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More often than not, we ride our bikes for mobility — to transport us from point A to point B, or where we wanna go. We usually have a tunnel vision, and our minds are often fixated and focused on the destination rather than the journey.
For us, cycling is never just a ride; we travel with our bikes to have a brief respite from the hustle and bustle of things…to escape from the noise…to give gratitude and live in the present moment…to reconnect with ourselves…and to enjoy the simple things that life has to offer.
“Never just a ride, but an escape for solace, introspection, and appreciation for life.”
It was 3 am when we embarked for Lobo-Laiya — a route that changed the way we appreciate cycling, especially life. The weather was sunny, although sweltering, but it didn’t stop us from riding — Solar Power baby!!! We set our course to San Pablo; it was an easy climb going up, and a good way to charge us up for a long journey ahead of us. We then rode our bikes to Tiaong, and from there, we have two choices for Lobo-Laiya: go to Lobo first via Rosario, Batangas or go first to Laiya via San Juan, Batangas. We chose the latter, and it was a good call for us because if we chose the former, it will be more tedious for us as the uphill terrains will be the last and we’ll be tired by then.
Going up in the Mountainous Area of Taysan was a breath of fresh air. The sceneries were great as you descend to Lobo; you’ll get to see the vast waters of the coast of Batangas and Verde Island. Although there were a lot of uphill climbs, the descents feel as if you’re with the wind — going with the flow, being carefree, and leaving all your worries behind.
Finally, we reached Lobo around 10 am, and had a quick stop at a convenience store to hydrate and freshen up because the heat was no joke. We then continued our journey and reached Malabrigo Lighthouse where we took pictures of our bikes and took some rest.
A few meters away from the lighthouse is where the actual fun starts — we were welcomed with major descent and a picturesque landscape of lush greenery with the bluish sky and pristine waters of Lobo in the backdrop. We stopped by on a rocky beach shore in front of us and enjoyed dipping in the water as it glistens with the sunlight.
After taking a few photos, we continued cycling on a long gravel road beside the ocean waters. It was a haven for gravel cyclists — cycling in coarse gravel while hearing the ocean waves as they strike the shoreline.
Midway, we were awestruck by a vast landscape — it was a long strip of shoreline and a mountain range at the back with a bluish and brownish gradient ocean view in front. It was our first time seeing such marvel, and made us appreciate nature and the things around us more.
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Before we reached the town proper of Laiya, we were welcomed by numerous downhill and uphill climbs. If you’ll be taking this route, make sure that you’re fueled up and you have lots of water because the distances between sari-sari/convenience stores were far from each other.
Finally, we arrived in Laiya at around 4 pm, and thankfully, the road from Laiya to Tiaong, Quezon was a long flat road — enough for us to sustain our speed and energy going home despite being too tired from the long and winding gravel route that we’ve just tackled. In Filipino, laspag kung laspag! Hahaha But it was all worth it — the core memories that we’ve created together with each other and our bikes; the stronger bond and camaraderie that we’ve built; and the deeper appreciation for nature, the things around us, and especially life.
Life’s too short; experience it and make it count
Words by Oli Pillas
OUTWILD OUTDOORSN 14°16'36.585" E 12°124'59.14"EST. 2021
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