Wednesday, 28 February 2018

Kampar Tronoh Mines Tualang

It was Wednesday, and it's time for our usual Wednesday Wanderlust ride again. This morning we decided to wander off into our favourite on-road trail through Tronoh Mines, Kampung Timah and Tanjung Tualang.

I waited for Adrian Wong who was coming over from the other end of Kampar new town, and we left for Ganesan's house together via Aston Settlement, old town and past the railway station.


0824hr Cycling to town via Aston Settlement with Adrian Wong
It was my first time cycling with a hydration pack on my back. I bought this second-hand Camelbak hydration pack for only RM30 from Adrian Wong and it was a novelty for me that morning to drink water from a mouth piece attached to the back pack.

On the way I suggested to Adrian that we take the trail behind the railway station, a short sandy stretch on a small hill-slope that gives us a little off-road experience.

0831hr Heading for the sand trail behind the railway station


0832hr Just passed under the railway bridge onto the slope leading to the sand trail


The sand, the sand.




A more demanding stretch that I made through gingerly
It was four minutes of suspense and caution for me, for I was rather inept at balancing and brake control over loose sand and rocky paths, made worse by some gradient in the trail.

We soon made it to Ganesan's house at Jalan Degong a short distance after passing the Government Clinic. By 8.45 am we were already on our way to Tronoh Mines, our first destination of the morning. The weather was cool and the skies were just cloudy enough to shield us from the sun.

0848hr Making our way to Tronoh Mines on a road that we've cycled many times before.


0917hr 13.08km A snap shot of my Raleigh Echo mtb at Tronoh Mines


0919hr Applying Counterpain ointment on my left calf

Ganesan and Adrian arrived a couple of minutes later and I was photographed in an awkward position applying Counterpain ointment on my left calf because it felt like a muscle cramp was setting in.

We decided to cycle into Tronoh Mines village for a short tour, looking at the market place, the stalls, rows of sleepy looking houses and the well-developed Chinese primary school.


0933hr Leaving Tronoh Mines for Kg Timah
After about fifteen minutes of looking around, we resumed our journey towards our second stop of the day: Kampung Timah (Tin Village). The skies were still cloudy and the morning sun has not yet started to shine brightly on our backs.



0942hr Adrian took a photo of Ganesan and me on the way to Kg Timah



0943hr Another photo of us on the way to Kg Timah, Credit: Adrian Wong

We reached the quiet little village of Kampung Timah at 0958hr after cycling a distance of 18.44km from home. It was time for breakfast.


0958hr 18.44km Pretty maids in a row - parked our bikes just outside a row of hawker stalls
Breakfast was brief but relaxing. We were somewhat disappointed that the noodle stalls have almost sold out their food so early in the morning and we had to settle for whatever items they have left. The price was a little high too.

After about half an hour at breakfast, we resumed our journey towards Tanjung Tualang where we did not plan to stop but instead to cycle through towards our homes in Kampar town.


1028hr Mounting up to move on to Tg Tualang

The ride through Tanjung Tualang was quiet and uneventful with the morning sun warming up on our backs. By the time we passed through Tualang, it was already a warm sunny morning.



1033hr The cool shade road to Tg Tualang
After stopping briefly at a row of new shops for Ganesan to buy some lottery tickets, we left Tanjung Tualang at about 11 o'clock on the final 14km stretch towards Kampar town. It was a sunny day.


1100hr Leaving Tg Tualang behind, heading for Kampar


1121hr We have crossed the intersection with Malim Nawar, 8km from Tg Tualang


1122hr Crossing a long bridge over the gently flowing river


1131hr Yay! Kampar West City is within sight
By about half past eleven, Kampar West City, lying on the western fringe of Kampar new town, was in view, followed by the towering Westlake Villas ahead of us. There was a lot of clear blue skies by then, with bright sunshine.


1134hr Climbing the railway bridge, passing Westlake Villas with Ganesan ahead of me

I reached home from this short leisurely ride at 11.48 am after cycling for about 36 km. The cyclometer on my bicycle showed only 32.60 km because I forgot to reset it during the first four km on my way to Ganesan's house with Adrian Wong.

