over the hills and down the coast. Coming into this province, there was a much more obvious army/police presence. There have been checkpoints all over the place, mostly unmanned or at worst unenforced. Here though, army types with guns stood by the checkpoints. Still not stopping or checking anybody, but a visible presence nonetheless.

Soundtrack: "Billy's Bones" - The Pogues