I started my evening at Dive In last night, planning to meet up with my hiking buddy Jim for some beers. Jessa was being entertained by a man I had seen buying her drinks on previous occasions. She confirmed later that he is indeed her new boyfriend, Wayne. Apparently, Wayne is returning back to the USA at the end of the month. Jessa is also quitting the bar and will stay at home with her daughter, presumably with the boyfriend’s financial support. I’m sincerely happy for her and hope this relationship works out better for her than the one with me did.

With Jessa occupied and Jim running late, a couple of the other girls took up stools on either side of me and started giving me a massage. I protested at first, but it did feel good. I bought them a drink and let them carry on. I chatted a bit with Wayne, who seems like a really nice guy. Retired Navy, so his Philippines experience goes much deeper than mine, having been stationed here in the early 1980s. He was also choosing the music being played and doing a fine job of it. He played Neil Young’s Down By The River and I commented that I had bought that album as a teen and that it was one of my favorites. I told him it was beyond my wildest imagination back then that I’d be listening to that same song 50 years later while being rubbed on by two sexy young women in a bar in the Philippines. What a long, strange trip it’s been!

After a few beers, I was feeling hungry so I said goodnight to the Dive In crew and headed out. This was the view from the highway:

I made my way to Sit-n-Bull and explored my dining options. I finally decided to give the Mexican a shot and ordered up the chicken enchilada plate.

Made it home in before my bedtime and woke up early to start a new day.

Took a refreshing morning walk and saw this:

So, that leaves us with yesterday’s hike to write about. It was certainly much better than Wednesday’s disaster! We took a Jeepney out to Subic town and did a 7K walkabout. Limited ourselves to one hill climb and had a good look around the backroads. I’m one of the Hares a week from Monday and we are going to do our trail in this area too.

Have a look:

It was a fine day to be alive.

You take my hand, I’ll take your hand.
Together we may get away.
This much madness is too much sorrow.
It’s impossible to make it today.

She could drag me over the rainbow,
Send me away.

Down by the river,
I shot my baby.
Down by the river.