25/02/2024
My 7th Endurance Ride with Julius Ryan Juls moto Take Note Neil Polintan
All thanks and praises to Allah for making us safe during our 900 km ride.
Earlier there were setbacks.
My Gopro was 1% charged.
Both my side mirrors were loosen, which forced me to detach them. I was riding without view of my 5 and 7 which was very difficult to pass.
My mini driving lights were also loosen which I also detached. My Aerox' CVT encountered problems (oil seal) but was temporarily addressed thanks to a motorshop in Titay. Thought we would make it, but what I feared most happened. The belt literally disintegrated into pieces which made me do a very difficult decision and leave my motorcycle in Salug, ZDN. Have to backride with Kuya Neil from Salug, ZDN to Mahayag, ZDS when I decided to call it quits. But when I thought everything was hopeless an idea came up. What if I will borrow a motorcycle and finish the event? I called a friend and asked if could borrow one of his bikes just for me to finish the event, he agreed and let me choose between BMW GS 1250, KTM Duke 390 and Aprilla GT200. Would have chosen the first one but im a scooter kind of guy so I chose the Aprilla hahaha. But the unit was in Kapatagan, so i travelled there by bus. While sitting comftably in the airconditioned bus bound for CDO made me think, what if I will not finish the event and just go home to Iligan? I was very tired that time. My butt hurts, my back was aching were just a few reasons for me to call it quits and ended up DNF. Part of me wants to go home and another wants me to finish. What would you think an endurider would do? Hahaha. Arrived at Kapatagan past 7 pm and took the scooter. But then I realized I swapped my clear visor to a dark one and left it in my Aerox ๐. I cant ride with open visors at night with all the insects making you blind. So, I looked for some clear glasses on my way back to Mahayag but unfortunately stores were closed that time. I went to almost ten small stores but still nada. But when you think theres no hope to get hold of clear glasses, I ended up asking a guy if by chance he was selling what I was looking for in his small store. I was surprised that he did not hesitate to offer me his glasses which he was using as a headband. He wiped it clean and gave it to me for free. Would I call it luck or coincidence? Hahaha. So then I went on my way and continued my journey. . 9 pm arrived back at Mahayag and took a selfie. The ride was very smooth as I travelled to Dipolog via Sergio Osmena for the next photo ops site. It was very very cold that night with the bright moon helping me illuminate the path. Photo ops continued to Dapitan, Sapang Dalaga, Plaridel, Oroquieta, Clarin, Molave and the last one in Aurora at 3:43 am. Had some few stops along the way for some energy drinks to at least keep me awake. Riding on a motorcycle alone overnight on the dark thoroughfares of the municipalities of Zanorte, Mis. Occ and ZamSur was enjoyable, albeit scary. I swear that was a little girl I saw when I turned my head on that cemetery I passed by. Dogs were everywhere ready to cross your dark path for no particular reason which I think if it can talk, it would say: "surprise MF! A few energy drinks later, I arrived at Anahaw Amphitheater where we jumped off 27 hours earlier. Imagine that? 27 hours no sleep? But the real finish line is at home with your family. For my co-riders julius, neil, kenot and lemuel thank you so much for your patience and assistance. Would I do it again? I don't know. This page might be changed to hmmm ๐ค. X-rox? Babaprilla? Hahaha who knows? As I quote: "You don't stop riding when you get old; you get old when you stop riding" Assalumu Allaikum...
