CFAL8 - Cycle Round Penang Island for the Fifth Time

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 clip of our ride on a beautiful Sunday.