28th April - Day 0
I have been in JB for outstation work since Tuesday (26/4) and i was hoping to get back to KL in time to prepare for the long haul of the Interstate. I tried my very best to get back by Wednesday, giving me a 1 day break to rest. But to my disappointment (and worst fears) I had to come back today, at night some more. I finished site work at 7pm. Driving my old Datsun 4 hours back to KL, i will reach only earliest by 11pm, with insufficient sleep. Plus I didnt eat the whole day due to the busy work load.
At 7pm i left JB. Somehow I had a weird feeling since my trip down to JB. For some odd reason, I didnt feel good about the return trip if I am going back on a Thursday nite, just mere hours before IS11.
For 2 hours on the PLUS highway I was driving steadily. Its around 9pm, I had just passed Yong Peng. I still have 190km to go. Only roughly 110km traveled. I usually drive with the radio off. Its coz I am really lazy to tune the channels while driving. And because of this, I am so familiar with the sounds of the car while driving. Every squeak, whistle, hum, etc. But today..........I heard a different sound. Something distinct. Which was persistent, consistently present for a long time. A weird tune of the car which i have never heard before. I paid more attention to this new sound, a rare hum.
As i drove longer, the hum got steadily louder, more pronounced, saying that SOMETHING IS NOT RIGHT with the car. Tires? I hope so coz i can change to the spare. Engine? Dear Lord please not! Im in the middle of the highway at night with no where near any bail out spots.
But the noise forced me to stop the car by the highway side. I had to take a look. With the engine running, emergency lights on, I got out and took a look. Tires were fine. But the sound, to my horror came from under the hood. I popped open the hood. With my flashlight i shone on the engine. And what caught my eyes made my heart sank. The radiator fan was wobbling. I immediately shut off the engine. With my hands, i could shake the fan. To my logical sense, the bearings must have worn down. There were bits of metal behind the fan shaft.
My worst nightmare. Im on the open highway, hundreds of KM from the start point Raub, which I must be there by 5.30am latest. Clock is ticking. I have just 8 hours left. My mind now is in desperation and deep prayer : "CAN I GET OUT IN TIME?"
I called dad and cousin about my predicament. I was advised to drive slow and see if by some magical force, be able to make it back to KL slowly. I started the car, the noise of the wobbling fan is now much louder. And i drove for just 1km, the noise was unbearably loud. I could feel some of the vibrations from the fan. I had to stop. And when i stopped, i got out again, looked under the hood with the flash light. Now to my further horror. Water had leaked out from the water pump. The bearings were visibly gone. And not the fan is in no way able to turn anymore. So i thought " This is it. I am not making it this year. Cousin Lee will have to go without me. I shall be stuck here till God knows when.". All the worst possibilities ran through my mind. And I was almost certainly sure I cannot make it. With that aside, my next mission was just to get back to KL no matter how.
9.45pm now. Called dad to tell the bad news. He was also shocked i suppose. Just a couple of weeks ago the Saga was caught in a flood. Now the Datsun and me are stranded. In the middle of the dark-far-away-from KL-North-South Highway. Talk about drama eh? There was nothing much i can do. My last resort was the PLUS Ronda assistance. I called and to swift response, a patrol truck came in 20 minutes. I was glad to see help. But now there is a new predicament. The truck is towing another car. It cannot tow two cars. My car had to wait to be towed. I constantly kept in contact with dad about the situation.
I was given this choice : Either i sit there waiting till the come next round (Which is God knows when) or I leave the car by the highway side, and follow them where they will drop me off at the next toll exit, Pagoh (some 30km away). Its 10+pm. I had to think quick what to do. Finally. i just grabbed whatever essentials i have (clothing, personal stuff etc). I left all work material and tools in the car. Locked it up. And hopped on the truck. I told Seong not to wait for me. Go to IS without me if I cant make it. And he replied.....
"I wont go without you...."
I prayed that i will go with him. But it all depends on how soon i can get back. I have some bit of hope now because I am moving somewhere. But from the toll, where will my next ride be? Bus? Taxi? At this hour? Finally dad called. He said "You wait at the toll there. I will come to fetch you."
That triggered some fighting spirit in me that now I think i CAN make it. I cant help but feel so grateful and thankful to my dad. He's been really just like a hero. Sacrifice. All i can say is im thankful to have such a dad. With the truck driving slow at 40kmh towing another car behind with passengers, all I could do is just sit back and close my eyes. I wished that when i opened them this was all just a bad dream. IS hasnt even started, and already here I am in another "adventure" of my own. I did some calculations in my mind : If dad and I meet up at the Pagoh toll exit by 12am and we can reach back to KL by 2am, technically there is still time to make if for Interstate. I planned and budgeted a 2 hour drive to Raub with my cousin. It will be very close. I closed my eyes but couldnt really sleep. All this sequence of events made me more wide awake than a night owl.
