The Great Outdoors

Taman Negara Dragon Slaying. ( Part 2 )

This now becomes the first full regroup point. Around food! With all riders accounted for except two who should be already in Kuala Tahan. Once everyone is satisfied resting, we rode off to the left. Almost immediately, we were greeted with big holes on the tarmac! Also the major dragon backs starts almost at the same time. The dragonbacks here are more intense, plus the sun at high noon, it was gruelling! 

Big holes on the road!

The sun was really hot now and the it gets more tiring from here onwards. we rode one dragonback one after another in many, many succession. I have to warn another fellow rider who brought his son for the ride to be extra cautious on this road as there are timber lorries plying the road. I must commend on the small kid for finishing the ride without any problems. Cikgu was at the rear sweeping and a few other experienced riders were at the back as well.

View from one of the bridges.

About 8 kilometers down, we saw a small row of shop and within there was a small sundry shop and THREE eateries! We are stopped there without any instruction to do so. The tummy now rules the actions we do. We all sat at whatever places we can find almost occupying all the seats of the 3 shops. A cold 100plus is now a bonus! We rested for quite a while here. Actually a few has shot off very far ahead already. One had been called back via handphone by her group and when she turned up, she was complaining about how much hills that she had covered.

Later, very sluggishly, we all stood up and went for our bikes and started off. We rode slowly but surely as we don't want to make the ride unpleasant as the main objective of our ride is to ENJOY nature and the sun is part of nature too, right?

It's a long long road!

Our splintered group, splintered even more. I thought we should at least group up and so I headed into the shade of the plantation. We bantered around and chatted for quite some time here. All was accounted for except two riders. We waited over an hour replenishing our body with liquid and I had a few dates. My bananas are all consumed already.

A deserving rest while waiting for the back markers.

Then we decided that we can't wait anymore we carried on over another few dragon backs and it goes on and on and on. It was hot and we were doing an average of 16 km/h only with the climbs. As we were nearing the airport, on the right side, I saw a folding bike. Then I saw a few more and then many more. The front group was resting here, waiting for regrouping. At last , I see some responsibility among riders. We are still 8 kilometers away from our final destination.

More dragonbacks!

After another hour or more, we were still waiting for the last 2 riders. One rider then borrowed a motorcycle and rode off with another riding pillion to back track, looking for the last markers. We waited for quite a while before the motorcycle showed up with the last rider riding pillion. They have traded places. We then found out that after the last rest, he suffered cramps, one leg after the other one and he was pushing his bike uphill rather than riding and rolling down the slopes. He did that for the past 8 kilometers!

The first group who made reservations with Rainbow guesthouse made off first as the guesthouse was getting desperate.  Another group called me on the phone telling me they have already checked in. The motorcycle went off again now with another fresh rider meet the other 2 riders there and eventually they all showed up. We thanked the motorcycle owner and let the 2 riders take a full rest. It was already past 3.00pm now. It doesn't hurt to be late than later anyway.

At last!

Finally the last group made off to finish the last leg of about 8 kilometers. This is the hardest of the whole journey as there are 3 major dragon backs here with the last one the hardest. Slowly inching our way, me and Lilian then reached the last peak and waited for the rest. Another rider suffered a cramp here and sat down to rest. After seeing all the riders, I zoomed down the last slope and waited at the junction to our hotel. we stayed at the Xcape Hotel which was formerly the Woodlands Hotel.

Finally, we can confirmed all are checked in and my plans for the riders to ride to the last point near the jetty to have a group photo has been scuttled! Now we won't get a shot with the bikes. After reminding them to meet at the lobby at 7.00pm for dinner, me and company then went for a deserving shower and rest!

For Part 3 of blog, click here!