A Taste of Johor VIII : Gunung Pulai (15 July 2017)

Near the foothills of Gunung Pulai

No deserters this morning!

Regis as marker at Taman Nusantara

The guys waiting patiently for those caught by traffic lights

Cookie Monsters

Kg Sangkar Ayam just before we reconnect with Jalan Sawah

Gunung Pulai in the background, right after Cendol Kg Melayu Raya

Gateway, Gunung Pulai 2 entrance

At the gates.

Bicycles are prohibited beyond the gates

...can't stop us from taking photos!

...and more photos...

...and even more!!!

Resting in Gunung Pulai stall. The mee goreng mamak is commendable.

Team Singapore waiting for Philip's tube change

Guess who's knee???

We've heard of toe clip pedals BUT toe clip shoes???

"A day of 3 falls and 3 punctures!!!"

At 6 am in the morning, Claudine received a text from the Singapore team that they had crossed the Malaysian border. It was a short triumph as 20 minutes later, they suffered a double whammy....2 simultaneous punctures!!! The morning whammies escalated further when the sky rumbled and pour, delaying our roll out time by one hour and a half!

It was amazing to see so many riders patiently sitting through the rain. Many who drove to meet up point could have packed up and leave. However, non did; committed and dedicated to the ride! While the Singapore team were slightly drenched riding up Horizon Hills, the younger ones, took the full brunt of the rain. 

The young ones were completely drenched!

The rain persisted until 9 am!!!

When the sky finally cleared, we rode out in light misty rain and the roads still wet. Philip led us out on a safe, moderate speed all the way to the Eco Botanics roundabout. Where the flyover that runs above the second link Highway began, Claudine started overtaking Philip. William had long gone ahead on his own while everyone else's that could, spun ahead as well!!!

The young boys had youth going for them as they pumped up the hills. KTBW's warriors, Philip and Simson would do injustice to the their team had they not aced today's many hills! Today's trophies though goes to Philip Lee and Bee Tee, both senior riders who made climbs look so easy!

We went via the scenic kampung route of Kg Ulu Pulai much to the delight of the kampung kids. They cheered and waved us on.

Arriving at Shell's Pekan Nanas, Zoe was already waiting for us. She was the only rider with a spotless bike, having driven there to meet us!!! Pushing for loss time, we left the petrol station after a mere 5 minutes break.

By 10 am, traffic into the town was horrendously busy. We had a hard time dodging buses' and lorries' tail ends while weaving through cars!

Turning into Jalan Sawah, a crazy lady driver in a pink Perodua Axia cuts into Claudine's lane to dive into a parking lot, totally unaware of the danger she was putting her in!!! Of course, she was accorded a "Xiao Lang!!!" yell by the victim herself!!!

The boys took the opportunity to take photos...

... while Regis decided to clown for the cameraman...

The bicycle received first hand help before the damsel!!!

As many riders were caught by the long strings of traffic lights, Sai Kit magnanimously offered to wait up at the turn while we stopped for regrouping just opposite Ngee Hoe Bike Shop. The stop saw our first fall....Benny on cleat shoe, fell when he lost balance at stationary. His fall was followed by Claudine in similar manners as she tried to make a U turn with one free foot after she led the party the wrong way for the second time! Bee Tee was the next victim in the kampung route when the road ended at a T junction!!!

When we finally emerged out of the kampung and reconnected with Jalan Sawah, we were disappointed the Cendol shop at Kampung Melayu Raya has yet to open for business. Pushing on the the base of Gunung Pulai, the men were so thirsty, they stopped at a stall for drinks and mee goreng. Sai Kit though was emulating Bruce Lee's training....he had 2 fried eggs, short of 8 to make a kungfu master!

Meanwhile, Bee Tee, William, Chris and Paul were like energizer bunnies. They were going up and down the slope, enjoying the thrills!!!

Claudine who had intended to stop at the stall found her speed dangerously slow to uncleat. She had to force herself all the way up to the gates to find a leverage point to stop.

While up to December 2015, Claudine was still making her pilgrimage climb to the peak by bike, it was disappointing to know the new management guard's the forest reserve tightly. The officer informed us that only bathers are allowed up to the 1 km mark on the tarred road where their other office is located. Beyond that, is out of bounds even to hikers on foot! Setting foot on the forest trails are considered trespassing as well!!!

Noon was approaching when Zoe requested a Cendol stop. As IRC and Team Singapore had more or less had their fills, we decided to go on our separate ways. The first group left for Cendol while Team Singapore left for Ngee Hoe to get Philip's "kamikaze" back tyre fixed once and for all. 

When Team Cendol arrived at Ngee Hoe after a cold fix and an authentic kampung nasi lemak, Philip's tyres was still not done. IRC had just settled down for lunch in the next door coffee shop. It was an amazing get together and send off, as Tom and his wife were visiting as well!!!

Team Cendol left everyone, getting back as a team with a few regroupings. Kudos are given to Ronan, Kevin and their friend for their professional conduct as cyclists, following the leader and waiting for others at regrouping points!

Team Singapore took their time. They had another feast of black pepper crab but this time, they topped it up with ice creams just before they made their way home. As for IRC, the local boys.....well we just knew they all got back home safely!!!

  

Photo courtesy :

1. Chin Hoon Lim 

2. Paul Eddie

3. SK Lai

4. William Ho

5. Philip Sim