Only me and Scott again for the Friday hike, so we took advantage of the opportunity to get creative. Scott had wanted to do a Tibag to Subic walk for quite some time, but we never had adequate transport to the start at the Army checkpoint on the road to Tibag. With just us two, we hired a trike to get us there.
The trek itself was long and hot and didn’t exactly go as planned. Shortly after leaving the road, we lost the trail and had to rough it down a creekbed until we found a path that eventually led us to our intended course. The bottom of the creekbed was ankle-deep in mud. Not a pretty sight, but in the end, we prevailed and wound up having an enjoyable but tiring walk to our destination.
That’s how the hike went down. We had a Jeepney ride back to Barretto from the Waltermart in Subic. I came home and washed the mud caked on my legs off, then waited for Mary’s arrival.
After our late lunch and a nap, we headed into town for some Friday evening fun. I opted not to do the SOB this week, so we made Sloppy Joe’s our first stop.
Chris was playing the music and taking requests, and his gal kept Mary engaged in conversation. My pal Jim was also in attendance, so it was a friendly social gathering.
When it came time to move on, I suggested crossing the highway and taking advantage of Thumbstar’s “buy one, take one” special on drinks and food. Jim joined us. I did two chicken shwarmas and washed them down with half-priced beer. I’d call that a win.
Jim was going to end his evening at Alley Cats (he lives on the same alley), and I decided to join him. I used to be there three nights a week for darts, but it had been months since my last visit. There were no customers when we arrived, and the crew seemed genuinely glad to see me. Especially after I rang the bell for a round of lady drinks. And then I rang it again. Two bell rings may be a first for me, but I was caught up in the spirit of old times.
Mary came home with me and spent the night. After breakfast, we had dessert, and then I walked with her to Divimart, where I surprised her with a new phone. Then I put her on a Jeepney for home and took a short walk on a hot morning.
In other news, Super Typhoon Betty is going to give us a near miss but dump some rain and wind our way starting tomorrow.
I wasn’t sure what to do with my Saturday night. A friend invited me to a Snackbar party, but I don’t think I’m up for it. John Kim just now posted this to Facebook:
Premium Philly Cheese Steak sandwich.
Sliced USDA Rib Fingers with homemade cheddar sauce using the cheese from Wisconsin. It’s a dream come true Philly Cheese Steak sandwich that nobody dares to spend this much on material cost in this town.
For limited time, p495 at John’s Sushi and Steakhouse.
And after that, who knows? These are the best of times.
The view from here
I don’t know why, but I really like this shot. If I were on that trail, I could stop, stand there, and stare for a long time before moving on.
It’s been said that when you are lost in the wilds, follow the creek downstream
Yeah, it’s a good survival tip. Smaller streams lead down to larger watercourses, which in turn generally lead to civilization. People normally prefer to live in valleys rather than on mountainsides.
Food pics make me hungry. Chili, muffins, cheesesteak—all good.
Even after five years here, I haven’t grown tired of the views and countryside that surround me when I hike. It’s a blessing and a reminder that I’m lucky to be here.
We figured we’d eventually find a path serving as an access point to the creek. For some folks, it’s their water source for laundry and the like. And sure enough, when we headed up the trail we found that shelter was nearby, and then we saw the house shortly afterward. Nothing like a little adventure!