To Legazpi and Mt Mayon

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  Legazpi, Bicol, Philippines
Sunday, April 24, 2011

Sunday 24 April 2011. We started the day with a veritable feast – breakfast brought to the room at 0700: egg, bacon and bread (which we turned into a sandwich), fruit, warm waffles with maple syrup and green tea;  excellent! Reception had kindly organised a tricycle for the short trip to the airport, the driver entertaining in his description of his visit to Houston, Texas. Once out on the apron, Abraham and Randolph were waiting by the EZ, Abraham clutching a grease-covered bolt which he had retrieved from within the Long-EZ's cowling (he had been Inquisitive and being the good engineer, had noticed a foreign object).  Off came the cowling, being the easiest way to refix the bolt. Abraham kindly supplied wire and tools to tighten and lockwire the bolt in place. The cowling was replaced and we were still ready to depart on time at 0900. We said our goodbyes and thanks, took a few photos and taxied for take- off to the east.

Normal cloud build-up over the land, but once over water these cleared to give much better visibility as we climbed up to 3,000 ft. Roxas could just be made out on our right-hand side in the distance as we crossed the Jintotolo Channel between the Islands of Panay and Masbate. The latter resembles an inverted 'L’ canted  slightly to the left. We made landfall on the south-west tip of the small ‘arm’ and flew up the eastern coast of this ‘arm’ with the Asid Gulf on our right. Fires were in evidence, almost looking like smoking fumeroles.  Crossing the junction of the two ‘arms’ at the narrowest point, we headed for Masbate Town and its Airport. Speaking to ATC, they informed us that the runway would soon be closed for resurfacing – it looked OK from above though!

We made the short crossing of the Masbate Passage to the long and thin nearby Ticao Island traversing approximately mid-island. We then passed the villages of Bulan and Bacon on Luzon Island, each having their own little community airstrips. There was lots of aerial activity with small micolights buzzing around – we made sure we kept well clear! On reaching the eastern coastline of this part of Luzon , we hugged it round to the left until reaching the Albay Gulf. At this point we were starting to get good views on our right hand side of Mt Mayon (8,077 ft) the towering volcano which dominates the Legaspi area. Mt Mayon is rightly described as possibly the World’s most perfect volcano!  It was unfortunate, but par for us, that it wasn’t completely in the clear but had a cloud topping – great views nevertheless. Closer into the airport, there are hills and ridges which provide for an interesting approach.

Safely down (albeit quite a fast landing), we backtracked to the apron and shut down next to an Islander aircraft. This aircraft is built at Bembridge, isle of Wight, a popular lunch-location for aviators in the South of England, us included on occasions. Greeted and asked for our flight plan, the officials didn’t appear to know that we were coming. It was not a problem, and after showing ID, we disembarked to be mobbed by around 20 or so airport workers wanting their photos taken in front of the EZ. Always happy to oblige, the atmosphere became more jolly. Some of the group were pilots and instructors from the local Aviation Academy whose hangar the Islander was outside. It looked a beautiful hangar (the exterior painted yellow and mauve), Patrick took a shine to it immediately, and walking up to its entrance enquired ‘ how does one get to leave their aircraft in this hangar?’ Capt. Jun immediately replied that it would be fine for the EZ to be hangared there. Before he could change his mind, we pushed the EZ into the corner of the hangar, nicely in the shade. The next hour or so was spent most pleasantly in conversation with Capt Jun, Bobbie (chief pilot?) and other instructors and students of the Pilots Academy. They run Government-sponsored training of pilots up to CPL/IR/Instructor levels. We swapped stories over a welcome cup of tea/coffee:  as this flight had only taken just over the hour it allowed us the opportunity to spend some time chatting and not have to rush off anywhere.

Eventually though they were due to go flying and we were going to be able to check-in at our hotel so a staff member kindly loaded our bags into their van and drove us through the gates to the taxi rank outside the Terminal building. A short ride into the Town and we were soon unpacking and settling into the hotel room for our 2-night stay.

We did a little exploring of the area later in the afternoon – a bustling place, the night-market stalls already set up in a huge square in the middle of town by the Trylon Monument (a three sided obelisk). A maze of narrow streets surround the square, lined with more stalls, shops, offices etc. Exhaust fumes abound with dozens of jeepneys and tricycles zipping by.

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Fires on Masbate Island	Tagbon, Masbate Island	Masbate Town and Airport	Mt Mayon, Luzon
Welcome party at Legaspi Airport	The EZ in the PPAI hangar   Comments!	Legazpi jeepneys

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