12Mar2012. Monday. Motorrad Malaysia All-State 4-Corner Peninsula Ride Day 6
Today is the longest and probably the most tiring segment of this 7 Day Ride. Although the distance is just over 500kms, the type of roads and
the mostly poor surface we plan to ride through will make going fairly tough. For the few of us with pillions,
it will be even harder riding on poor roads while handling tall bikes weighing close to half a tonne.
From our hotel we will ride about 120kms of fantastic roads with sweeping curves until we reach Pengkalan Hulu,
then we will detour into the uncompleted and unsurfaced roads, in keeping with our intent to keep as close to the border as possible.
Our last primary target is the NorthWesternmost Point of Peninsula Malaysia, which we hope to arrive by 1400hrs, then head for Penang.
The normal road distance ( using Highways ) from our hotel to Penang is just 250km.
The distance we will cover will be 500km by going the long way round.....
The Route
Yesterday we were caught in a 5 minute downpour. It was the first time we saw rain since we started.
This morning we woke up to clear skies. Ideal for riding.
Group Photo
Crossing the West Bridge, leaving Pulau Banding. Heading west, the morning sun backlits the view
More curves
After 100km of heavenly roads, we regrouped at Pengkalan Hulu, just 5 km from the Thai Border.
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The road to Baling. We want to get to the iconic old coffee shop for the famous Nasi Lemak and local Coffee brew.
Baling sits at the foot of a huge Limestone outcrop, giving an awesome backdrop to the quaint sleepy town.
Legend has it that there was once a cruel King who had longer than normal canines. Named Raja Bersiong by his subjects,
cruelty drove them to eventually rise against him and they burned his Palace down.
Realising his fangs motivates evil within him, he removed his fangs and threw them away. The place the fangs landed was called Baling.
( Baling means to 'throw' in Malay )
Apart from the myth Baling has a place in Malaysian History;
In 1955 the newly formed Malayan Govt and the British met Chin Peng leader of the Malayan Communist Party.
Tunku Abd Rahman ( Malaysia's 1st Prime Minister after 1957 Independence )
pleaded to the MCP to end violence and enter society with an amnesty offer.
Chin Peng was skeptical of the British, and wants legalisation of the MCP to compete in the anticipated elections.
No agreement was reached, and the Emergency continued with sporadic violent acts by the clandestine MCP until the early 80s.
Baling Town.
The Coffee Shop
Coffee
Nasi Lemak Hujan Panas is the stall recommended by Shaharin Wan. SP Lee was curious and asked why the name Hujan Panas was chosen.
The husband said " I do business come Rain ( Hujan ) or Shine ( Panas ) " I thought that was cool.
Nasi Lemak Hujan Panas
From Baling we headed North towards the Ban Prakop border post, another 25km of great roads. 5 km from the border we turned into the
yet to be completed 'new' old road.
Loose gravel, uphill, not good if you stop at the wrong time
Ladies seems to think its fun.....
The gravel road goes on and on. But there's evidence of some serious roadworks going on, so soon this road will turn into
yet another stretch of Great Malaysian Riding Roads.
There were many short stops
Happy to get thru that bit, but there's more ahead
It was John Dave's first ride with this group. As he was tasked to carry the banner on this ride everyone calls him John Banner.
The dirt road ends, and connects with what we all acknowledged as the best riding roads in Malaysia. This is the Pedu - Muda highway,
which runs just 10km south of Thailand, passes through two lakes. As the connecting entry and exit points are not yet complete, traffic was non-existant,
and everyone had a ball of a time.
The downer; only 45km, too short
The highway ended, and we stopped at this little village stall. Tong Pelu.
Alex challenged the local kids at caroms, and got his ass kicked.
We left the village, and rode along the village tracks
The roads eventually became better
The third and last segment of offroad for today's ride is about 26kms of wide bumpy gravel / broken tarmac road.
All busy turning ABS and traction control OFF.
The Streetfighter made it. Leaky fork, a bit of rattle here n there, but it made it.
From Sintok we joined the highway towards Apex No4. As we entered Perlis, we were met by 5 local bikers who joined us to Bukit Putih.
I was pretty excited to reach this point, our 4th Apex.
The Border Outpost
We politely asked the Border Guard to allow us into the Barricade Zone for some photos. The nice Gentleman with Minesh. Background is the
barb wired concrete barrier that separates Thailand from Malaysia.
Maznah and John Dave at the fence separating Malaysia from Thailand.
Group Photo
One final "Me & My Wife" pix before we leave
Now for Lunch. We will RV with Capt Farid, a GS & RT rider who also flies the Boeing 777 for the National Carrier.
He's waiting at the Restaurant.
After Lunch we had an uneventful ride to Penang, 160km south.
We chose to use the ferry instead of the Bridge when crossing over to Penang
The Hotel was a short 6 km ride from the Ferry Landing
Pleasant surprise for my wife Gerry. Flowers for her birthday.
In the room, overlooking the Straits of Malacca
Dinner was mogul food. Club arranged transport.
The usual merry-making followed till late. For the Penang leg, Janna, Justine, Raj, Hatta, Haris & Mona all rode up to join us on the last leg.
Tomorrow will be an easy ride, with just a bit of gravel through plantations. We anticipate passing through populated areas as we make our
way to the coastal road. The traffic should be light when we get there. A must stop destination is Teluk Intan.
Then Home.
The Route Done Today.
