San Carlos – Cadiz – 85 km
After breakfast, the route led north past sugarcane fields and small settlements.
Unfortunately, the path deteriorated considerably, which slowed the pace.
Overloaded sugarcane trucks wreaked havoc with the tarmac, and all attempts by
the authorities to repair the damage appeared in vain. It rained on and off all day,
and the slippery, muddy conditions and numerous potholes made for slow riding. In
Cadiz, the sight of a guesthouse came as a welcome sight.
Cadiz – Bacolod – 67 km
In sweltering weather, I soldiered onwards past Silay and Talisay, known for The
Ruins (old mansions) for which an eye was kept open. Still, the heat didn’t make
for comfortable exploring.
Bacolod was at the start of its annual Masskara festival (meaning a multitude of
faces). The word was a pun on mascara (Filipino for “mask”), a prominent festival
feature. The masks worn by participants were adorned with smiling faces. Luckily,
this was merely the start of the festival and accommodation was still readily
available.
My abode was in one of the side streets off the main road - a wonderful location in
the middle of a residential area where bicycle rickshaws carted people up and down
narrow dirt tracks. Dogs lay sleeping next to their owners, who sold kebabs from
small BBQs in front of their homes. Kids ran out in the road to have a wee – and I
believed the frequent rain a blessing.
Bacolod
In addition, Bacolod was home to the exceptionally professional Dan’s Bike Shop,
which made an excellent place to hand the bike in to be serviced and pick up the
GoPro handlebar mount. I scooted up and down the road in Jeepneys, which ran
the main road’s length while leaving the work to the professionals.