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Bug Run… An Interesting Road Trip
Volkswagen Käfer Club of Iloilo
Bug Run - Feb 9 - 10, 2008
Iloilo City - Roxas City - Iloilo City
The Bug Run took a year of planning for the Volkswagen Käfer Club of
Iloilo Inc. The club itself has to tackle a lot of things before really
committing itself on the idea of a long trip for everybody. Iloilo City
to Roxas City is quite a long travel especially if you took via the
Balasan route. We knew quite well that not all VW Beetles can commit in
the event as car conditions and personal obligations may hamper them
from participation.
Come January 2008 and the guys met to
discuss the possibility of really making the activity possible. From
there we had a confirmation of 15 VW beetles, a reasonable number and a
feasible one. The date of activity was set and the preparations were
noted. February 9 came with much anticipation as those whom committed
to the road trip prepared their cars as well as themselves.
The starting point was the Shell gasoline station just after Gran
Plains Subdivision, Jaro, Iloilo City. We had 13 VW beetles ready as
one was not able to make it due to personal matters and another
suffered from car trouble. It was a long morning for most of us as we
prepped our cars, double checking everything from the full tank of
gasoline to the engine oil and the last minute application of car wax.
Some of the club members whom cannot participate came to show support
and to send the guys off.
Seeing that everything was ok,
everybody started their engines and lined up as we prepared to hit the
road. We had a small plan on the order of cars and we headed out to
leave the city limits. It was pretty interesting to see the bugs lined
up as I was in the last car having the mechanic with us. Our pink VW
was the sweeper car. We left at past 9 in the morning.
The
trip was a mixed of sunny weather and rain. We had people look at the
convoy with curiosity. Its not a frequent thing to see 13 bugs lined up
speeding on the highway. Kids saluted and hit each other to the common
games we are quite fond of when seeing a bug on the streets. I was
really amused at the sight of people smiling at us as we sped away.
We took a break at Barotac Viejo, had a cup of coffee there and we
took a stop at Hilltop in Ajuy as we enjoyed the scenic coastal beauty
of the place. We also took a break at Ajuy town proper. From there on
was a non-stop trip to Balasan, Iloilo.
We arrived at
Vice-mayor Ganzon’s residence in Balasan just 30 minutes after 12 noon.
We had our cars line up outside his house. The Ganzon family had
prepared a hearty lunch for us and we really enjoyed it. Then a text
message came that the VW that had car trouble was catching up with us
and so we decided to wait for him. We enjoyed that early afternoon
talking about everything and then the fourteenth bug arrived.
We left the Ganzon’s residence at past 3 in the afternoon. Our last
leg of the trip to Roxas City was met with very heavy rain. We slowly
make our way out of Pilar, Capiz with almost zero visibility and only
guided by the car signal lights of every bug in the line. Minutes after
the heavy rain stopped and we found our way in Pontevedra, Capiz. We
took a detour in Pontevedra as we visited the brother of one of the
club member whom was our lead car.
Well I guess things will
not really go without a hitch. As we were leaving Pontevedra, one of
the bug had engine trouble and took time to start up. We waited for him
and when we were on our way, another bug had almost ran out of gas. We
slowly took him to a gas station to fill up and we slowly assisted the
other bug all the way to Roxas City.
We arrived in Casa Felisa,
San Antonion Resort Village, Baybay, Roxas City past 6 in the evening.
Upon arriving our attention was on the car that had engine trouble. We
everybody lending their tools to the mechanic we spend half of that
evening figuring out what was wrong with the engine of that VW as well
as securing our rooms for the night. The night became more interesting
as people came to look at the cars lined up in the parking area as well
as VW enthusiasts of Roxas City came and talked with us. Everybody took
a break as we headed out to dinner at the local beachside seafood
restaurant that was just a walk away. The dinner was welcomed with much
conversation on our experiences that day. We had a long talk about that
day’s trip and assessed on things that would prove to be useful for the
next day’s trip back to Iloilo City.
We returned to Casa
Felisa late that night and some of us called it a day while the rest
were still focused on the engine of the VW that broke down. We had some
conversations with the Roxas City VW group until late that night.
February 10 greeted us with a mild shower in the morning as we had
breakfast and continue working with the VW engine. Some us took the
opportunity to enjoy the beach. We finally got the VW fixed and we
decided to arrange the bugs into a VW formation on the open field next
to the parking lot. We spend late that morning taking pictures of the
bugs as well as having me climb up a tall ladder which the guys held
against a tall post just to take an bird’s eye view shot of the whole
thing. We also asked a truck parked nearby by to give me permission to
climb on top of it just to take a picture of the whole bugs from a
different angle.
Lunch came with us enjoying it at the same
restaurant we had dinner the night before. It also was an opportunity
for us to discuss the trip back to Iloilo City. We basically talked
about guidelines and protocols while we were on the road. The topics
discussed were based on the previous day’s trip from Iloilo City. Lunch
ended and we returned back to our cars and prepared for the trip back
home.
We left Casa Feliza around past 2 in the afternoon and
headed out into the heart of the City of Roxas. We had a detour stop at
Tracy, a famous cake shop in the city and some of us bought bake for
pasalubong. We then made our way to the Shell gasoline station and had
our tanks filled up with gasoline for the long trip back home.
The group decided to make another detour and we headed to Yellow Box,
a local pizza place and enjoyed pizza. Some of the guys took the time
to order take out as well. When everything was all set, the group left
Roxas City past 4 in the afternoon. For the trip home we took the route
via Passi City.
Leaving Roxas City came with a much slower
pace and a much coordinated convoy. We had a lot of people waiting to
see us sped away. Children were waving goodbye at us and we see such
interesting smiles from people who saw us. The trip came with a light
shower but it never hampered people from seeing us as we pass by.
We finally reached Passi City late that afternoon and we were quite
relieved to find us back into Iloilo Province. There was a light
traffic as Passi City had its fiesta celebrations and we had to be
contented to the amount of vehicles and people in the streets.
The trip ended as we arrived in Zaraga, Iloilo past six and the guys
stopped and had the final talk for the day. The convoy shall end from
Zaraga as we all will be heading back to Iloilo City and home on our
own separate ways. I arrived home exhausted from the trip almost 7 pm.
I guess the road trip was quite an experience and am sure we will be doing the same again soon.
----------------------------------------------------
more pics of the event here
http://vans3n.multiply.com/photos/album/82
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| | Posted 2/12/2008 1:39 AM - 177 Views - 4 eProps - 4 comments
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