Our ride last weekend took us to the nearby province of Bulacan. We woke up at 3AM, had a hearty breakfast and were on the pedals at 4AM. The trail head is in the quiet town of Norzagaray some 30 km away (and we usually are the early birds).

After doing a quick pandesal (salt bread) and mami (noodles) pit stop at the town's rotonda, we headed to the Norzagaray bridge to wait for other riders, some coming from Pasig some 60km away.


I was amazed at how clean and green the Norzagaray river. Unlike the Pasig river in Metro Manila, there river of a nice blue green color. I saw fisher folks casting their morning nets and while others were spearfishing near the banks.


Our trail that day will take us from (under) the bridge to Brgy Bayabas then to Brgy Matictic on the nearby mountains then loop back to the bridge again. The start was manageable, wide rough road but sharp rocks and mostly uphill.

The at some point we forked to the left and the trail transformed into a single track. First it was just muddy but rideable.


Then there were the huge slippery rocks. At some sections we had to push our bikes. The traces of a "road" completely disappeared. One could swore its not a "road" anymore but a dry creek, with houses dotting both sides sparingly. It looked like a place some politician forgot to be build a proper road to.


I started to enjoy the ride more when the trail became downhill. Still the same slippery rock and rut filled single track but at least now its downhill with a view of the lush green country side. Several riders "hit the ground" in some sections of track. I guess its part of MTB riding and I had my share of those, but not that day :).


The best part of the ride was the river in Bayabas near Puning Cave. Some of us could not resist and jumped right into the water for a quick cool down.


We had our lunch near the barangay hall in Bayabas. I saw a sign with directions to Puning Cave but we did not have the chance to go there... maybe on the next ride.

After Bayabas, its a muddy trail with devilish uphills! We were so wasted to even take photos :). I think the only thing that kept me going was the promise that soon it would be a smooth paved downhill back to Norzagaray bridge.

True to the promise, it was indeed a nice several km of downhill paved road. An uneventful ride back to the bridge, except for the occassional splatter of accumulated mud from my tires to my face as I cruised down.