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Balamban-Mactan Island via Trans Central Highway (TCH)

Coast to coast handcycle ride across the Island of Cebu, Philippines


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August 7, 2009, shortly before 5 o'clock in the morning, my driver met me at my house for the ride to Balamban on Cebu's west coast. He was to return the car to my place after dropping me off, leaving it up to me to make my way home. It was a little like burning the bridge behind me.
My long dreamed-of ride across TCH was finally to be pushed through.

On the way to Balamban, from the comfort of the pick-up truck that had a hard time making it uphill, it suddenly seemed not such a good idea anymore, considering the steep roads, neverending inclines and strong winds brought on by taiphoon Kiko hovering over Taiwan. It was actually quite frightening thinking about it.

Nevertheless, I was dropped off at Balamban church at around 6.30 am. Shortly after I started the ride, and got out of the town without buying a candle that were offered several times by the vendors.

Departing from Balamban proper

Soon after the road started to incline gradually, not steep but I was not yet warmed up, so I just took it easy. A few kilometers into the ride the first steep part was to come, I already felt a bit tired, I suppose my long ride of last Wednesday from Sogod to Bogo and back via Tabogon and Borbon had left its mark on my condition.
So I just pedalled ahead. Then the first really steep part came in sight, it seemed to me just overwhelming and I seriously doubted I could make it. But what choice did I have but going on? After all, pushing the bike is no option and taking public transport nearly impossible. It's part of the challenge to depend on one's own effort to make it, I suppose.

It was very slow going, most of the route uphill I used the granny gear and I still only crept ahead, it was going to be a much longer ride than I had anticipated.
Sometimes I was pushed by the very strong wind, but since the road is winding I almost got blown backwards after bending a corner.
Many many breaks later I could enjoy a short downhill just to have to climb to ever higher elevation. Now I understand why my wife declared me crazy the previous evening.

Up to Cantipla the road was murder, I wished I had a great-granny gear to make life easier. Seems I looked so pityful that three boys pushed me up a couple of hundred meters, I would normally have declined but diden't want to hurt their feelings, boy, what a relief for a few minutes that was.

Unpaved section, my front wheel lost traction on the gravel because of the incline.

After snacking on some local deep-fried pastry worth 3 pesos I collected some more stamina to make it to the top, which has an elevation of 820 meter above sea level, according to google earth. I do not know whether this figure is correct. And that is only 24 km distance from sea level back at Balamban.

Before reaching Greenhouse I got very hungry but diden't have a chance to buy bananas because the fruit stalls were either located on one of the few downhill sections or at the bottom of the slope and I did not want to stop my speeding experience and loose the momentum after having had such a hard time climbing.
On one of the downhill I lost my sunglasses, but blast it, the last thing I wanted to do was stopping and climbing back up to pick them up. Must get a new pair soon, two for 60 pesos.
As compensation I found a 1 peso coin, being so slow I picked it up without having to stop.

Finally I made it to Ayala Hights, the last climb there wasen't as hard I remembered but I was still glad to reach Busay.

The rest of the way was downhill, crossing the bridge to Mactan Island at last brought me exhausted but happy and safely home.


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The three bottles of San Miguel beer consumed later this afternoon with my neighbour were well earned, I believe.
Probably my hardest ride ever, with a distance of 61 km not very far though, the slowest certainly but the achievement will last in my memory.



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