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.
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| 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.
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| 0831hr Heading for the sand trail behind the railway station |
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| 0832hr Just passed under the railway bridge onto the slope leading to the sand trail |
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| The sand, the sand. |
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| 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.
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| 0848hr Making our way to Tronoh Mines on a road that we've cycled many times before. |
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| 0917hr 13.08km A snap shot of my Raleigh Echo mtb at Tronoh Mines |
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| 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.
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| 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.
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| 0942hr Adrian took a photo of Ganesan and me on the way to Kg Timah |
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| 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.
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| 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.
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| 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.
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| 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.
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| 1100hr Leaving Tg Tualang behind, heading for Kampar |
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| 1121hr We have crossed the intersection with Malim Nawar, 8km from Tg Tualang |
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| 1122hr Crossing a long bridge over the gently flowing river |
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| 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.
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| 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.
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| 1148hr Reached home |
