Ideal
Travellers' House, K.Bharu Malaysia, 11-03-08
The mini Ardennes
Kota Tinggi to Pantai Cherating
(4 cycling days; 1 rest
day; 346 km; 1159 m)
Kota Tinggi to Mersing (94 km; 575 m)
Mersing to Kuala Rompin (63 km; 231 m)
Kuala Rompin to Pekan (89 km; 52 m)
Pekan to Cherating (100 km; 301 m)
Just one of those lack lustre days, I guess: we both
haven't had much sleep and we can blame the television
programmers for putting Gordon Ramsey's 'Hell's
Kitchen' on from 12 to 1am for that. Furthermore,
the weather is not looking too good. Consequently, after
10 kilometres or so, we find ourselves sheltering under
a dilapidated vegetable stand for the best part of an
hour, wishing that we had just stayed in bed. It's already
11am before we get back on the road and there's still
a considerable amount of kilometres to make before the
day is over.
From here on in, the rain never really
stops spitting at us and the undulating road conditions
quickly wear our legs and our patience out...
Tip of the month: wet boots!
It's all a bit of a common
sense thing really, but seeing as we had
to use this antidote yet again, after the
skies opened up on us in Malaysia, we thought
we'd share it with you too:
Basically, if your shoes are wet, stuff
them full (and I do mean to the brim),
with tightly screwed up balls of newspaper.
The paper absorbs the moisture quite quickly,
so be sure to check them after a few hours
and see if you need to replace the wet with
fresh paper. Furthermore, if they are not
completely dry the next day and you have
to wear them, then line them with a few
pages of neatly folded newspaper. Much better
than wet socks, I can tell you and helps
dry them out as well.
Kota Tinggi (Malaysia) - Ko Phangan (Thailand)
Kilometres: 1253 kilometers and 190 meters
Riding days: 15 riding days
Alti meters: 2271 meters
Weather: warm,
humid and monsoon-like rains through to
perfect blue skies and a sun to completely
swelter under
Best accommodation: Mae Haad
View Resort: for still having basic, affordable
bungalows with beach views and especially
seeing as the rest of the strip has not
only gone up-market but adopted an air of
arrogance that is unjustifiably on par with
the high price tag.
Special thanks to:
Gerry and Shoko, once again, for giving
us their Japan Lonely Planet Guidebook.
Breakdowns:
01: flat tyre (Ali)
04: broken spoke (Ali)
08: broken spoke (Ali)
08: replaced back tyre (Ali)
10: broken spoke (Ali)...a bit worrying really
16: broken spoke x3 (Ali x2 / Son x1)...more than
worrying :-(
16: flat tyre (Son)
18: broken spoke (Ali)...finally worked out that
the tension is up the creek
