 |
| The team minus Raymond and Poh Cheng |
 |
| Breakfast at Restoran Chong Chye |
 |
| Breakfast at Restoran Chong Chye |
 |
| The Kluang Boys |
 |
| Auntie, whom we met last night, came to meet us at Restoran Chong Chye |
 |
| The coffee shop by the main road |
 |
| Besides curry mee and noodle soup, dry noodle is served as well. |
 |
| The specialty is their homemade fook chow noodle. |
 |
| Rolling out of Kahang |
 |
| The hills began right after the mosque |
 |
| If you are "small" and carries an "oxygen tank", you need to rely on a buddy system! |
Even though Hotel 128 is a relatively new hotel, most of us did not sleep well. Awakened by the brief power tripping at 2 am and kept awake by our noisy caretaker who probably brought a few friends in to party, we braved the morning with smiles and greetings for each other.
Henry and Moses, the tall ones were like bamboos, shooting up to greet the day break. Not as planned, poor Moses was kept awake by a bad cough while his roommate, by his guttural noise!
Not as planned too, Yuen Fen and his Kluang buddies were delayed by a tyre puncture. Resulting from this, they arrived half an hour off the estimated arrival time; meeting a group of riders who were already half way through, digesting their breakfast. Not helping the scores were Raymond and Poh Cheng's aero bikes on high profile wheels.
Intimidated and restless, Bernie was the first to call for a head start. Under threat, the rest followed NOT realizing it will be a good 47 km before we made the next regrouping point.
As the rest rolled out sporadically, nobody noticed Jenny had returned to the hotel for some water. The remaining team only realized her absence when Philip noticed her helmet, left on the table. The damaging ramifications from this was the last riders were vastly separated from the lead riders; made worse when they stopped at Koref Organic Rice Farm. The perpetual hills separated them even further with each climb witnessing bigger and bigger breakaways!
 |
| AhKang Zai, was drafting behind the aero bikes at average speed 35kph!!! |
While the original B&B team had a good head start, our hosts from Kluang marched strongly after breakfast, overtaking the group to finish a second meal at Jemaluang, just as the rest were rolling in! However, some others like Yuen Fen and Ming Siong Chai, chose to host our riders until the emerald lake with Ah Kang Zhai who had had enough of drafting behind the speed monsters at breakneck speed.
The 47 km to emerald lake was a beautiful ride running past rice fields and the perimeter fencing of Endau Rompin, a nature reserve. While the recently harvested rice fields were an eye sore, the crisp morning air from the surrounding greeneries, filled with negative ions could be the compounding reason why everyone had pushed on without a regrouping point. Either that or nobody wants to be made a tiger’s meal as these predators are known to lurk in the famed forest reserve.
In no hurry but wondering all the time when they will meet the team again, Claudine and VT were mostly riding on their own after the first 10 km with the occasional glimpses of the support vehicle. They rolled past a mosque within the compounds of a palm oil estate, caught sight of a few watering holes and caught the whooping cries of gibbons that seemed to ridicule them for their low speed!
After the emerald lake, Bernie and Susanna called it a day, returning to JB with Suzie, who had patiently driven the support car whilst taking photos for the last 2 days. Saying goodbye to the wagon, those who had relied on its baggage service had to turn mule, carrying their own loads.
Before taking on Jemaluang’s brutal hills, we turned into its town for brunch. Joining us were the Kluang boys who had to refuel before returning home. While our journey ahead was famed for zero tree covers and limited support, theirs' were equally bad if not longer!
Parting ways after lunch, we rolled out on renewed strategies. The plan was to regroup every 15-20 km, no matter what!
Following our pledge, our first stop was at a stall right across the road, 17 km down the route. This regrouping took longer than expected as KC had a puncture to address, keeping him away while we waited in the cool comforts of the humble dwellings.
Next was our lunch stop which came earlier than anticipated, near the junction to Tg Sedili. Supported by a petrol station, where we had earlier sent our Venezulan motorcyclist on a Triumph Speed Triple; we chose to stop at a deck of shops, up a slope, on the diagonal side of the road instead.
Tucked away, high on the knoll, only 2 shops were still in operations. We were left with no choice but to choose between precooked dishes laced with flies and buns from the next door convenience shop.