After a slow one hour drive, I had been dropped off at the Pagoh toll. Its about 11.15pm now. My car is way back there alone. Dad is somewhere on the way. Im here sitting and waiting. I watch as the flying termites in their hundred fly around the neon street lamp. And a group of Mat-Kereta's just chilling out with their cars (oddly in the toll area) with some music banging away. I just slumped on the wall next to a water dispenser. Waiting...........waiting...........waiting............... Alright so to kill time i played Angry Birds on my phone. I still couldnt sleep. Plus im hungry. I havent showered.
I was glad though that i have already packed 90% of my stuff for IS the week before. Somehow a gut feeling told me then to just pack first and put it to one side. About half an hour later, dad called. He's reaching soon. I could almost feel the relief, letting go all the nerves i had just for the past 2 hours. Enough is enough for one night. Seeing dad's car exiting the toll gates, all my worries had substantially subsided. Now I my only though is to get back to KL. I was so relieved to see my dad. He looks obviously tired. I was also equally as tired. But there's no time to waste. Its already 12am. I told dad I will drive back. He hadnt eaten too. I gave him some of my buns and water. With 140km to KL, i drove at 120kmh. Pretty sure i can make it in 1 1/2 hours time. Refilled petrol, and i did not even touch the brakes on the way to KL. Along the way the talk in the car wasnt much abt the stranded troubled Datsun. More on general things. Kept me wide awake.
At last at 1.30am, I have reached the Kajang toll exit. Dad's asleep. I drove straight to cousins house in Puchong where he will be my driver to Raub. Dad had to drive all the way back to Klang. Now the worst ordeal is over................with a million thanks to God.
29th April - Day 1
That was Day 0. Now its Day 1 , 1.30am. I am still not out of the woods yet. I have no sleep, not really any food, no bath, and no idea how on earth am I going to cycle the first day route (145km. Raub - Cameron Highlands). I was pretty sure i might suffer the whole way up.
As soon dad left, I took a breather in cousin Lee's house. I still tried to sleep but cant. Ended chatting with cousin till 2+am. Then we started preparing to head over to my place in Setapak to pick up my luggage for IS and my bike. From Puchong to Setapak, the heavens opened like never before. Heavy rain. Till my house doorstep it was still heavy. I just spent 30 mins to pack up the bike, grabbed my luggage and make sure I had what i needed for the ride. By 3am, we finally shot off to Raub. In my cousin's words "Insterstate, here we come!". Yeah, just hours ago I thought i would never hear this statement.
The drive from Raub to Bentong was wet wet wet most of the way. Along the Karak Highway it was wet too. I just traveled from all the way south and now im half way up the peninsular already. Still cant sleep in the car. Im going to be like a zombie at the start point. To our surprise we reached Raub by 4.30am. We found where the start point would be. But now my stomach was very very hungry. It has been growling for hours. But I couldnt stop to eat until Im settled down in Raub first. Thank God there was a 7-Eleven in Raub. Both of us went there and had 2 cup noodles each as a morning breakfast. For me it was my first meal in 1 1/2 days.
Now my cousin is starting to say "What have i got myself into?". This is the same question i have at every interstate. Lol. Welcome to the club bro. =)
Refueled (sort of), so we head to the start point to set up the bikes and do the necessaries. 5.00am and I guess we were the earliest fellas around. By 5.30am activity had picked up with riders coming in/waking up. Saw familiar faces. Saw new faces. Hear the same old voice of James and Christina over the speakers, with blaring music in the wee hours in this small town. Both me and cousin just sat there waiting for 6.30am to come and off we ride. Funnily enough, just 10 minutes before start he had to visit the loo. I guess nerves got that far down to him eh? Came back in like 5 minutes. So i guess we are all more or less ready to ride. Im just prepared to come in last for today. Ive done calculations that if we can just do the first 50km flat route in 2 hours, then the remaining 9 hours up 90km at avg speed of 10 or 12kmh, we might survive up Camerons in time for the 5.30pm group photo. Thats all for today's goal. Its just mere survival up the slopes.
Mr Lee Chun Seong aka my cousin
The start point - Raub Rest House
Activity buzzing at this early hour in the morning
At 6.45am we have Flag Off for the 2011 Interstate. As usual, 10km lead out by marshal's car. Then its all on our own. I had no mood to stick with any pelotons. I was just wanting to go slow at my own pace with my cousin. The morning was rather cloudy, cool temperatures. In the blink of an eye, lots of riders disappeared in front and behind me. For the next 20-30km I did not see any big pelotons. Just small groups or individuals overtaking us once a while. We caught some slower riders as well.
After 1hour of cycling my eyes are still wide open. My legs feels OK for now. Going just at 25kmh speed. Passing through some small plantation roads. With nice view of the surrounding mountains and trees. Greeted and cheered by a few local children.
