Directions how to go to Ilocos

[dieselpwr]

hi guys n gals, i'm planning a roadtrip again. mga mid February to Northern Luzon....Ilocos - all the way to Pagudpod....

first things first, anong exit ba sa NLEX ang papuntang Ilocos?
i've never experienced SCTex, if i wanted to pass on it (without going out of my way, is it possible?)

thanks in advance & regards,
BTW, may tsikoters (fellow Carens owners) ba dyan sa Ilocos?

Note: starting point ko nga pala is fm. Manila.

[neilbt]

nung pumuta kaming La Union last June, eto ginamit kong reference para makadaan ng SCTEX

www.i-baguio.com/nlex-sctex-get-to-baguio-faster/2/

[hanren]

Sir dieselpwr just take the La Paz exit when you use the SCTex. When I use the SCTex, I sometimes exit at the Luisita exit because it gets you right at the heart of Luisita Malls where you might want to eat or take some hot coffee.

Then just coast along the road (McArthur highway). Eventually, you will pass by different towns in Tarlac. Then Urdaneta in Pangasinan, Binalonan, Pozzorobio, Sison, then Rosario,Sto Tomas, Caba, Agoo, Bauang, San Fernando etc in La Union. Diretso na yung daan sir. There is an alternate road in San Fernando which can easily be seen with a road sign in order to avoid city travel at the city proper but it would be better to just take the normal route.

I've been to Batac many times using my Carens. The roads are not in good condition because of the ongoing repairs (not sure if that's the case now). My Carens did not disappoint. The last time I was there, typhoon Pepeng tagged along. Nung pauwi na kami ng Baguio, sumama rin siya pabalik. May landslide noon dun sa may Quirino brige in Bantay town. Pero di ko sure kung back to normal na yung road condition dun.

Grabe din ang biyahe. It took us more than 5 hours from Baguio to Batac. Daming dadaanang towns sa Ilocos Sur pa lang. Laoag is just 15 mins away. Pero yung Pagudpod eh mga 40 kms from Batac. Nakakapagod din (good thing car like comfort pa rin ang Carens natin) so I suggest make a lot of stopovers along the way.

Total hours of travel siguro mga 8 to 9 hours pero depende rin sa pace at stopovers. Good luck and drive safely.

By the way, Panagbenga na this February dito a Baguio. The street parades would be on the third/fourth week of Feb.

[jching]

Nasubukan ko ito last year at nag-drive ako gamit si Carens from Manila to Pagudpud, to Cagayan, Nueva Viscaya, Isabela, Nueva Ecija, Tarlac, Pampangga, Bulacan, Manila. Ang sarap ng biyahe pero yung parteng Ilocos e medyo sira-sira ang daan. Bilib ako sa Cagayan dahil maganda ang mga daan nila, at least alam natin na di kinurakot nila Enrile ang pera ng bayan. Ang Nueva Viscaya naman e napaka-gandang probinsiya pala kung mahilig ka sa mountainous area, pero sira din at ginagawa ang mga daan. Di masyadong publicized ang Nueva Viscaya, pero magandang probinsiya ito. Pagdating ng Cabanatuan e na-turn off ako sa bagal at dami ng tricycles, kaya kumanan na ako ng papuntang Tarlac City at ginamit ang SCTEX pabalik sa Maynila.

Altogether inabot ako ng 7 days sa travel na ito, stopping wherever and whenever my watch says 3pm.


Note: starting point ko nga pala is fm. Manila.[/quote]

[dieselpwr]

guys thanks for the responses....eto pa balik ako manila tonight....pero sad to say di ata matutuloy Northern Luzon roadtrip ....may school activity kasi mga bata eh....kaya baka next time na lang.....

sir Hanren, sir jching, mukhang ang saya din ng road trip nyo ah....any pix to share?

[reden]

Went to pagudpud last april 3, 2010.. brief stopover at bangui view deck for the wind mills.