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

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

Long ride to Tapah-Chenderiang-Sahom

It's Wednesday, 31st January 2018, and we're embarking on a long ride on this last day of January.

Our aim was to cycle on a loop from Kampar through Air Kuning, Banir, Tapah, followed by two small hill climbs through Chenderiang, down to the foothills at Sahom and Sungei Siput South before proceeding northwards to Gopeng then southwards back to Kampar via Kopisan Lawan Kuda and Kota Bahru.

0704hr Ganesans house 4.12km

There were four of us in this ride: me, Ganesan the event host, Adrian Wong and Thaneswaran. We set off from Ganesan's house in Jalan Degong Kampar shortly after seven o'clock and headed west towards Mambang Diawan.

0708hr Leaving Ganesans house 02 4.12km

0726hr Towards Mambang Diawan

The ride to Mambang Diawan was easy and quiet with some swift but occasional traffic passing us along the way.

0727hr Towards Mambang Diawan 02

Just before Mambang Diawan village, I came across a Shell service station and decided to stop to inflate by bicycle tyres. I had been busy recently and didn't find time to bring the bicycle out to the petrol station in Kampar new town to pump it up to standard pressure of 50 psi.

0730hr Inflated tyres at Mambang Diawan Shell

We continued our journey, passed through the main road of Mambang Diawan, and by about a quarter to eight we were approaching Air Kuning town.

0742hr Towards Air Kuning

It was about eight o'clock when we arrived at our usual breakfast stop: a road-side shop in Air Kuning, where I had my second cup of black coffee and a small bean paste dumpling.

0809hr Breakfast at Air Kuning 02 15.83km

0813hr Breakfast in Air Kuning 15.83km

At 8:18 am, we resumed our ride towards Banir Village, on our way to Tapah. It was a straight and quiet road most of the way, with gentle gradients. The cool morning weather with cloudy skies made it a pleasant ride.

0823hr Road to Banir

0829hr Road to Banir 02

0851hr Banir almost there

Banir came and went with stopping at about nine o'clock. It was about 26km into our ride and we cruised onwards to Tapah.

0902hr Just passing Banir 26.01km

0904hr Junction Banir to Tapah After 26km

0910hr Reached Banir - Tapah junction 26.01km

There's a new park on the main approach to Tapah town that I haven't visited before. It's called Dataran Amanjaya Temoh, named after Temoh, a small town nearby. Adrian and I decided to detour into the park and look around. There were a few families and young people around, some walking, some jogging and some just sitting down looking at their children run around in the park.

0909hr Drop by Dataran Amanjaya Temoh

After exploring Dataran Amanjaya Temoh briefly, we resumed our journey southwards, arriving on the northern fringe of Tapah town at about 9:45 am. We have cycled a distance of 34.61km.

0934hr Road to Tapah 02

0945hr Reached Tapah 34.61km

It was Thaipusam day this 31st January, and the Hindu temple near the junction of the road leading uphill was crowded with people. There were many stalls selling souvenirs and religious items and there was loud religious music too. It was indeed a joyous occasion.

We started our first hill-climb of the morning at about 9:51 am, heading for Chenderiang town on the other side.

0951hr Climbing the hill behind the Hindu temple in Tapah

0952hr Climbing the hill behind Tapah

We reached the peak and began our downhill roll at about a quarter past ten. It was 40.06km into our journey and we were eagerly looking forward to our ice-kacang break in Chenderiang town ahead.

1022hr The happy downhill roll towards Chenderiang town

We arrived in Chenderiang about half an hour later at 1035hr

1034hr Yay! The ice-water stall is just a stone throw ahead.

1034hr This has become our customary way of announcing our arrival in Chenderiang

Tucking in to our refreshments eagerly

At the ice and fruit stall, just dismounted and looking rather dazed from the gravity of the earth.

This shot was taken before the fruits and drinks arrived

We finished our refreshments resumed our ride at a quarter past eleven, moving onwards to our second hill-climb of the morning.

1114hr Chenderiang hill and beyond, here we come

After having climbed this small hill for about half a dozen times, I didn't expect it to be difficult. I underestimated my level of fitness this time, for I soon became somewhat fatigued and had to take a break under a bridge, with the North-South Highway and its roaring vehicles above me.

It was just about five km from the Lata Kinjang waterfalls junction, and a couple of km more to the peak. We had covered 51.47km so far.

1154hr Rest stop under the NS Highway, 51.47km

1237hr The climb continues

At about one o'clock, we reached Sahom village at the foothills. It was 61.90 km of our ride.

1256hr At Sahom. Taking a break under the shade of some trees.

A momento from our stop at Sahom

We carried on our ride towards Kuala Dipang, with its junction leading to the main trunk road. It was very hot and I was getting both thirsty and tired.

1314hr Approaching the Kuala Dipang junction with the trunk road from Kampar

"Getting very hot now, tired?" my wife asked in a message on my phone.

It was 1327hr and I had almost made up my mind to return to Kampar instead of carrying on the journey with the rest to Gopeng and beyond.

"Yea hot", I replied from the road side, "Reached K. Dipang junction. Coming back on my own by main road to Bandar Baru. Not joining them to Gopeng and beyond."

That was at the 67.87km point. I broke away from Ganesan, Adrian and Thanes to head southwards back to Kampar town while they continued north to meet up with Fabian and Lee Lean Wylie in Gopeng in their quest to complete their 100 km target.

It was 75km, taking into account my 4 km unrecorded ride to Ganesan's house.

Arriving home at about 2.40 pm, it was a 75km ride for this final day of January 2018. My legs were quite well tanned and I nicknamed today's ride, "The Sun Tan Ride".