Thursday, May 28, 2009
Prenza Dam, Marilao, Bulacan
Here's one of our favourite destinations a long time ago. We went there 2 weeks ago. It's just a kilometer and a half from Divine Mercy Shrine. You will pass through Brgy. Sta. Rosa. Used to be, we have to trail through the quarry site for adobe rocks. It's approximately 1.2-1.5kms from the main road. And, to my surprise, the trail where we use to pass through is now paved and a large subdivision now sits on the very site where the quarry was. Well, a lot can happen in a year, how much more for ten years? Anyway, atleast now it's a lot easier to go to the site but with less fun, though. The Marilao River, sad to say, is considered one of the dirtiest river in the world. Thanks to some projects done in this river, trash thrown to the river is lessened by a large percentage.
Grotto, Brgy. Gaya-Gaya, San Jose del Monte
Yesterday morning, i thought of going somewhere where I used to go 10 years ago, and the Grotto Shrine is on top of my list. It's a short travel from Marilao to San Jose del Monte, approximately 15-16kms but going there is quite a challenge. From the name itself, del Monte(of the mountain), it sure has a lot of uphills. We took the path from MacActhur Highway to Brgy. Tabing Ilog in Marilao, which also leads to NLEX, cross the bridge across NLEX then just stick to the main road and it will lead to San Jose. We passed by several Barangays, namely: Tabing Ilog, Prenza, Muzon, then the town of San Jose. There's an intersection in San Jose - to left, it will lead you to Sta. Maria, go straight ahead, then it will lead to San Jose town, to right, it will leaf you to Brgy. Gaya-gaya where the Shrine is located. It's about 3-4kms from the intersection and still up and down the hills.
Getting there from our home is quite a challenge for your muscles, but once you get there, the feeling is rewarding. The place is not as well-maintained as before but continues to be a place of pilgrim even if the place is a private property.
Here are some pictures of the Church. It has 2 chapels, one at the ground floor and the other on top. But the chapel on top is closed, though.
Getting there from our home is quite a challenge for your muscles, but once you get there, the feeling is rewarding. The place is not as well-maintained as before but continues to be a place of pilgrim even if the place is a private property.
Here are some pictures of the Church. It has 2 chapels, one at the ground floor and the other on top. But the chapel on top is closed, though.
Wednesday, May 27, 2009
Hanging Bridge in Paombong, Bulacan
I've only returned to cycling almost 3 weeks ago and I've already been to a many places in Bulacan along with my new recruits.=)
May 17, 2009, my dad's birthday and the first long trip that I ever had in my life. My friends and Imet up near SM Marilao early in the morning at around 6AM. Our destination is Balagtas, Bulacan by first passing through the town of Bulacan, Bulacan. We passed through McArthur Highway from Marilao to Bocaue. We took a left turn from the highway near the town proper. That road will lead to Bulacan, Bulacan then to Balagtas. It's an alternate though longer route. We arrived at our destination an hour later. Unfortunately, the person that my friend planned to visit was not at home, so we decided push through Malolos, Bulacan(it's the town next to Balagtas). There were a lot of people on the road going to churches and markets. 30 minutes after, we passed by the Municipal Hall of Malolos and Barasoain Church. The Barasoain Church isn't as big as most think it is, but just by seeing the structure itself will make you feel that there's so much history in it.
As we head on, we ended back to McArthur Highway at the intersection under the fly-over. A right turn to head back home, and a left turn to head somewhere else. I urged my colleagues that take a left and go to Paombong to buy some vinegar and see the hanging bridge. I can't hardly remember how far the bridge is, but it was more than 10kms as shown in our trip meter! And another 3-4kms from the main road. It's in the boundary of Paombong and Hagonoy.
Here's a picture of us in the hanging bridge. The river is the boundary of Paombong and Hagonoy. You can view this pictures in Google Earth so that you will see what road you should take. By-the-way, when we got home, we can barely walk because of exhaustion. The trip was too long for us newbies.
May 17, 2009, my dad's birthday and the first long trip that I ever had in my life. My friends and Imet up near SM Marilao early in the morning at around 6AM. Our destination is Balagtas, Bulacan by first passing through the town of Bulacan, Bulacan. We passed through McArthur Highway from Marilao to Bocaue. We took a left turn from the highway near the town proper. That road will lead to Bulacan, Bulacan then to Balagtas. It's an alternate though longer route. We arrived at our destination an hour later. Unfortunately, the person that my friend planned to visit was not at home, so we decided push through Malolos, Bulacan(it's the town next to Balagtas). There were a lot of people on the road going to churches and markets. 30 minutes after, we passed by the Municipal Hall of Malolos and Barasoain Church. The Barasoain Church isn't as big as most think it is, but just by seeing the structure itself will make you feel that there's so much history in it.
As we head on, we ended back to McArthur Highway at the intersection under the fly-over. A right turn to head back home, and a left turn to head somewhere else. I urged my colleagues that take a left and go to Paombong to buy some vinegar and see the hanging bridge. I can't hardly remember how far the bridge is, but it was more than 10kms as shown in our trip meter! And another 3-4kms from the main road. It's in the boundary of Paombong and Hagonoy.
Here's a picture of us in the hanging bridge. The river is the boundary of Paombong and Hagonoy. You can view this pictures in Google Earth so that you will see what road you should take. By-the-way, when we got home, we can barely walk because of exhaustion. The trip was too long for us newbies.
Return to Cycling
It's been ten years at least since I last took a trip on my mountain bike to somewhere in Bulacan - i was about 12y/o at that time. Almost 3-weeks ago, i decided to bring my old MTB(which was in bad shape after the maid used it as a commuter) to my favourite bike shop near our house. I had some of the broken parts replaced and refitted with new equipment. My main purpose why i returned to cycling was to lose weight, and at the same time, explore! I've always had a passion for the great outdoors, especially when it speaks about nature.
This is my good old MTB refitted with disc brakes and front suspension. With my weight, i know the old brakes won't be enough to stop the bike,lol as you can see, the seatpost is wrongfully placed=) Now, I can't wait to go back to where I use to trail when I was still a kid.=)
This is my good old MTB refitted with disc brakes and front suspension. With my weight, i know the old brakes won't be enough to stop the bike,lol as you can see, the seatpost is wrongfully placed=) Now, I can't wait to go back to where I use to trail when I was still a kid.=)
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