DRT

Dona Remedios Trinidad or DRT. This is our second long journey this year. Our destination is the well-known Secret Falls, which is not so secret anymore due to the number of people visiting. We spent a week preparing for this ride, and once again, we will be accompanied by the seasoned rider, Kuya Otep. However, since he just returned to cycling, we will take it easy on our way to Bulacan DRT.

We came from different places: Tayuman, Pasay, Fairview, and Edsa, so we decided to meet up at Philcoa Jollibee. We started the journey exactly at 6:00 in the morning, even though the agreed time was 5:00. That’s how it is with us Pinoys, hahahaha. We rode along Commonwealth Avenue until we reached Quirino Highway. We didn’t mind the uphill climbs because it was still early, and the cool and gentle breeze made cycling enjoyable.

By 9:00 in the morning, we reached Norzagaray Bitungol, Bulacan. The sun was scorching at this point, and I could feel my weakness creeping in. The intense heat was causing a headache. But of course, we continued pedaling. As we traversed Norzagaray, we were captivated by the beautiful sights along the way, so we paused for some picture-taking.

However, an unexpected incident occurred: Twitty, Kuya Otep’s bike, got a flat tire. Fortunately, we were in the town proper, and there were vulcanizing shops around. This is why it’s crucial to always carry spare inner tubes, vulcanizing tools, or patches for situations like this.

At exactly 12:00 noon, we arrived in DRT, but from there, we still had to cover over 7 kilometers to reach Secret Falls. This was when I truly felt the throbbing pain in my head, as if it was about to explode. But with the help of my companions and the encouragement from Kuya Otep, we arrived at Secret Falls at around 2:00 in the afternoon.

It was extremely challenging, with numerous uphill climbs, heavy traffic, and the blazing sun. At times, you couldn’t help but ask yourself, “Why am I putting myself through this?” And to make matters worse, we even got lost. We had to resort to the forbidden technique of pushing our bikes. Yes, we walked, but we didn’t give up!

Finally, at 2:00 in the afternoon, we reached Secret Falls! At last! Upon entering Secret Falls, we had to fill out a waiver form and pay the entrance fee, which wasn’t too expensive and was easily affordable for Lj’s budget. We were all tired, but everything was forgotten as soon as we set foot in the waterfall.

However, even though it may be difficult, there is a certain joy and happiness that cannot be bought with any amount of money – the happiness of being with friends and embarking on adventurous bicycle rides. Yes, at first glance, it may seem like we are subjecting ourselves to hardships, but these are the memories that can never be purchased with money.

Because we’re tired, you already know what the next episode is, haha. As they say, it was all worth the hardship and I assure you, you will enjoy it! I hope you also try this ride. Ride safe!