![Killer MTB Ride from Sevilla](/2017/oct/sevilla_downhill/thumbnails/sevilla_downhill.jpg)
![mtb](/images/icons/icon_mtb.gif)
Tour Provider: SUP Tours Philippines
Tour: Half-Day SUP Tour to Busay Falls and back
Inclusion: SUP, guide, drink
Website: suptoursphilippines.com
Location : SUP Tours Philippines, Loboc (municipality), Bohol (province), Philippines
SUP Tours Philippines
Along Loboc River about a kilometer from the town proper is SUP Tours Philippines within the Fox & The Firefly Cottages, owned and managed by a lovely and dynamic couple - Frederic, an SUP dude and Joan, a yogini. It's an idyllic and manicured garden setting with huts made from local materials for that native touch. Craftmanship is at the luxury standard. They also offer yoga classes and mountain bike tours.
Orientation
Gerry, our guide is a certified SUP instructor who gave us a few pointers on how to manage the board - from customizing paddle length, paddle handling, mounting and stroking. It was enough to give us a sense of bearing on what to do. We were all new to the sport. Initially, standing on an oversized surfboard with a paddle in hand felt tentative given the balancing act, the river current and the actual paddling. But after getting the hang of it, it got more fun as confidence increased. The learning curve wasn't steep.
River Paddling
We had a leisurely pace against the mild current as we passed by the forested banks of the river. The water was calm despite a higher level due to the recent rains. We made a brief stop at Loktob Spring where I took a refreshing dip. We had the river all to ourselves - the floating restaurant hasn't started its service yet. Before we knew it, we were already in Busay Falls - there was no way to go further. The current was already strong. Above us was the zipline and cable car connecting the 2 hills together. We chilled out for a bit. I played around, doing turns and paddling hard. It was a lot of fun against the strong current!
SUP Yoga
At the downstream end where the water was calmer, I tried a few yoga asanas. It was a mind game - fail and you fall on the river and be swept by the current.
Floating Restaurant
On the way back, we had to deal with the passing floating restaurants. We had to pull over to the side to let it pass. Its wake wasn't as destabilizing as I thought. It was interesting to see the curious tourists on board snapping pictures of us (feeling like we were the tourist attraction!) as we waved back to them.
Floating with the Current
The rest of the way back was a free ride with the current. I could just be lying down on the SUP and I'd still get back to the resort. A fresh coconut was served upon arrival. The other guests had lunch before their afernoon paddling in the other direction. I headed back on my bike feeling stoked at this new adventure.
The Possé
Aside from our guide, we were all five - two Brits, an American and a Filipina frisbee player, Claudine. It was uncanny that Claudine is the niece of UP Mountaineers, Choi Aquino - the one who helped me and my UPM 2005 batch during our application period. Claudine, like her uncle (who was also a team member of the Pinoy Everest team) is keen on sports and the outdoors. We covered a bit of ground in our passing talk. I hope our paths cross again.
Ending Thoughts
I've done SUP Yoga before at Plantation Bay in Cebu and a bit of beach SUP in Mati, but this is the first time I've done it on a river covering some distance against the current. The longer I stayed on the board, the more fun it got. Gerry's initial orientaion helped a lot - otherwise it could have been a frustrating experience. It's not a hard thing to do even for a first timer.
If you visit Loboc for the more popular floating restaurant, I would recommend staying a day or two and soak it in with SUP river paddling at SUP Tours Philippines - it's worth your while!
Thank you Frederic and Joan, and thank you Gerry!
--- Gigit (TheLoneRider)
YOGA by Gigit
|
Learn English
|
Travel like a Nomad
|
Donation Bank
Reader Comments:
Next story:
Killer MTB Ride from Sevilla
(Oct 30, 2017) The Sevilla-Loboc downhill ride is the most brutal I've done with Jeffrey. We had to dismount even on the downhills as well as the uphills for the same reason - wet, big, densely-packed pointed rocks covered in moss on a tight single-track with major drops. It was challenging to steer the tires between the rocks at best and at worst, we had to dismount. Other times, there was simply no line to follow......more »»
Bohol FYI / Tips
Tagbilaran Port to Panglao
You can charter any tricycle from the port all the way to Panglao (~P300), but if you want to do it on the cheap,Tagbilaran (Bohol) to Cebu City by boat
** schedules and rates keep changing, call for latest scheduleThings to do, Places to go in Bohol
»» next story:
[an error occurred while processing this directive]
»» next Traveling story:
[an error occurred while processing this directive]
»» next story: Killer MTB Ride from Sevilla
»» back to Traveling
»» back to Homepage
ARCHIVE:
2024 |
JAN |
FEB |
MAR |
APR |
MAY |
JUN |
JUL
1970 |
1973 |
1975 |
1976 |
1979 |
1981 |
1996 |
2000 |
2001 |
2002 |
2003 |
2004 |
2005 |
2006 |
2007 |
2008 |
2009 |
2010 |
2011 |
2012 |
2013 |
2014 |
2015 |
2016 |
2017 |
2018 |
2019 |
2020 |
2021 |
2022 |
2023 |
2024 |
ALL BLOGS