7.30am - we were flagged off by Ahbee. I thought I would not be able to take part in the event as my right foot was hurting the night before and has actually given up. Thanks to Kuan Sum for rescuing me with 2 small magical black pills, Ahbee called them the bowling balls. Initially I was skeptical about it but it really works the following morning, The pain has disappeared and I can cycle. I then told Jo to go for the ride.
7:55am - Tun Dr Lim Chong Eu Expressway. We did not start from the official starting point at Youth Park instead we started from our hostel at Muntri Street. We joined the crowd at Penang Road.
8:10am - We were at Hammer Bay roundabout.
The weather was excellent and as usual there were lots of cyclists in this prestigious event clad with red jersey.
8:50am - Meetup with the group from Kuching at Teluk Kumbar Petron petrol station (GPS : 5.283029, 100.257437) after having cycled 22km.
9:10am - Still along at Jalan Teluk Kumbar getting prepared mentally for the first ascend.
9:30am - Jo experiencing the first climb with two stops. The first climb is less than 3km on an elevated highway Route 6.
9:56am - Kg. Genting with a lovely kampong setting, fresh air and birds chirping.
10:00am - Drink station at Sekolah Menengah Tan Sri Awang Had Salleh, Pulau Betong (GPS : 5.307538, 100.202804) after a distance of 37km.
Outside the school Jo had an iced pack from the St John Ambulance to ease her leg muscle.
10:38am - 42km we were at the neighbourhood of Sg. Rusa. 50% of the ride completed.
10:50am - we stopped at a small town for noodle, most of the food were sold out we had to take instant noodle Wan Tan Mee. We met Johnny here.
A photo with friends from Kuala Lumpur.
11:09am - After the meal we continued the ride with an immediate climb and the most difficult one. Met more friends from KL as we moved on.
11:19am - Jo did pretty well climbing this 5km stretch though with a few brief stops.
11:30am - Slow and steady we seemed to be able to conquer it.
Thanks to MH Chye for this photo during this climb.
11:36am - I quite like this climb with big shading trees, lively atmosphere with fruit stalls and a good place to rest too.
We stopped at this corner to have a good panoramic from the top.
12:00 noon - we were at Teluk Bahang Dam having covered a distance of 57km.
1:17pm - High 5 - Campaign for a lane at Jalan Tanjung Bungah @ 72km distance.
1:44pm - We got ourselves a bit wet and stopped twice because of the rain.
1:52pm - at 79km we were at the vicinity of Youth park and heading for our medals & tee shirts.
Finally arriving at the finishing line.
1:56pm - One for the record and a great achievement indeed. I am glad to be her sweeper.
As we rode out off Youth Park a sweeper truck was seen still busy ferrying cyclists back to the finishing line. But our finishing line wasn't here, we have to continue and complete it at Muntri Street which we eventually did it.
The design for 2016.
We took more than 6 hours to complete the route, I am sure Jo will remember this day and I am proud that she was managed to do it.
A total of 114 people participated in this long awaited event coming from Thailand, Philippines, Singapore and the various states in the country as far as Kuching, Sarawak. Indeed the respond was good. Let's ride Brompton.
Many of us from Kuala Lumpur stayed at Ryokan Muntri and were ready to go in the early morning.
The meeting place was at Tanjung City Marina at Weld Quay Road. The leader gave a briefing and followed by a group photo session.
We then headed to Beach Street for a breakfast before we cross over to the mainland.
A visit to Sri Weld Food Court at Beach Street for the popular Ali Nasi Lemak Bungkus.
Ali Nasi Lemak is served in pack form with banana leave and its has a variety of toppings for you to select. The rice grains are distinguishedly loose and I like it very much.
Should you want to pay a visit to check out this nasi lemak, this might be a help to you. It is located at this point GPS: 5.417881, 100.342722
One hundred over folding bicycles appearing at Penang Ferry Terminal and boarding a ferry to Butterworth. I guess it was a rare sight at the terminal.
The ferry terminal is next to Butterworth Outer Ring Road and our direction was north bound heading to Sg Dua or Tasek Gelugur.
We were welcomed by a serene kampong road quiet and lovely to cycle after passing by Sg. Dua town.
We have arrived at Kg. Guar Petai covered paddy fields and Malay houses.
At the junction is the road leading to a brick factory. A regroup was called before everyone continue into the site.
The route passes a clay brick factory, it was wet and at time we have to pushed our bikes.
As I were cycling along this earth road I recalled the days when I was in Padang Serai where the exposed ground is of red coloured earth and Padang Serai is not too far from this beautiful terrain.
It was less 2km from the junction we found ourselves hiking into higher levels, taking photos and obviously having a great time.
Some refer this place as Guar Perahu as it is also near Taman Guar Perahu.
The crafted landscape terrain was a result of excavation of clay material over the years for brick making. Some also referred as Bukit Tok Alang.
An ideal view from higher level and amazingly it is such a gem at a place close to where I was born and it's only lately I knew of it. Thank you once again Brompton Penang for organising this ride.
Coming back from Kg Guar Petai was a bit disorganised some were fast and some were slow. Some used the side entrance of the Ferry Terminal and some went up the ramp for the ferry tickets. Nevertheless it was another discovery of how to cycle into the jetty and most importantly all were safe and enjoyed the visit. Jo waiting for an unguarded train to cross before arriving at the jetty.
A photo with Larry (lead rider) and friends from Thailand.
The route we took for the day for an amazing visit.
