La Union

In the morning we cleared out of our hotel room and started cycling the downtown San Miguel area. It looked like a warzone, with huge chunks of concrete blocking sections of road and the buildings ugly with rust and decay. We tried to go to a bank, but they were all closed either because of the early time or because it was Sunday. So we used a cash machine, which never told us what the service charge would be on our withdrawal but maybe charged 40 bucks based on the receipt? Will have to check bank statements. If they did, that's outrageous. Maybe continued exploitation of the poor in one of the most corrupt towns we've been in. While using the cash machine, four soldiers did a spot check for weapons in the vehicle of a loitering taxi. We ate breakfast at a comidor, soaking our clothes with water before we left. Went to ride out of town after failing to find open tourist info for the ferry in La Union, but had to stop for a quick repair on Rigel's riding shoe cleat. Good thing we brought an extra set of cleat replacements for the parts!

We rode mostly on the flat but in the low lands and it was really starting to get hot. We stopped at a gas station for gatorades and to soak our clothes with water. Had a water fight. Rode on. Started going up the hill of the day, not to a high altitude since we started pretty low. Now it was definitely getting really really hot. It was a bit of a dry heat though; still, over 38 on my little thermometer. Soaked ourselves with water again and had a water fight. Spilled water dries on the ground within 2-3 minutes. Got to the top of the crazy hot hill, Soaked ourselves with wash water we put into an empty gatorade bottle earlier before starting to ride down.  Still crazy hot. At the bottom, soaked our clothes again at another gas station, had another water fight.

Made it to La Union, and first ate at another comidor before heading to the docks to find out about a ferry. Very lucky! A ferry had just made the crossing the was pulling away from the dock and we met a couple coming off the ferry. They paid 130 for the two of them to go immediately on a little ferry with no one else on board - 1.5 hour journey. We spoke with the captain, and an immigration official and got pricing of 65 for both of us if we wait until wednesday morning at 730am, the next scheduled ferry crossing. Given that we have 3 nights in town, we found a hotel and found it to befilled with mangos! And rype this time. The mangos bang down every 5 or 20 minutes from two trees. We could have all we want and they were crazy sweet and delicious. Mango heaven!

The view of the valley from the previous day's ride