Pantai Remis Fun Ride
Video of Ride
Time to time again, we hear about Pantai Remis, most notably the seafood is good here. Even Ipoh folks have choose to come here instead of of Kg. Cina in Sitiawan. I did a recce ride here a few months ago, the course is quite straight forward. When a few riders was suggesting new courses to ride, Pantai Remis popped up. As I have already recce-ed the place, I was delegated the task to lead. To be honest, I rather follow as I am a slow rider, hardly a candidate to lead, especially for fast riders.
The scheduled morning came and I was already in town at 6.30am, travelling from Taiping is actually quite near and near traffic free in the early hours. Hunting for a breakfast place, the rest messaged me and before I can actually suggest anything, they were already seated in a 'coffee shop' having their breakfast.
I rode past and saw their transport and I too stopped there to join them
After breakfast, we all assembled at an empty space near the wet market. The place was big enough to park a hundred cars and also it is just a walk away from our intended lunch venue later after the ride. One rider was late and Fookson requested us to wait. When everyone is accounted for, all 28 of us is ready, we started off. I actually did not anticipate a big group.
I leaded them to the fishing jetties first and we soon came to the edge of town where a new temple was built. Most fishing communities offer their prayers to the 'Mazu' godess. From Kuala Selangor to the north till Tg. Dawai, there must be a temple dedicated to 'Mazu' in every 'Bagans' or chinese fishing villages.
After a photo session, we set off again. We will be going on the main trunk road for a kilometer before we hit the gravel trail to the the lakes and sea shore. The lakes were created when tin mining was also a major activity here.
For those who don't know about the mining landslide in Dec 11, 1993 can click here , https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5XupgwBIBCw This was how one of the bay was created!
They mining activity, as in other places has ceased now and we can see duck rearing activity starting to go in a big way here. Most don't know that exporting duck is a major earner now for Malaysia. But because we locally don't actually consume that much, it is a hidden industry, quite unknown.
The ride is relatively easy but because the weather was quite dry although it was shady today, anglers in their cars were zooming past us, peppering us with the dust. Reaching a small path, I guided them to one of the lake shores. Though not scenic, it was a calming sensation just to be around there. Watching the wind blowing the grass and the silence around, well, maybe except for the boisterous bantering of the riders.
Spent quite some time at this lakeside as many were trying to get the best scenic shots as possible. Parading and posturing with their close friends, selfies, we-fies etc. Now to continue to the seashore. The course although easy, there are one or two high slopes and even after comforting the new riders to go slow, they were too eager to catch up with the others.
We reached the shore in just a few strokes and as usual, being a scenic location, lots and lots of photo sessions here. we were actually near the wharf where LaFarge loads their cement raw materials onto barges here. Although gated , many anglers are seen doing fishing here for groupers and catfish.
See the picture above, that's the cape where we will be going after here. A little real mountain biking needs to be done here.
That we did and actually , this part was more fun as there's real foliage and real trails. There was a trail branching out to the left but that's not for today. As usual, the group was bantering and laughing while the cooler ones just sat by the rocks enjoying the breeze.
We moved back out using the same trail for a while and turn right just before the lake. This trail will leads us straight to the power station in Segari. We reached a junction where the remaining course will be on tarmac now. In Segari, there's also a turtle hatchery center operated by our Fisheries Department. This is our next destination. Also beside the center, there's also one of the spots where moon sightings are taken, usually to pinpoint the date of the Muslim calendar. More like an astronomical center which are scattered over many strategic locations around the peninsular.
I was surprised at the number of visitors here as the last few times I was here, there was hardly 4 cars, even on a Sunday! I didn't go in as I have been there quite a number of times. So, I just waited outside, buying a can of cold ice lemon tea and enjoying it.
I noticed one of the new rider, first time going off-road, has 'butt pains' and this is not good for cyclist. This means if you don't really rest them, you will have to ride in pain. I consulted his husband and told him to lead others from here on wards back to our cars. He will lead the fast riders as fast as he possible could and then drive his pickup to fetch his wife. I will sweep behind her and we will ride back easy!
So, the rest all zoomed off and the distance remaining is 6.3 km to the main trunk road and another 9.3 km to Pantai Remis, totalling another 15.6 km but this will all be tarmac.
Another patient and considerate rider who decided to ride with me and wife, who were sweeping the troubled rider. All four of us were taking it slow to make the ride back as easy as possible for her. When we reached the main road junction, it was only less than half an hour and the pickup truck was still not here. I suggested we wait at the junction but she said she can still ride so we carried on. This was on the main trunk road now and cars and lorries were fast here. It's still another 9.3 km to go.
With another 5 kilometers to go, we saw her husband on the opposite and we stopped for him to do a U-turn. I must commend her on her first offroad. She did about 34 kilometers today! All of us hopped onto the pickup as we don't want to slow down lunch time as it was already noon.
All 4 bikes were loaded on the pickup and we reached Pantai Remis in just 10 minutes. Then to lunch. We were separated into 3 tables and each ordered their own dishes. We choose Ling Song Kee Seafood Restaurant today as it was near our car park. I ordered 5 and when we were almost finished , the next table said the squid was NOT TO BE MISSED ! So, we ordered the squid as well. We did not regret, the squid was really nice ! And so was the other dishes.
There is a special dish here where yam paste is inserted into a pumpkin and steamed for a few hours. I tried reserving the dish the day before but it was not available as the operator said they can't find suitable sized pumpkin.
Food - Good ****
Damage - RM271.00 for 10 person. ****
Place - Ling Song Kee Seafood Restaurant
Address - No. 17, Lorong 1, Taman Pantai Indah, 34900 Pantai
Remis, Perak
GPS - 4.446419, 100.626198
Opening hours - 12.00noon till 3.00pm , 6.00pm till 11.00pm
Phone - 05-6772803
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