The adventure was set for June 18, 2011. I prepared a few items for the trip, like food and drinks. I also prepped my bike to make sure it was in top shape for the trip ahead. It was a nice Saturday morning when I set out nice and easy. Approximately an hour after I had started, I came across the arch welcoming me to Norzagaray, Bulacan.
As the territory was unknown to me, and without the aid of GPS, I had to rely on directions from the locals. All I knew was that I was looking for Bakas Lake, a waterway for Angat and Ipo dams, and was close to the Holcim cement plant. Considering that I was alone and in a remote location, safety was a concern. But the locals were accommodating and friendly. In fact, I came across a place riddled with young and old "mangangalakals" who were waiting for dump trucks filled with metal scraps. But they did not hesitate in giving me directions to my destination. No trouble, no worries. Unfortunately, I was not able to take pictures of the route behind the Holcim cement plant.
I reached my destination after approximately 2 hours of biking. The first hour and 15 minutes of biking was on paved roads. But the last 45 minutes was on unpaved back roads. Just the way I like it! Below is the final leg of the bike trip.
The first thing I saw were a lot of lightly built cottages which the locals would rent out to groups visiting the area.
There were absolutely no visitors though during my brief 1 hour stay here. The locals were very friendly and accommodating.
Incidentally, the name "Bakas" comes from the English word "imprint". Local folklore has it that the footprints of a giant named Bernardo Carpio could be seen on the rock formations!
I was told that the water in the lake at that time was shallow as the dams had not released any water yet. So you could actually cross the lake and get to the other side and explore the rock formations. Notice the 4 statues on top of the rightmost rock formation?
Here's a closer shot of the statues on top of the rock formation. I'm not quite sure if it was the locals, devotees, or the local government which erected these statues.
I stayed here for just an hour. During my brief visit, I got to know more about the locals, explored the rock formations, and dipped in the cool flowing waters. The trip to Bakas took me approximately 4 hours back and forth. Plus 1 hour to explore the area. I will visit the place again and take shots of the route behind the Holcim cement plant as I feel this area and experience is worth documenting!
During my trip, I did not encounter a single problem with my ride! Though I did come prepared for any problem I may have encountered. Note that I am a firm believer that you do not have to have the latest and most expensive gear to enjoy these outdoor experiences. My ride is mostly from Japanese-branded components like Shimano, but the parts are mostly novice-level and hand-me-downs. What's important is I know the basics on how to fix and care for my bike. And during trips, my bike is equipped with the essentials in case of any break-downs. In case I encounter any technical problems beyond my scope, I have a qualified technician to handle this for me.
So there you have it! My Bakas Lake adventure! Next in line, Timberland's bike trails in San Mateo, Rizal are waiting to be conquered!
