PHILIPPINES:
Bohol Island – Cebu Island – Negros Island
2 day ride


September 2013

Yamaha XT660X.

Peter my friend, elected to bring his own bike, being the 1340 Harley.


We met up with Pete in Bohol at the Ferry terminal in Ubay. ferry was on time and it was a beautiful day. He had only been to Bohol once before and hadn’t seen much of it, so we elected to head through the guts of the island taking in the small villlages, rice fields and winding roads up to the Chocolate Hills then the man made forest.
I traveled with my lovely wife Emelyn on the xtx and Pete traveled with a heavy backpack on his Harley.

The Chocolate Hills are a geological wonder, with some 1200 hills all the same shape dotted across the landscape. they turn brown in the dry season and that’s where they got the chocolate name from.after all everything’s sweeter in the Philippines!

A short trip down the road brought us to the man made forest. its pretty cool. after passing through small villages you come to a dense forest that’s dark as anything with new blacktop ashphelt cutting its way through it making for a pleasurable riding experience. http://s1295.photobucket.com/user/As...ountain%20ride

soon after this we cut through more small villages and many rice fields & passed by the picturesque Loboc River. then took the coast road arriving in Tagbilaran city at 5pm. The traffic started to get a bit thick nearing town and it was starting to sprinkle a bit, rain looked close by. 5 minutes later we got to my place, had a beer and set Pete in his room.

We had a seat booked for 7pm in a local restaurant, so after a quick chat and a coldie we proceeded to Panglao for a good dinner and to see a top notch local blues band made up of local expats.

We had a big day ahead so we headed off home and go some well deserved sleep.

The following morning we were up at 5am and headed down to Loon.

We caught the 6am ferry to Argao on Cebu island. rode 20 mins then had breakfast.

The road was good with a bit of traffic through some small towns that didn’t slow us too much. Before long we were hitting some great open roads with canopies of lush trees, very little traffic and excellent views overlooking the ocean. The twisty bits were great and got me thinking of the mountains ahead. I had done the run before on the KLR650 and on sports bikes, the last being on the XTR660. I knew the next day would bring the ride of a lifetime. I was really starting to get the feel of the XTX, man she was quick on the brakes.

We arrived at the bottom of cebu island and jumped a ferry to Negros. the trip only took 30mins on an old ww2 landing craft. more views of beautiful coastlines from the ferry and talk of the road ahead.

The road from the port to Bais was good with more scooting along the ocean side and cutting through sugar cane plantations. We hit Bais for lunch and had a cold sprite and a pizza. Just up the road we turned off and instantly I was in my territory- corners! YAY! the bike just hammered through them and soon I was lapping up the corners with the greatest of ease, and speed! the road surface was great. I left Pete way back and ended on a mountain top overlooking some wonderful bays with lush green forest.

Not much further we hit a patch for a km or so where the road was being ripped up and replaced so a liitle bumpy for Pete on the Harley, but easily conquered on the 660.

More awesome twisty bits then it flattened out a bit. Here things were pretty ordinary (after the excitement of the mountains) and regular stops were a must as Pete was suffering from a sore Harley bum!

Either way before long we were getting close to Bacolod. The roads were wide and open, traffic was getting thicker and I knew a hot shower, good food and cold beers weren’t too far away! By then my bum was starting to ache as well after sitting on an ungodly 80kmh most of the way!

The hotel was perfectly located about 4km before the city center. It had hot water, minibar, cable tv, a double bed and aircon. It had good parking, a nice lobby and restaurant with good food. About 200m down the road we had a snack and some beers, listened to a great local band and thought about where we would eat.

After a great seafood dinner and a heap more beers we headed back to the hotel to rest our sore buts and recoup for another great day on the road.

The following day we left Bacolod at 7.30am to try and make the 10am ferry crossing from SanCarlos to Toledo. I had done this ride twice before with some fellow riders in IRC so knew what I was in for.

My first impression the day before was ‘man have these roads improved!’ There was new blacktop ashphelt laid down in many sections and the concrete roads had been widened most of the way into and now out of Bacolod.

