 |
| River tubing at Patro's |
 |
| Sunrise view from West Temenggor Bridge |
 |
| It can be a harrowing experience as most parts of the East West Highway comes with zero road shoulders @ West Temenggor Bridge |
 |
| First bridge @ 8.13 am |
 |
| The troopers |
 |
| Misty |
 |
| Roads that cut through mountains |
 |
| View of one of the twin peaks |
 |
| or lack of it ! |
 |
| Cooling down at Patro's |
We felt cheated again ! Rolling downhill from our resort at 7.50 am, we reached flat ground in just 500 m !! Then, as soon we crossed West Temenggor Lake Bridge, our ascent began and continued for close to 10 km !!! Whoever said it is downhill all the way from Rest Stop Titiwangsa definitely have a nose as long as Pinochio's !!!!!!!
Midway through this first climb, a 4WD overtook us. Honking several times as it passed, the red MTB in the trunk helps to reveal the identities of the driver and passenger...Musa and LC were on their way to Gerik !
We could only reflect on our own stupidity as we watched them drive away with their show of support disappearing in a cloud of exhaust fumes. The extra baggage we were carrying could have followed LC to Gerik where she will meet Simon! Instead, everyone were panting up the hill on full loads!
LC, who is recovering from a fractured elbow had chosen to sit out the tour after Jeli. Poor girl had undergone surgery in July to place metal plates on her elbow following a bike accident and a removal surgery in November when the pins holding the plates came undone. Losing her navigator role to Jasmine who heads home with Kelvin today, she has no choice but to jump ship.
 |
| It was still misty at 9 am, during our first climb. This grassy patch must be where Claudine picked up a "stowaway"... |
 |
| ...which left a punctured hole between her toes. She only found out after it had fully fed and dropped off... |
 |
| ...when we stopped for brekkie at the junction to Bandariang! Her sandals felt sticky...with blood!!! |
After close to 10 km of gradual but continuous climbs, our ride eases into descents which took us all the way to Petron Bandariang. Convinced there were more eateries ahead, we took a short toilet break before riding 1 km onwards to a delightful roti canai stall, located at the junction to the town.
Once we have downed our second breakfast for the day, we rode no more than 5 km when a fruit stall with dangling bananas distracted us! This energy boost proved useful as we will soon begin our second set of climbs...
 |
| Close to Kem Kuala Rui. Note the twin peaks that kept us in awe |
 |
| Close to Kem Kuala Rui |
 |
| The river below the bridge |
Right after the turnoff to Gerik, our second challenge begins! Initially flat, we breezed past Restoran Kari Kepala Ikan Salim, strategically located at the crossroad. This was our intended rendezvous with Cindy and Uncle Meng but the duo had decided to ride ahead, saving on sunscreens and sunburns!
There were a series of bridges over rivers and ravines before we finally reached Hentian R&R Bintang Hijau Sg Rui. This second climb was not as nasty but with our shadows reduced to a small black patch right below us, the debate in the head becomes more and more audible ! STOPPPP !!! RESTTTT !!! LOOK AT THE TWIN PEAKS !!! TAKE MORE PHOTOS !!!
 |
| Photo taken by Mindy right before she was bitten by fire ant |
During one of our many stops, poor Amy and Mindy were bitten by fire ants that dropped down from a tree! One even went into Mindy's helmet !!
We were travelling through the Central Forest Spine. Gone were our beginners luck for all we saw were signboards with no real sightings.
 |
| Cosy rest stop with hanging plants. The owner filled our water bottles with ice and boiled water for free! |
 |
| Our fully loaded bikes with the toilets in the background |
 |
| 4WD and timber trucks a plenty in this region |
We arrived at Hentian R&R Bintang Hijau Sg Rui close to 2 pm. As this is the only food and toilet stop after Restoran Kari Kepala Ikan Salim, it is a popular stop amongst travelers especially lorry drivers. Disturbingly, there were at least 3 timber trucks loaded with "fallen" trees when we were there; a wild wild west experience of sand storms stirred up by the menacing vehicles.
 |
| Bridge over river not far from Hentian R&R Bintang Hijau Sg Rui |
 |
| Scorching afternoon sun at 1.30 pm |
Meanwhile, Claudine who had been looking up Google Maps for the last 2 days had been harbouring hopes of finding a picnic spot along the route. She saw rivers but no official camping grounds or picnic spots. As we have been riding close to rivers, she was convinced there must be a place for recreational activities nearby.
Striking up conversations with the workers and patrons at the R&R, she found to her delight, 2 such places within a stone's throw away. The first is said to be a waterfall with a 20 minute downhill track. The entrance to this place is on the left, right after the bridge and 50 m away from the R&R. The other, offered easier access...
Patro (Perak Agrotourism Resort Sg Rui), located right behind the R&R, offers camping grounds and chalet rentals with recreational activities. The main river flow is diverted to form a man made island with a bridge connecting to mainland. As the water flows in a circle around the island, it is perfect for river tubing and rafting.
It was almost 4 pm when we left Patro. We were in no hurry to get to Bunga Raya Guest House, our stay for the night, knowing the village has nothing much to offer.
The next and last peak marks the border between Perak and Kedah. Rolling down with ease into Kedah, our 3rd state for this tour, we enjoyed the breathtaking views of hill ranges set in multitude layers and colours.
Meanwhile, panting uphill in the opposite direction was a lone tourer. Wishing us a happy time in Penang, he left us feeling puzzled. We soon pieced everything together....
Kenny, who was stranded in Gerik due to bike issues had abandoned his tour with his team members. Picked up by our Gerik trios, he had decided to ride to Kupang with Cindy and Uncle Meng, returning the same day!
Even on a downhill glide, our stops were frequent. There were so many sights to be captured on camera! Adding in a potty break at BHP and a roadside pisang goreng stop, we arrived at Bunga Raya Guesthouse when dusk was approaching.
That night, after a short ride out to dinner, we returned to our rooms for some shut eye. With the house located right next to the road, it was really difficult to snuff out which explains why everyone were ready even before dawn the next day!
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Patro
