The Wednesday Walkers (all three of us) invaded Morocco yesterday.
Under threatening skies, a low turnout for the group hike yesterday allowed us to use Scott’s vehicle for transport to the Cawag barangay in Subic, an area we only have the opportunity to hike once a year or so. That’s long enough ago to render all the sights almost new again. The rain held off until we had finished what turned out to be a very pleasant 8K walk in and around the Club Morocco subdivision. One of the interesting aspects of this area for me is that the developer, Santa Lucia Homes, is also the founder of my neighborhood, Alta Vista. The big difference, though, is that Alta Vista is a boom town with lots selling fast and ongoing construction taking place on almost every street. Not so in Club Morocco, where the wide streets remain nearly empty year after year. I can only attribute this sad state to the fact that while it has similar bay views and mountain vistas, it is isolated and inconvenient to access. Before moving to the PI, I looked at a house in Club Morocco that was amazing but would have meant I’d need a car to leave the neighborhood and would not have easy access to the bar life in Barretto. No, thank you!
Here are some photos from our excursion yesterday:
The way we done itYou guys comin’?The way aheadOur path took us behind the Keppel ShipyardI snapped this shot of Snake Island in the bay, and then……five minutes later, we encountered this dead snake on our trail.Some internet sleuthing revealed it to be a Paradise Tree Snake.We rarely encounter any snakes or wildlife during our hikes, but it is a good reminder that they are out there.Passing through a small fishing villageLiving the hill dweller lifestyleFriendly nativesThe day’s first cookie deliveryYes, that is where we are.Or, more specifically, this resort. Open but empty. I got a Stephen King novel vibe about the place.Checking out the bloomersAnd then onto the empty streets of Club MoroccoA river runs through itDespite the subdivision being 80% empty, it has a far larger and much nicer community center/clubhouse than the one in Alta Vista.We had a bit of trouble finding access to the beach; the subdivision overlords had fenced it off.Beach walkin’These locals were a bit TOO friendly…drunk in the morning and wanting engage us in idle chit-chat. We eventually got away when one of the little old ladies told the menfolk to leave us alone.A shelter from the storm. Unless it was a storm that brought big waves.A residence accessed by boatI’ve seen cleaner beachesI have no idea what this is all about…That’s enough beach for one day.Another settlement in the middle of nowhereThere is something to be said for making the best of what you have in lifeThere is always beauty to be foundSo open your eyes and enjoy it!Back on the lonely streets of Club MoroccoThis subdivision section near the bay was the only densely populated area we saw in Club Morocco.Back at the car. Where’s Scott?Ah, here he comes!
A good day to be out and about! Feel free to Relive it here if you are so inclined:
Very rare to have a walk end on the exact number of kilometers.
The nighttime version of my life included the Wednesday Hideaway feeding.
Featuring roast chicken, fried chicken, and meats on a stickJoy poking the pork in…I changed things up and made cupcakes for dessert last night.
After the feeding, I moved on to Voodoo to use my 500 peso voucher. I managed to spend 400 before I left. I also got overcharged for a lady drink I didn’t buy. Stupid to lose a customer like me for a measly 170 pesos, but I guess now I know what I’m worth.
I finished up at Wet Spot and used a “buy one, get one” coupon while waiting for my take-out dinner from Sit-n-Bull to be delivered. Home stuffing my face with a cheeseburger before eight and in bed by nine. That’s how I rock my retirement years!
Tonight I’m supposed to take Swan to dinner on the roof of the Capital Reef Hotel. We’ll see how that goes. Full report tomorrow!
A shelter from the storm. Unless it was a storm that brought big waves.
What, no remarks about the prim little lady standing there?
Overall, this looks to have been a good walk. Too bad about the obstacles in the way of the beach, but I guess people want to stake out their property. I recall there being a ton of fencing along the South Korean east coast, but a lot of that was military-related.
Club Morocco does indeed have a Stephen King vibe. I kinda like it, though—the empty stretches of road in particular.
Yeah, I’m not sure what’s wrong with me failing to note that potential object of affection. I’ll try and do better!
I think the fencing we encountered was intended to keep people from the beach entering the neighborhood, which is just plain silly unless you build a wall around the entire subdivision. All they created was a pain in the ass for people in the neighborhood trying to access the beach. Ah, well.
Yeah, I kinda like the vibe in Club Morocco, too; just wouldn’t want to live there!
re: paradise snake
Some footage of the snake “flying” here.
A shelter from the storm. Unless it was a storm that brought big waves.
What, no remarks about the prim little lady standing there?
Overall, this looks to have been a good walk. Too bad about the obstacles in the way of the beach, but I guess people want to stake out their property. I recall there being a ton of fencing along the South Korean east coast, but a lot of that was military-related.
Club Morocco does indeed have a Stephen King vibe. I kinda like it, though—the empty stretches of road in particular.
Yeah, I’m not sure what’s wrong with me failing to note that potential object of affection. I’ll try and do better!
I think the fencing we encountered was intended to keep people from the beach entering the neighborhood, which is just plain silly unless you build a wall around the entire subdivision. All they created was a pain in the ass for people in the neighborhood trying to access the beach. Ah, well.
Yeah, I kinda like the vibe in Club Morocco, too; just wouldn’t want to live there!