This morning's ride was short and relaxing.


1148hr Reached home

Saturday, 24 February 2018

Kota Baharu Riverside Tronoh Mines Tualang

This morning's ride: is nicknamed, "Here, There, Everywhere". 

Distance: 56.14km
Route (if there was one): Kampar - Kota Bahru - Malim Nawar (breakfast) - to the bridge before Tanjung Tualang - Kinta River bank offroad - Kg Timah - Tg Tualang - Kampar.

We started this ride with only two riders, Ganesan and me, from Westlake Villas on the western fringe of Bandar Baru Kampar at about seven o'clock in the morning. The weather was cool and skies were mostly covered with high-altitude cirro-stratus clouds. It was going to be a fine day.

0715hr Waiting at WestLake Villas with Ganesan
Heading westwards on the new road, we cycled leisurely past the intersection to Malim Nawar and Tanjung Tualang, arriving at Kota Bahru station about an hour later to wait for Fabian Wylie who was coming over from Kopisan Lawan Kuda. We waited at the foot of the slope leading to the bridge over the railway tracks. We have cycled 15.13km.


0815hr Reached Kota Bahru station 15.13km

0815hr Waiting for Fabian at the slope before the railway bridge

It didn't take too long for Fabian to arrive and the three of us then turned around and set off immediately back towards Malim Nawar town. We took the old road through a Malay village called Changkat Belulang.


With Fabian, cycling towards Malim Nawar.


Taking the old road through Changkat Belulang towards Malim Nawar
At last, we arrived at Yen Lee Thong Coffee Shop, which we always refer to as Sai's Shop because the owner, Kenneth Sai is one of our Cycling Community member. It was about nine o'clock and we have travelled 23.32 km. It's breakfast time.


08:59hr Malim Nawar Breakfast at Kenneth Sai shop 23.32km.


Hello!


Waiting for my coffee and toast


After breakfast, all set to cycle towards Tg Tualang

After a quick breakfast we set off in the cool morning sun towards Tanjung Tualang about 8 km away. Crossing the bridge over the Kinta River, we turned left onto the mostly sandy path along the northern riverbank. It was going to be a 7 km off-road section of today's ride with a lot of shade along the way.

09:50hr Just before Tg Tualang, Taking the Kinta River bank to Tronoh Mines 28.95km


The sandy path along the riverbank


At last we reached the end of our riverbank trek

At the end of the riverbank ride, we were supposed to turn around and trek all the way back towards Tanjung Tualang. I suggested that we leave the riverbank trail behind us and move on-road towards Kampung Timah instead. From Kampung Timah, we would take the loop back to Tanjung Tualang town.

Ganesan had a muscle-pull in the legs and I let him apply some Counterpain ointment that I had brought along with me.d
Handing over a tube of Counterpain ointment to Ganesan


Posing for a photo at the junction between Tronoh Mines and Kg Timah


Approaching Kg Timah 10:31hr 37.01km



1031hr At the milestone just before Kg Timah 37.01km

10:56hr 42.89km Fabian and I reached Tg Tualang ahead of Ganesan
After saying goodbye to Fabian Wylie, I waited for Ganesan Raju at the intersection to Kampar-Malim Nawar-Kota Bahru 11.23hr 49.20 km


11.23hr 49.20 km At the intersection to Kampar-Malim Nawar-Kota Bahru


1123hr 49.20km I had time for a selfie. This became my latest fb profile photo

It was 11:43hr  and 52.98km into our ride. We have just passed West City when hypoglycaemia started to set in. My water bottle was empty. Ganesan Raju gave me a salted sweet to bring some relief. 



11:43hr 52.98km After West city, looking at Westlake Villas towards the east

I reached home at noon, with lots of sand gathered from the Kinta Riverbank. 12:05hr 56.14km. It was a pleasant and refreshing ride.


12:05hr 56.14km Reached home



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