Manila To Aparri Biketour August 2023

From the busy streets of Manila to the northernmost tip of Cagayan. 🚴‍♂️💨 In August 2023, I took on a mission to complete the "Norte" side of my Philippine bike tours. This 600km solo ride was a true test of grit, featuring 4:00 AM rollouts, mechanical struggles, and the burning pavement of the Cagayan Valley. #ManilaToAparri #Biketouring #CagayanValley #SoloRide #CyclingPhilippines #Aparri #DaltonPass Day 1: Manila to Science City (Nueva Ecija) 00:00 - Rollout: 3:00 AM Departure from Manila. 01:32 - Monumento / Bulacan Area 02:15 - Bustos & San Rafael Bypass Road 02:52 - Truck Lane: Navigating the narrow bypass with heavy vehicles. 03:00 - 50km Milestone: First breakfast stopover. 03:18 - San Miguel, Bulacan: Watching the fast vehicles on the highway. 03:35 - Gapan 33km Marker 04:11 - San Antonio Petron: The landmark for the left turn. 04:26 - San Antonio, Nueva Ecija 04:53 - Gapan City Proper 05:07 - Nueva Ecija Fuel: Breakfast stop for energy. 05:51 - Maharlika Highway 06:01 - Brgy. Nieves 06:30 - Cabanatuan Archer / Boundary 06:58 - Talavera, Nueva Ecija 07:50 - San Jose Road: Long stretch heading North. 08:23 - Science City of Munoz: Seed Centers & PhilRice. 09:00 - Central Luzon State University (CLSU) 09:29 - Research Centers: Passing the training and research programs. Day 2: The Dalton Pass Summit (Nueva Vizcaya) 09:59 - Day 2 Kickoff: 4:00 AM rollout from San Jose. 10:30 - Santa Fe / Aritao / Bambang Bound 10:58 - Tire Check: Dealing with a minor air leak. 11:22 - The First Climb: Entering the mountain range. 11:39 - Santa Fe Resto Stops: Passing the mountain eateries. 12:13 - Santa Fe, Nueva Vizcaya 13:16 - Mountain Bridge: Watching locals swim in the clean sapa. 14:18 - 30km to Santa Fe Proper 14:29 - 35km Milestone: Quick break before the heavy ahon. 15:36 - The Cold Wind: Feeling the mountain breeze. 16:00 - Altitude 539m: Climbing higher into the Sierra Madre. 16:28 - Candy Break: Using sugar to power the climb. 16:35 - Altitude 664m: Reaching the higher slopes. 17:01 - Altitude 700m: Navigating mountain dogs and steep grades. 17:29 - Altitude 752m: Nearing the 1,000m goal. 18:02 - Altitude 805m: Passing through Daang Maharlika. 18:19 - Altitude 843m: One last push to the top. 18:40 - THE SUMMIT: Nueva Ecija & Nueva Vizcaya Boundary. 21:50 - Bambang Arrival: Searching for a place to stay. Day 3: Crossing into Isabela 22:19 - Day 3 Start: Bambang Traders & Santiago Bound. 24:09 - Bambang Mountains: Scenic views of the peaks and fields. 24:28 - Aritao to Bambang: Road condition report. 25:36 - Dog Encounter: Quick reflexes to avoid a chase. 26:02 - Isabela Bypass Intersection 27:27 - DA Agribusiness Center 27:58 - Diadi / Cordon: 55km remaining. 28:14 - Diadi Summit (387m): Feeling the "magnetic" pull of the climb. 29:24 - Diadi Municipality 29:53 - Lower Magat Ecotourism Park 30:28 - Isabela 4th District Boundary 31:01 - Isabela Welcome Arch 32:00 - Santiago City 6km Marker 32:53 - Santiago City Proper: Chicken Inasal lunch stop. 33:15 - Alicia, Isabela Bound 33:42 - Brgy. Shed: Hiding from the extreme midday sun. 34:04 - Echague Town / Isabela State University 34:29 - Welcome to Alicia Arch 35:06 - Cauayan City Proper Day 4: The Long Stretch to Tuguegarao 35:16 - Day 4 Start: 4:30 AM rollout from Cauayan. 36:19 - Bike Shop Hunt: Looking for an interior tube. 38:50 - Day 4 Strategy: Managing 2 sets of clothes & heat fatigue. 40:16 - Ilagan City 15km Marker 41:58 - Rice Field Highway 42:26 - Tuguegarao 60km Marker 42:53 - Tumauini, Isabela 43:19 - T-Junction: Kabagan / San Pablo / Tuguegarao. 43:43 - The Lonely Road: Miles of cornfields. 45:00 - Kabagan Batil Patong: Testing the local specialty. 45:52 - San Pablo Bridge 46:51 - San Pablo, Isabela 47:26 - Picture Stop: Capturing the San Pablo landscape. 47:49 - Cagayan River: Critical dehydration check. 48:44 - Tuguegarao Outskirts: Flood-prone road sections. Day 5: Arrival at the Northern Tip (Aparri) 50:03 - Day 5 Start: Alimurung / Iguig area. 50:55 - Morning Repairs: Fixing the tire pump and brakes. 51:40 - The Road to Aparri: Rollout after sunrise. 52:25 - Rural Cagayan: Seeing the farmers at work. 53:39 - Alcala, Cagayan 55:14 - Gattaran: Lusong-Ahon stretch along the river. 55:46 - 16km to Town Proper 56:13 - Lallo, Cagayan: Silog breakfast stop. 57:24 - The "Blend" Effect: Matching the green background. 57:56 - Ilocos / Santa Ana Junction 58:55 - Aparri 15km Marker 59:06 - Camalaniugan, Cagayan 59:44 - 10km to Aparri Proper 01:00:13 - WELCOME TO APARRI: Arriving at the tip of the North. 01:01:26 - Aparri Proper: Finding the Bus Terminal & McDonald's. 01:02:53 - Homeward Bound: Boarding the bus back to Manila.