Blue Lake Exploration (7 May 2016)

Pristine Blue

Some of the riders at Blue Lake
  

After Regency Hospital

Hold tight and don't fall over!

At Yoyo Rakit

At Yoyo Rakit

Down by the reservoir...look who just took a happy pill!

Chew, slogging

Wong, working hard

Maggie, slaving away

But, YL sitting down like the big boss

Argggghhhh!

Cupcake and Colnago

Maggie finally met 007

The road to the reservoir

At the riverside

Monkey on a foldie

Interesting toolset

Chunky satay

Non irradiated nasi lemak

Roti telur bawang

As early as March 2015, photos of the Blue Lake started popping up in Facebook and chatrooms. The mysterious turquoise blue waters beckons Claudine. She started lobbying for a ride but at that time, not many people knew the location. Eventually, with google maps and one curious scout, a route plan was drawn.

Today's ride to the Blue Lake will not be the first for many. Quite a few riders made it there on May 2015, led by TH, our curious scout who had plotted the route. Some others though, found their way there on their own merits.

We left Starbucks Seri Alam promptly at 7.15am. Cruising out from the adjacent Shell station, a pick up truck was coming in our direction. As we slowed down to give way to the truck, we noticed Tom and Siew Ling inside! Late comers from Kulai, we quickly forgave them.

Our first destination was the Blue Lake. TH had forewarned us that it is an ex quarry mine, that was eventually filled with rain water. As a social responsibility to reduce potential hazards to the public, the land owner had cordoned off the area.

Today, we made an illegal entry into someone's private land! TH was first to push his bike under the railings, then crawled through. Andy and YL followed suit. Then, they helped Maggie to haul her bike over the railings.

While, the 4 were in action, Thomas Ridley saved the day! He will look after our bikes while we go on our exploration of the Blue Lake. This is not his first time there! Thomas Moy and Wong will keep him company.

Leaving our guards behind, we trooped in. TH led us to a high vantage point. From where we stood, it was a sheer drop all the way down. The lake was big but not very blue in the early morning sun.

Down below, there was a lorry path and a power generator that have just been started up. The sound travelled up to where we stood. Hearing the noise, we soon left. The workers are starting their day and we didn't want to be caught for trespassing!

While getting to the Blue Lake was a perpetual slow climb, now we enjoyed the slide. Passing by Pegasus International school, there was a hazard up ahead. At the traffic lights, a crumbled motorcycle and its rider lay motionless on the ground. A couple sat on the curb looking stunned. An ambulance was already there but the paramedics did not look likely to swing into action anytime.

We rolled down to Regency Hospital and headed towards Masai town. We passed the Muslim cemetery with its Quranic engravings. Next to it, lies the Buddhist bones and the concrete lotus flowers. All along this route is gentle sweeping hills.

At the Scientex roundabout, we made a short regrouping. Then we hit Jalan Kong Kong, aptly named for it almost "konged" us with its narrow road, heavy traffic and ruthless bus driver!

Maggie was nearly pushed off road by a factory bus which later rammed its way through a corner without much thoughts of other road users. Leo was almost nicked by its rear. When it made an abrupt stop, Leo had to jam his brakes missing it's rear end by 6 inches!

Thankfully, we left Jalan Kong Kong at its height, avoiding further fiascoes. We travelled along a rubber estate, passed through some quiet land before stopping by a silver carriage drawn by at least 130 horsepower. An angel with long flowing hair was handing out gold to us. It was not a mirage but all real!!! Elaine had come out to deliver icy cold 100 plus in gold cans to us!!!

After a quick respite, we climbed up the steep slope to see the reservoir. The floodgates were majestic but at this current dry spell, there was no water to release! There were some acts of liberation though. While Thomas Moy dropped his Allen key on the way to the reservoir, Tom's plush toy monkey tried the big escape on the way out!

Next, we went off road for a few hundred meters before coming out into a palm oil estate. The road to serenpidity begins....Undulating rolling hills, wild yellow flowers growing in clusters along the road....

Towards the end was Yoyo Rakit, the river mouth and a huge watergate. Taking a boat ride to the floating platform in the middle of the river for a short sightseeing tour costs only RM10. It sits 10 persons. An overnight stay with a simple bed for avid anglers costs RM20 per person.

Soon we were eager to leave for breakfast. The ride back was getting a bit stressful for Maggie. Tom tried lowering her seat post by 5 mm but it didn't help much. Climbing the last steep slope, she came down to push instead.

We found TH waiting faithfully at the gravel road to lead us out again. At the end of the rubber plantation, Frankie was waiting out too! 

Together, we reached the breakfast stop at the junction to Jalan Kong Kong. Everyone were there, although already half way through their breakfasts!

Thanks to their good chums, Claudine and VT found their pre-ordered drinks waiting for them. They enjoyed a decent nasi lemak turned green by colouring and not radiation! The roti telur bawang was delicious with side condiments of dhall and sambal. The satay, skewered with chunky meats was satisfyingly good with peanut sauce.

Everyone clambered to foot the bill. Leo treated the satay, Thomas Moy picked up the food and drinks bill while Andy wandered off and came back with bottled mineral water.

On our way home, Maggie crumbled after the first kilometer. She stopped, VT tipped her wheels and Claudine following behind tipped VT's wheels instead. Thomas Moy managed to avoid the pile up but nobody fell and there was no damage as we were all going slowly, climbing up a slope. For the next few kilometers Maggie pulled out her cramps spray a few times.

We saw a lone rider on a foldie waiting for us at the junction to Scientex. It was Andy, waiting in the hot sun!

He led us back to Scientex before disappearing for good. We were to receive a text from him later apologizing profusely as he was late for an appointment.

We got to McDonald's Kota Masai, albeit lost! By which time, Maggie had threw her bike down twice to rest on the grass and use her cramps spray countless times.

An SOS text was sent to the group chat to pick Maggie up. As the drop pin of Maggie's location was was sent out, we received another drop pin from TH! He was also suffering from bad cramps and had called for Elaine.

Claudine and VT left Maggie at McDonald's. They turned on Waze for the directions home.

Passing the cemeteries, Waze said, "Turn right." They rode straight ahead. Waze rerouted.

Passing by Kota Masai, Waze said, "Turn right". Yet, they still rode straight ahead. Again, Waze had to reroute.

After Kota Masai, Waze again asked them to "Turn Right".  Again they persisted, quite sure of where they were going. If Waze was an Artificial Intelligence, it would have screamed at them!!! Waze was programmed to plot a route with the least traffic. It did not realize they were on 2 wheelers and able to weave through traffic jams!

At a petrol station, they stopped a truck driver for directions to Regency Hospital. He gave them very clear landmarks to look out for. He must be wondering what was their urgency to get to the hospital!!!

Arriving at Regency Hospital, they saw Chee Kiang drive past! He did not see them.

Arriving at Starbucks, a car was driving out. YL flashed at them.

Getting back to the carpark, Thomas was reversing his car. He was amused to see the hot sweaty couple. Thomas assured them Frankie was on his way to pick Maggie up. With that ends a dramatic ride through 46 degrees C temperature!!!