Penang Hill

Date: 31/1/2010
Riders: Ang, Freddy & Ong
Route: BJI -> Paya Terubong -> AIr Itam -> Hye Keat Estate -> Penang Hill -> Botanical Garden -> Bukit Gantong -> Riffle Range -> Farlim -> Paya Terubong -> BJI
Duration -> 5hrs

Me and Ang ride from BJI at 7:30am to meet up with Ong at Paya Terubong Shell and proceed to ride up Hye Keat Estate. Initial ride was not that tough but gets tougher as we ascend further up. Me & Ong have to push our bikes quite a distance before reaching Tai Soo Yea Temple. Took a rest before deciding to ascend up to Penang Hill via the middle station.
Before reaching the middle station, there was a steep descend by the flower farm. It was too intimidating for us so we decide to push down instead of riding down.
On reaching the middle station, we have to carry our bikes some distance to cross over the middle station before ascending up Penang hill.

Again, me & Ong have to do some hiking with our bikes as we are too tired to ride up slopes.
Well, actually, we did a lot of hiking. But the reward was satisfying. We finally reach Penang Hill and the scenery was awesome.
We rode around Canopy Walk and took some photos before stopping for lunch. The Ice kacang and Nasi Lemak tasted especially delicious when we are hungry.

Did some sight seeing around Penang Hill before descending down via the tar road to Botanical Garden and headed back for home.

As we were looking for shortcuts thru Taman Jesselton we ended up at a dead end junction with some very old trees. Since we were already there, we thought we look for some opening near the dead end that we can squeeze through.
As we approach the locked gate, we heard cracking noises. We thought there were some small branches falling down as the tree looked really old. Then the sound gets louder and I started turning around. As we were turning around, there was a very big cracking sound and a big branch came falling down right in front of us. We quickly bolted out of there.
Thank goodness we were wary of the cracking sound and turned back. Otherwise, I might not be typing this update now.......or maybe doing it in the hospital......
Too bad we did not stop to take some pictures...or maybe, we were too scared....anyway, we live to ride another day.

Relax ride for new members

Date: 30/1/2010
Riders: Chng, Freddy, Ang, Mei Ling, Kevin, Ong, Jason, Wai Jia & Ah Aun
Route: BJI -> Vistana -> Bayan Lepas -> Teluk Kumbar -> Balik Pulau -> Jalan Tun Sardon -> BJI
Distance -> 36km
Duration -> 4.5hrs

Three more new members joined us for a relax ride to Balik Pulau. They are Kevin, Jason and Ah Aun. Kevin joined us for the first time although he has been cycling for some time. Our cycling group is getting bigger & bigger. Todays ride is the biggest group ride we had with a total of 9 riders.

Ong ride from Paya Terubong to join us at Parkview before setting out at 7am. We they proceed to Vistana to meet up with Jason, Wai Jia and Ah Aun.

It was a medium to slow paced ride as we have new members cycling long distance for the first time. From Vistana, we proceed to Balik Pulau via Bayan Lepas and Teluk Kumbar with few stops in between.

Took our breakfast at Rapid Bus Station in Balik Pulau before proceeding to ascend Tun Sardon while Ong, Ang and Kevin took the offroad up Bukit Nonya and meet up at the View.
Initial plan was to stop by Pantai Pasir Panjang but decided not to as we are behind time schedule.

As usual, ascending Tun Sardon and Bukit Nonya is not an easy task especially for beginners. With some bike pushing for some members, we all finally meet up at the View.

Although this is only the second time Wai Jia ride with us on the same route, I noticed that she has improved tremendously. I'm sure must be due to some serious weekday practices around Equatorial area. I better put in more practices too or she will beat me soon......hahaha....keep it up, Wai Jia!

Took a rest and a group photo at the View before descending Tun Sardon and head home.