earthdate 041909: Tour of the Fireflies
Still, behind the success of any man is a woman…kaya ever the KRA-supporter (translation of Berby — unappreciated chulalay, mala-amazing-race-driver, purse, and paparazzi)…I again humor-ed him with his desire to join the Tour of the Fireflies 2009. He says he wants to experience riding with them so he can replicate the said activity in Ilocos.
Fine, good cause naman.
But no, I did not ride with him…I was just his designated pit-stop-chief in the whole route of the tour.
on our way to Tiendesitas with nephews and niece…
with Mike, ang naligawan nyang mag-bike with him using my alleged bike…
With Rosanne, JR, and Nico/Mike, we gave our riders, KRA and Mike/Nico, cheers, food or drink, and took lots of photos/videos at the pit stop they want. Then, drive fast, avoiding the riders and taking alternative lengthy routes, to appear at the next designated pit stop to do all our support-service again. All these, armed with coleman chest and wearing KRA’s campaign shirts ha!
After sending them off at Tiendesitas, we drove through Libis-Ateneo Loyola Height-U.P. Diliman-Congressional Ave and waited for our riders at EDSA-Q.C. Ave.
Then, from EDSA-Quezon Ave, we drove through Araneta Ave-Aurora Ave/Pandacan flyovers-South Super Highway-Jupiter Street and waited for our riders at EDSA-Buendia.
Yeah, somewhat crazy routes…but that is the only way we can avoid the super big pack and get to the next designated pit stop to hand cold drinks to our riders. Then, when our supplies ran out, buy replenishment sa lahat ng pinag-pa-parkingan namin na gas stations. Talk about devotion, huh!
Funny thing though, us support-group was attracting attention due to our shirts. Hahaha, may ibang bikers tuloy who spoke with us kaya we made friends along the way pa.
After this second stop, Kris and Mike were still to go through Ayala and go back to EDSA. Kami, sa Tiendesitas na mag-hihintay. However, while we were already near Megamall, Kris calls and asked us to return at Buendia so Mike can swap with Nico (so the latter can experience din daw the Tour kahit near the end na; really gracious of Mike talaga to his younger cousin!).
And so, with JR as my navigator and the other side of EDSA already heavy with traffic due to the Tour, we drove through Corinthians-(my bad, we missed the Ortigas turn kasi I was driving with half a mind as kausap si Kris trying to figure out where namin sila pwede i-meet agad)-San Miguel-Shaw-Mental Hospital-Hulo-Makati Mandaluyong Bridge-Buendia Flyover.
Whew! We literally went all over and had to depend on Citi-Atlas to still get ahead of the pack. Kudos to JR for the good navigation.
We were caught up with the pack na after the Mike-Nico switch; thus, JR navigated me through Harvard Street-Libis-elevated U-turn-Pasig and got back at Tiendesitas just in time when Kris and Nico rolled in.
with KRA…
