One Picture : a Full Reel of Memory

Ever had that experience? Seeing one picture in your gallery and then a whole reel of the adventure attached to that picture starts replaying in your head?

5...

4...

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1...

Snap!

It starts with the scenario from the picture. You feel the cold wind slap your face, no wait, it was the long hair of your friend slapping your face as the 4x4s cruise the leveled part of the dune. You start to hear the laughter and then it fades back to when it all started.

It was the first time we planned to have a road trip. Hauling fifteen or seventeen people ranging from age three to thirty's and stashing them inside one van may be easy for one household or relatives or family. But not for us, though we are basically family. It was a summer getaway that took us I think two years to plan. Our schedules just do not match. This was a trip with friends from church.

When we finally found the perfect time we were all out and bound where else? North, of course.

I am normally a sleeper during travels. If I am not driving, I am sleeping. I mastered the art of dodging conversations but listening to every single thing exchanged. We rented a van and the conversations are hard to ignore or dodge. Specially when you have kids to entertain. My weak spot. Witty kids. I remember playing "I spy with my little eye" requiring you to be quick and looking outside. Renting a van made it easier to do stop overs and detours. Dinners or meal times were not hurried either.

I remember we had a stop over at a huge gas station where travellers normally do have stopovers. This was pre-covid days so it is easier and no danger dining in a crowded fast food where all kids will most likely enjoy the food - Jollibee.

Next stop was exploring Vigan where we had the chance to ride their horse-drawn carriages to go around the city. We were laughing because we got stuck in Vigan traffic somehow. It must be one of those days when a lot of tourists are there too.

Long ride took us to Bangui windmills. Coffee break in one of the shops there but we did not stay long. Next stop was the Burgos' lighthouse known as Cape Bojeador. Picture-taking and a side break of ice cream with the kids.

We were really aiming for Pagudpud's Hannah Resort or something but also making a point to stop over the good places on the way there. Did we make it to Hannah's? Yep. We arrived just before they closed so we never really got to hang out there. We circled back to find some other beach to stretch our legs and jave a break from our crazy long hours on the road. We ended up in some open spot and no charge - a better deal if you ask me. We had the beach to ourselves with a good view of the windmills lining up the shore across where we were.

The sand dune drive happened the next day. That and sand surfing. The reel flashes back to the heart-pumping adrenaline-filled ride. There were excited giggles escalating to laughters and then exploding to roars of screams. It was a blessing that there was a short drizzle before we arrived. The sun was not too harsh and the sand was not too loose. Else we would be choking on the sand splashing on our faces.

White knuckles, teary-eyes, smiles on our faces and bruised and a little pain in the neck. It was one hell of a fun ride we will definitely be doing again should we have another chance.

The sand surf was also fun. We thought it was totally easy. Took us some time and it was fun and not painful to fall on your butt or roll down instead of going down on the board.

Overall it was a real, real fun memory. My mind has been going over and over the screams, the laughters after the screams or that scream we gave out because we thought we were going down a steep slope.

I also remember one friend deciding to just keep screaming until we reach the beach. He was making it hard for us. He was making us feel like laughing and then screaming at the same time. There was also that one moment when one screams and everyone starts screaming when nothing is really happening. It was crazy.

Then the reel of memory stops in the same image as I started. Leaving my heart happy and thankful to God for days and opportunities of travel and adventure He granted to us.

It is still by far our top adventure travel. The next trips we had were staycations either via airbnb or some of their contacts. Still fun but this ultimate summer trip to the north was by far the number one with them.

Nothing much for a Saturday chill. Same old same old for the last 4 weeks and hoping to break it soon when I finally get home.

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