It started off with a message from Scott suggesting a hike out Castillejos way. We’d both given up on Günter’s walking group, preferring a saner approach to communing with mother nature, i.e. avoiding 3-hour treks up and down mountains. Scott is a couple of years older than me and we share a philosophy that one good climb a day is plenty. With that in mind, I readily accepted his invitation and we agreed to meet up at Angel’s Bakery at 10:00 on Saturday. Werner, one of the regular Saturday guys, wanted to join us, so we all caught the bus for the 30 minute trip to barangay Pamatawan.
Now, I don’t know if it was karma or irony or both, but the day took a turn that would have surely pleased Günter. It had been several years since Scott had attempted this path and as it turned out we wound up on the wrong trail.
The intent was doing the green trail up and the orange trail down. Our actual path is the yellow one. And that made all the difference.We started out walking along the river, the name of which I don’t recall at the moment.“If you come down to the river/ I bet you gonna find some people who live/ And you don’t have to worry/ if you got no money/ People on the river are happy to give…”The top of that mountain (or hill if you will, about 300M up) was our objective.Passed by this graveyard. Could it be an omen? Scott knew we’d somehow missed the intended trail, but we were on a path going up so we decided to take our chances. It all started out pleasant enough…But then it got steep, real steep. A very hard climb made much worse by having to force our way through biting thatch grass.Scott especially had a rough go of it. He spent a lot of time falling on his ass.I never fell but didn’t come through unscathed either. The grass was sharp and left my skin both itchy and with a burning sensation. Very unpleasant…Drew some blood on my leg as well.But onward and upward we trekked…The air below us wasn’t as clear as I would have liked (it’s the burning season) but still pleasant enough.The trail didn’t lead to where Scott had wanted to go, but when we reached a downhill path we were too exhausted not to take it.Scott taking a rest and some water on the way back down.The hike down was actually quite enjoyable…Yes, it did appear that someone actually lives in this lean-to like dwelling.And here I thought bananas grew on trees. Actually, I believe these had recently been harvested……by the folks we met living here. I honestly cannot imagine a life like the one they are eeking out here in the middle of nowhere.As poor as they are friendly. This family is Aeta people, indigenous natives of Luzon island.The downward trail eventually brought us back to the river, although a few kilometers upstream from where we started.More river dwellers with a large cock and a duck.Reaching our destination required a river crossing. I waded across, Werner opted to skip rocks…But at last, we reached our ultimate destination…the Roadhouse which was equipped to adequately quench our thirst. And what a thirst it was!
That was quite the hike! The uphill portion was definitely a once in a lifetime experience. But I’m seriously thinking about going back up the downhill path with a backpack full of sardines, noodles, and other staples for that Aeta family we encountered. They’re the kind of people I’d feel especially good about helping out some.
I was pretty bushed after the hike (and the beers) but I still had some business to attend to. When I got home I baked up a batch of brownies and after a short nap and a shower, headed out to the Captain’s Arms bar. I’d promised the manager, Marick, that I’d come by for her birthday.
I was enjoying the sunset view until one of my vape pens rolled off the third-floor ledge and lodged on the roof far below. Oh well.I gave Marick the best present a girl could wish for!
It was quite a day. Glad I lived to tell about it!
3 thoughts on “Taking the high road”
Quite an adventure. I’m glad it didn’t turn out worse. Marick has a strangely masculine name, but she’s all woman!
She’s pretty hot for an older gal (36). Informally she goes by Mickey…
Haha, I guess Mickey is masculine as well now that I think about it. I’m sure she is a real woman though, I can feel it inside me…
Quite an adventure. I’m glad it didn’t turn out worse. Marick has a strangely masculine name, but she’s all woman!
She’s pretty hot for an older gal (36). Informally she goes by Mickey…
Haha, I guess Mickey is masculine as well now that I think about it. I’m sure she is a real woman though, I can feel it inside me…