It was a great start to the day despite feeling a little seedy from the previous nights drinking and way too much good food. The twisty bits soon helped me forget the hangover and Pete (who as usual was taking the scenes in at a leisurely 80km/h on his harley) was soon left behind.

These corners were awesome! hardly any traffic (as usual) no speed cameras EVER, and great mountain sights along the way.

The road surface right from Bacolod to San Carlos was all sealed with no rough bits. Coming out of Bacolod we passed through many small villages and crossed many crystal clear rivers. There were huge mountains to either side of us, a prospect of the twisty bits ahead.

At the base of the ranges the fun began. I waited a few minutes for Pete to catch up. “Mate I’m heading ahead, I’ll catch you at the first turn off a few k’s up the road”.

The corners were excellent, no loose gravel on the concrete. no rocks or debris and once again, hardly any traffic. The camber on the corners made for some fast riding with no scary bits.

I caught Pete at the turn off and scooted off again.

Not far up the road we pulled up and had a cold water and some banana chips that a vendor was selling at the waterfall lookout. A beautiful view right down into a lush green forest with a huge waterfall cascading out of the green.

The road flattened out a bit on the top, some great open 130km/h straights, then more twisty bits. more rice fields, lush mountains and ****** all traffic....

Before we knew it we were looking down into SanCarlos.

Time was running thin to catch that ferry and it was at this stage that Pete started to open up the 1340 and get a move on. He really didnt want to miss that 10am ferry as the next wasn’t till 3.30. This would mean riding on dusk into Cebu with a typical Harly headlight- useless.

The downward run was choice. It was hard focusing on the road when there were such spectacular views! more rivers as we hit the bottom and a short trip along some straights into town. Within a few minutes we were in the port. 5 minutes more and the paperwork was done and we were loaded on the ferry with only minutes to spare!

The ferry crossing was good. at 12 we made the port of Toledo, 5 minutes later we were having a BBQ lunch at Caesars. Rib Eye fillet, jacket potatoes, 2 salads and a cold mango shake. YUM! hangover now gone and ready for the final mountain pass!

within 20 mins of the port of Toledo was the start of the Trans Central Highway. It cuts clean across the island of Cebu and brings you out in the centre of Cebu City. Once again the traffic was good and views spectacular with deep gullies either side of the highway.

Road surface was good although slightly patchy in some spots. Either way the XTX gobbled up the road with ease and comfort. There was no dirt sections and road work was being carried out only on the side of the road a few k’s at the base of the ranges on the Toledo side.

We stopped for coffee at the zipline cafe where most riders converge. Perfectly located overlooking the western Cebu coastline to Negros and the gully to the east where the zipline crosses. we met some other riders there and chilled out for 30 mins then proceeded to the city.

One last stop in a little sar-sari store with a viewing area. A run down little $100 hut with million dollar views overlooking cebu. what a great end chilling with a col beer overlooking a beautiful city surrounded by green mountains and blue ocean.

30mins later I was at the ferry terminal. Secured my ticket back to Bohol and had a cold coke. I took the Tubigon ferry as its a quick run and got me home earlier, although still after dark. A quick 30min ride from Tubigon to Tagbilaran with no traffic and soon I was home. My Arms ached from 600kms of constant white knuckle moto madness through Bohol, Negros and Cebu but man was that a great ride! It was a short one but well worth it. I had now mapped out some great roads and updated the road surface & schedules.

I cant wait for the next run!

heres some pics of the Philippines Bohol-Cebu-Negros trip. they are in order from setting out in Ubay till when we overlooked Cebu city. enjoy guys! come ride with us!


sorry the text was too long and I cant get the pics in there so heres a link to the pictures: http://s1295.photobucket.com/user/As...?sort=3&page=1 Philippines/Philippine%20mad%20xtx%20mountain%20ride/20130831_141228x_zps58e496e1.jpg[/IMG]

Many thanks for the report. I am hoping to get there in November, so your trip report is perfect timing for me.