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LEG 6 So, as one can see by the previous leg, we decided to re-route the journey. Our final leg needed to get us closer to home. We filled up 3 drums+ of fuel (man, we were really running on fumes, that’s almost 700l), and headed out of Mary Bacon towards Pandan Isalnd, where there was no room available, but we were informed there were plenty of hammocks and stuff to crash out in if we wanted. |
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After we got out about 15 miles we decided it was time to try for some fresh fish. We barely had the lines out when the starboard engine began overheating. I inspected the seastrainer which turned out to be fine, but silly me dropped the vacum sealing plate in the bilges and it went under the engine. There was no way to get it in the choppy Mindoro straits with hot engines, so I became creative and destroyed the soap container in order to make a new part. 10 minutes of carefully cutting a circle in the plastic, and we were ready to go! It actually worked, so we pulled in the lines and decided to get to Pandan before dark! Steve thinks that I should hang some rosary beads from the t-top because I now am an official “Jeepney-o-the-sea” driver with jerry rigging and bits of improvised plastic keeping us moving. We were greeted by two of my favorite Frenchmen Denis & Dominic, and they told us that a room had even become vacant! Pandan Island is a very simple (eco) resort with great food & company! |
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Unfortunately we also had a few technical challenges with our photography equipment (my camera got wet), so we don’t have many pictures of Pandan. We did however, capture a shot of this poor owl that we probably blinded with the flash from the camera. We managed to con the dive shop into giving us a divemaster for the day and headed out to Apo Reef. I’ve been by there a dozen times before on the boat, but this was the first time to dive it. It was truly amazing. Thousands of fish, seasnakes, and even a few grey reef sharks! That was definitely not my last time diving at Apo! The Divemaster was amazed that we only needed 43 minutes to get there, compared to the usual 2 1/2 hours they need with their bangka. |
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After the dive we had a quick bite at Pandan and headed up to Mamburao in order to get us closer to the very scary Calavite Passage for our early morning run. We found a good anchorage in front of the Tayamaan Bay Beach resort. This was a decent stop. It was easy to anchor, had fresh hot showers and airconditioned cottages. Although we were the only paying guests it would do for the night. We were however, very surprised when we were informed after dinner (ie: too late to go anywhere else) that they gave us the wrong rate, and the luxury suite (ano?) was PHP 1,400 per night and not PHP 690. Dudes - this is Mamburao, don’t you wonder why you are empty all of the time!!!! We actually thought the 690 was really pushing it, but 1,400 is a rate for a nice place in Manila. You need to talk to your marketing people if you want customers! Anyhow, we got a 5:30 am start the next morning and arrived punctually at 6:10 to a usually choppy Calavite Pass. |
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Once we got passed Golo and Lubang Islands, the chop didn’t really subside, so we set a reasonable course toward Subic Bay whic was where we intended to spend the last two days of the adventure. After Brekkies at Vascos and some Diesel from Aqua Ventures, we headed over to Shakara’s favorite spot at the Bluerock Floating Bar. |
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Marjie tried to teach us how to eat a Balut, but we decided to stick with the San Mig |
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The whole crew was feeling a bit marginal after consuming mass quantities for two weeks straight so we decided to do one more dive the next morning and then pack it in to Home. On our way out of the bay, we encountered the club’s next vessel “Octopus” which comes complete with helicopter and submarine. |
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Steve took the helm and set course fot Corregidor. After passing the historical island, we took a cruise over to Ft. Drum for a closer look before heading in for the final 30 miles to Manila. Choppy waters and wind accompanied us all the way in to Manila. Once we could see the skyline I think we all felt a sense of accomplishment as well as relief as we opened up our last cold one of the “Most Excellent Adventure.” With 1,720 nautical miles through the Philipines behind us, Steve was probably already thinking of confirming his flight, and Sean was thinking about how to get the power steering and the fuel lines fixed to get out to the 100 islands in a few days ....... |
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Stay tuned for our upcoming photo gallery as well as notices on any “ad-hoc” adventures we may undertake in the near future! |
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... did I hear someone say “we want more fish!” ?? |
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