Let's Cycle 2 - Day 7 - The Final Destination Penang

We have come to the final day of the tour it was Day 7 and a short ride from Bukit Mertajam to Penang Island. Our last early morning preparation which we have been doing it for the last 7 days and I am going to miss this routine.

Immediately after breakfast we rolled out onto the road for Penang Island.

Climbing the elevated road on a Sunday morning in Province Wellesley.

There were so many of us on the ferry and it was something different from the rest of my ferry rides... I don't get so many cycling buddies together in a ferry and the feeling was good.

There were cycling groups from Butterworth & Penang Island waiting for us to ride together and complete the final stage of the tour. It was definitely an awesome feeling with the support shown by these friends. You are the best!

Chew Jetty for a shoot & makan.

One of the wall murals we visited that morning.

The crew members were on two wheels too catching up with us. They are good and truly professionals and I am sure they enjoyed themselves during this time.

A visit to Penang Protestant Cemetary on Northam Road. I hope Sir Francis Light do not mind our presence. 

The Yellow Man of Penang and Rickman.

The hosts of Let's Cycle2 wanted to buy a harmonica for a special guest from Ipoh to perform at the final event. We headed to Penang Paragon Mall at Gurney Drive and had lunch at TGIF. The management of Paragon wasn't happy with our bike invasion but after a short negotiation we were allowed to parked our bicycles next to place we were having lunch.

Straits Quay here we were, we have eventually arrived at the final destination and it was a great closing ceremony event for the tour. I was indeed very happy to be part of it and also feeling sad that it has to end so fast. Til then I hope to venture into future touring.

Some of the photos we captured during the tour were on display at the mall and everything seems to happened so fast. 

Peter Choi from the Jelapang Old Folk Home was there too.... nice seeing him again.

And our favourite Ah Gor from Jelapang showing off his self learned talent up the stage.

On behalf of the 3 seniors we wish to thank Ser Ping & Lu See for taking care of us during the tour. All the best to you.

Thank you to Baki, Rickman, Fenn & Uncle and not forgetting the members of the production team it has been a wonderful time during the last 7 days. The total distance covered for the entire tour was 450km. All the best and till then I hope to see you again in the future.

A night stay at Ryokan Muntri.

Ryokan Muntri is a nice place to stay we had this dormitory for 5 of us and it cost us about 40 Ringgit each for the night. The place is neat and clean.

We decided to pay a visit to Andy Tham of PG Cycle Spot before we head back to the hotel and prepare ourselves ready to cycle to Butterworth Bus Terminal.

Bye bye Penang we shall be back this August for CFAL 7.

The journey back to Kuala Lumpur from Butterworth by a bus, there wasn't any problem at all loading our folded bicycles into the bus. It was a 4 hours plus bus ride which was ideal for us to rest ourselves before reaching Kuala Lumpur.

Every good thing must come to an end immediately upon arriving at Puduraya we went over to Chinatown for our dinner before we parted our separate ways back to home sweet home.

Let's Cycle 2 - Day 4 Ipoh - Sauk

So far this was the best accommodation we had in the tour and thanks to MH Hotel for their support. MH Hotel Ipoh is located in Ipoh Garden. After a good breakfast in the hotel we were set to roll again and this time to an old folk home at Jelapang.

It was a hot day and the first day of fasting in this month of Ramadan.

We passed by The Church of Our lady of Lourdes as we left Ipoh.

Yes this way, we will follow you Rickman.

Poor Baki no drink for him only chatting on the phone on a super hot day.

Here you are our first visit of the day and we will be spending a couple of hours at this home.

After 15km under the hot sun we reached Jelapang Old Folk Home.

Peter Choi, the main man at this home was waiting for us.

The folks at this home with their own stories as how they ended up at this place. A place where we might be here if our loved ones isn't around to take care of us.

No gas cooking is allowed at this home, mostly cooking with charcoal. I was glad to be able my charcoal cooked rice it has been a long time since the last I had one.

Friends from Penang came and performed a couple of oldies for the folks. Thank you young musicians.

The attentive audiences enjoying the performance while waiting for lunch to be served. Uncle Lim, Fenn & Rickman were at the kitchen preparing the food. Uncle Lim not only good in cycling he can cook too!

Of course we have our popular hosts entertaining at the stage.

Peter Choi, the Secretary is doing a good job and I believe he can provide the best for this place, till then Peter we will see you in Penang. The time was about 4.00pm when we left this Old Folk Home and the journey was not going to be easy to Sauk.

Slowly and steadily we pedalled under the hot condition, Sauk is on the way to Gerik and is a detour from our journey to Penang. We shall be there.

It was a tough day for Baki with the scorching heat and he was fasting, we could see how he fight through this day. My salute to him.

Leaving the neighbourhood of Sungai Siput.

At our 49th kilometre we took this overhead  ramp over the railway lines.

And after 58km of cycling to we reached this bridge. Victoria Bridge is a single track railway truss bridge located in Karai, in the state of Perak, Malaysia. It is one of the oldest railway bridges in the country, having been constructed between December 1897 and March 1900 by the Perak Government Railway as a crossing over the Perak River to serve the local tin mining industry. The bridge was officially opened by the late Almarhum SultanIdris Shah I of Perak and the British's Federated Malay States Residents-General Sir Frank Swettenham.

The Victoria Bridge remained in use until 2002, when a wider concrete girder bridge built parallel to the old bridge was completed to take over the role of handling rail traffic. The new bridge is significantly wider, with room to support a second track, but in its early life it was only required to handle a single track until double tracking and electrification was conducted between the Ipoh-Padang Besar line during the late-2000s and early-2010s.

While the old bridge is closed to rail traffic, its adjoining footbridge is still publicly open to motorcycles and pedestrians. Attempts have been made to retain the structure, with occasional maintenance having been conducted on it.

This was the longest day of the tour it was already dark when we were on Baling - Kuala Kangsar road. I just couldn't wait to see any sign showing Suak and it took a long while to see it.

At last after pedalling 76km we finally reached Kamo Home 容县七号 at Sauk. This place reminded me of my grandfather home in Karangan, Kedah, deep in a rubber plantation there was this wooden house where my late dad and his siblings once stayed.

A brief chat with Kamo and a quick cold shower before we went over to a restaurant before it is closed. Everyone was hungry and dinner was on everyone's mind.

The dinner was delicious especially the steamed fish, apparently one must try the fresh water fish in this region.

The four male riders were put on the attic and there was only natural ventilation available, fortunately it got cooler as the night passes by.

Good night and sleep tight there wouldn't be any uploading of photos as the internet is weak at Sauk.

The longest day covering a distance of 76km with one of the most difficult elevations in this tour.