Tucked away, high on the knoll, only 2 shops were still in operations. We were left with no choice but to choose between precooked dishes laced with flies and buns from the next door convenience shop.
Again, this stop was longer than planned as the mid-afternoon heat was getting too unbearable. Enquiring with the stall owner, she explained the previous Barisan National government were in the midst of upgrading the R&R when the elections came. The change of power to Pakatan Harapan stalled the renovation works which explained the brand new toilets and prayer rooms set against shabby stalls with ceiling fans that had stopped turning altogether!
Meanwhile, Claudine was in bad shape! Not eating much at Jemaluang except for a toast and an egg, she had downed 2 paracetamols at the first stop, thanks to Raymond’s stash.
Her nausea continued through lunch and the only food she managed through force were 2 bottles of yakult and half a Gardenia Chocolate Bun. Braving on the journey later, she could feel herself almost heaving at every climb. It took great efforts to pant and to keep everything back down.
Out of desperation, she made an impromptu stop across the road for what little shades the trees could offer. Pulling out her half eaten bun, she took a small bite but felt like retching.
Soon KC and Mr Lim rolled past. They were mumbling something about her, while someone was saying her husband was coming along…
Put a smile on and wave!!!
VT soon arrived and as nothing can be done, they pushed on again, only to see Henry, Mr Lim, Zoe and KC resting at a bus stop a few kilometers down the road. Zoe pulled out her lemon salt sweet which most of us relished despite its melted form, due to the intense heat.
Riding on again, Claudine felt a sudden surge of power! Climbs became easier…..thanks to Zoe's sweet and VT who had relieved her from the panniers.
Soon the familiar sight of the FELDA stopover came into view. Peculiarly out of place amidst newly replanted palm oil estates which ran for miles, we were relieved to get out of the heat. Curry puff sardines and muruku became our tea break while Claudine’s retching fed more than a hundred ants that afternoon!
We had to change our strategies! Upon seeing Claudine’s conditions, Moses volunteered to ride ahead on his own to collect his car, thus saving his wards at least 10 km in detour. Mr Lim had also begun his pick up requests, while Jenny brokered her way into the arrangements!
After sealing our plans in concrete, we continued our return journey. Passing by Panti Forest Reserves we had a short regrouping by the stalls which were either closed for the day or had gone out of business.
 |
| KC could still jump for the camera while the rest suffers in silence! |
Moving on, we soon arrived at the line of WW2 pill boxes. Hot and tired, nobody cared to take any photos besides KC who was doing so much better today. So while we spread out to regroup with some taking cover right across the road from the pill box; some others found shelter in a bus stop down the hill.
Next to come was the junction to Tg Sedili which was serviced by a few satellite shops and timber factories. Heeding VT’s call to take a break, it was the right move as Mr Lim was way behind, battling the hills despite a sore bum. When he finally arrived, he was duly rescued by his son!
Our team was shrinking. On a rescue mission, Moses had gone ahead since the Felda stopover and with Jenny and Henry safely packed into Mr Lim’s car, the rest of us moved on to Kota Tinggi.
The final leg was not as brutal. With the sun tipping over the horizon and a visible storm over the coast, the weather cooled tremendously.
Instead of battling the elements, we found ourselves fighting for space this time. Cars, lorries and motorcycles were aplenty. Closing in on Kiang Kee Bakuteh, scores of superbikes screamed past us. While we clearly lacked speed, we held our heads high for not contributing to the carbon footprints!
Soon the much anticipated honk came from behind. Mr Lim and his wards cheered us on with waves and smiles!
Thereafter the rattling began. Stretched for more than 3 km between the few petrol kiosks along Jalan Kota Tinggi, the tarmac was so bad, we had to put on our guards to keep from falling.
When the Kota Tinggi junction came into view, relief washed all over us. Stopping to say our goodbyes, KC, Philip and York Fuan turned into town where they stayed for the night before returning to Singapore.
As for the remaining team, they took the last few hundred meters in slow motionm, all the way to the finish line. Never before had a Petronas service station been such a safe haven!!!
Photo Credits :
1. Suzie
2. KC
3. Philip
As for the remaining team, they took the last few hundred meters in slow motionm, all the way to the finish line. Never before had a Petronas service station been such a safe haven!!!
Photo Credits :
1. Suzie
2. KC
3. Philip
