It was already past 02:30 PM when we left Lussok Cave. During that time, we were still clueless as to where to go. Ran was busy on his phone though looking for where to go, and he found one: Bacut Lake.

We initially thought that the travel time to get to Bacut Lake from Lussok Cave would take around 30 minutes, and on our way there, we had two unplanned stops: a stop to a store where we bought traditional buntal hats and a stop to Apayao Welcome Arch.

If only based on the chronology of events, our stop in the welcome arch was already late as we were already more than halfway through the day. It was the middle of the night when we arrived in Apayao hence we did not really see the arch, and even if we did, it was way too dark to take photos. Late as it was already, we won’t miss the opportunity to take photos.

When we were done taking photos by the welcome arch, we proceeded with out travel to Bacut Lake. We got confused getting there, as the online map was pointing us in a location along the main road while the lake was in fact somewhere deep within the interiors of the town of Santa Marcela. After some turns, we finally asked a local who pointed us where to go, which was still around 15 minutes more from where we initially thought it was located.

We took a road with nothing but open fields, until we were finally able to find Bacut Lake. It was not an easy place to find. Given that it was wrongly pinned in Google Maps, we had to rely to physical signs telling us where to go. When we were there already though, we did not go straight to the entrance and went a bit further, trying to appreciate the view of the lake from outside the complex.

Nestled within its namesake tourism complex and nature park, Bacut Lake is known for an islet in the middle. It provides a relaxing solace where one may just sit idly to allow the passage of time, oblivious of whatever hustle the world beyond the lake has in store. It offers the perfect retreat, if not the total escape.

We then went to the entrance to check in, and were still unbelieving that we got the right place. No one was there. Apprehensive at first to proceed, a family of three went by and walked ahead of us, and we also saw a couple of individuals on their way out. That was our que. We went ahead towards floating bridge that connects the lake entrance to the islet.

When we reached the islet, we explored it, appreciating the shade of the trees that added to the relaxing vibes that the place has to offer. We did not walk as much though. Just a few minutes into the hike and we decided to just sit where we would have a nice view of the placid lake. It was comforting, to say the least.

At around 04:30 PM, it was time to go. Along the way though, something happened that I did not tell Ran as he was just asleep the entire time that it happened: we got lost.

What was supposed to be a sweet 15-minute ride to get back to the main road became as long as an hour and a half. We got lost so bad that we reached the part where the road, apart from being unpaved, got only a single lane for one vehicle hence I really cannot turn the vehicle back. There was no signal either, hence I was relying on an offline map and just trusted my guts that I was navigating the right road.

It was a deep sigh of relief when we finally reached the main road, and by that time Ran has already awaken without any idea of what we’ve been through. I then gave our accommodation a call that we would have an in-house dinner. It was almost 06:00 PM when we made it to the main road and since places in Apayao close early, we feared that there would be no diner still open by the time we reach La Cuesta.

We were only partially correct. Just a few minutes away from our hotel, we chanced upon Cheese and Stalk, a pizzeria. We paid it a visit and ordered a pizza and some shake which we would take later in the night, after we have taken the in-house dinner that we ordered.

As soon as we got back to our accommodation, we had a very satisfying dinner. It was such a pity that we were probably too hungry, we forgot to take photos. We also took some bites from the pizza we bought and set the rest aside for breakfast. We would no longer take our free breakfast as we would leave at 05:00 AM the following morning.

No, we were not eyeing to be home early hence the intent to leave Apayao while the sun hasn’t risen yet. We woke-up and left early as we were about to gun our longest road trip yet: we were to take down the Cordilleras.