Pateros Bike Ride

RIVER FERRY AND BIKE RIDE TO PATEROS

December 10, 2022

It was only sculptor/painter Henry Braulio who was able to board the Pasig River ferry for the 9 am Escolta to Guadalupe trip. That's because the ferry station staff allows only one bike aboard that trip. I and Isko gave way to him as it is Henry's first time go on cruise along the Pasig River, while I and Isko have done that before. So, we two just biked all the way to Guadalupe.

Henry said that the ferry arrived at the Guadalupe station at 10. I and Isko reached the place minutes later. We could have arrived earlier if we haven't stop to eat at Herran (now Pedro Gil Street). I asked the two if they want to proceed to Pateros or just explore BGC (Bonifacio Global City) which is nearer. They chose Pateros. We then ride another four or five kilometers to search for stores in Pateros selling bibingkang abnoy. We found one and I bought from that store 10 slices. 

After eating lunch, we proceeded to the Pateros Church for some more photo ops. We parted ways there. Henry took another route on his way home via Taguig to Sucat, Paranaque, along the western shore of Laguna de Bay,  - where he stopped for a while to do a pen and ink sketch of the scenery - while I and Isko went back to the ferry station in Guadalupe for our ride back to Escolta, hoping that both of us will be allowed to board with our bikes. We were lucky this time, we were permitted to do so.

But we hesitated because the trip was scheduled for 2:30 pm, and it was only 1 o'clock. We thought that the one and a half hour waiting time was more than enough time for us to reach Manila on bike. When we told the guard that we'll just bike back to Manila, he persuaded us to not do that and disclosed that the ferry might be able to leave at 2 pm if it will be filled to full passenger capacity by then. We decided to wait and board the ferry for the trip back to Escolta. The trip took exactly one hour. We dropped by Polland-Escolta to have coffee and kuchai (pork pie) for merienda before finally pedaling to our respective homes.

By the way, the ferry ride was for free.

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