Open roads along the country side
Some quieter roads in the kampung side
Back to open roads again. Notice the rain ahead?
The first 50km was done reasonably fast. In about 2 hours we reached the first watering hole. We had to go through a little bit of rain before we got here. So we were pretty much still wet from the shower. Finally i could sit down and eat some real food. Good old nasi with kari ayam. Just what might help me for the next 90 km because there isnt going to be any food till the top of Camerons. I called dad just to see how is the arrangement for the Datsun to be towed back to KL. RM800 bucks to tow from the highway to KL. Oh well, nothing much we can do for a cheaper price to get it back to KL. Rather than sending it to some far out mechanic shop who might just do "a little more extra service" than what is required. And then charges a bomb for it.
OK so i have re-fueled re-carbo-loaded with something solid finally in 16 hours or so. I hope it will be enough to sustain to the top of Camerons. Ive got 6 Cloud9 bars in my jersey pocket and a bun. 2 bottles of water. Thats it. No powergels. No powerbars. Oh and did i mention cousin Lee bought like 15 gels and 4 powerbars? Gila la this guy.
10.30am sharp we decided it be best to start moving again. A long uphill climb ahead. The bad thing abt resting and then getting back cycling (on a cold cloudy day) is.....well........its FREAKING cold after u start back. With sweat and rain still havent evaporated. And the cool wind blowing against me, I was literally shivering for 3km. This was when i wished the sun was scorching hot, or had at least a wind breaker. But no. Just one layer of my jersey. Thats it. The feeling is like being in an air con room 24 Celcius, soaked wet and the fan blowing at you at speed 2. You will agree with me its not a pleasant feeling. OF COURSE you cant agree with me because highly likely you wont try this crazy stunt. Same cant be said for the other 300+ riders today. =P
KM52 : Climbing starts. So the slow creepy crawling pace uphill begins. This might be a killer. Literally. Apart from the really beautiful scenery of the cool cloudy mountain and hillside with clouds and mist falling upon the trees, the journey up was one that seems like a never ending winding slow torture ride.
The first 10km was alright for me. The steepness of this climb is slightly more than Genting Sempah, abt equal to Perez climb in Bt 18. Just its super long. Way longer than KOM we did last October. Steadily pushing my 27gear at rear, i get kinda demoralized sometimes riders pushing up 23/25 and going faster than my 12-14kmh pace. Cousin had compact cranks. =P This is what happens when i dont listen to Don's advice. Hahahaha.
The best ( i should say unpleasant) part of the uphill ride is that there are alot of places where the road winds up and then turns 150-180 degrees back, just enough where one can see from a distance the road going up and goes longer into the mountains. This kind of view gave me mostly another round of demoralizing thoughts. "Arghh thats another climb. It looks long. It looks painful". By now my thighs are already starting to hurt. Im not panting or breathing hard. Very shallow breathing. But the legs just struggle to push every single pedal stroke. I struggled badly honestly. And to make shame to myself, my cousin was cycling faster, further and better than me. He was always in front like 300-500 meters. Couple of times he is out of my sight. Darn it. And I was supposed to be the more seasoned rider. Pffft yeah right my legs dont say so.
Climbing slow with painful thighs is one thing bad enough since the start. Until the rain came again, it just made things worse. Well the rain wasnt that bad, it was only bad when the wind started to blow. Now its like im in a chiller with the fan blowing at speed 4. Garh. Im shouting in bone piercing cold weather. Rain water dripping down the front of my helmet. My shoes are flooded. I am wondering is this going to be all the way to the top?
For about 30odd minutes i endured a full blast of cold wet Cameron Highlands weather. I see support car keep buzzing around supporting riders in front and back. Now i see riders only once every 20 or 30 minutes. And im wondering how far down the field am I? The front group must be at least 1hr ahead of me.
I kept looking at my watch to see what the air temperature was. It hovered around 22-24 Celcius. Its like around 12pm and its this cold. How i miss the hot sun. We've covered more than half distance by this time. 20+km in 2 hours. Thats slow. 70+km to go in 5 hours. It seemed like a mathematical error to make it by 5.00pm like this. Ringlet is like roughly 50km away still. Tanah Rata is at KM130. Then the last 15km uphill to Brinchang where we end in Star Regency Hotel. Every meter up this forsaken mountain hurts. There was a point i was pedaling at 9kmh or so. I just lost all drive and effort to push up any faster. I wish i had a bigger rear cog.
Somehow, after the long slow creep up, we reached the farm village of Ringlet. Finally i see something different other than hills, clouds and rain water. The farm town is just full of these old pick up jeeps buzzing up and down fetching produce. I wonder where all these jeeps came from. Seems like this is the only place in Malaysia where almost every household owns one of these. Its roughly 2pm already and we needed to eat again. Quite a number of riders ate here in Ringlet town itself. But my cousin thought it be better to go up abit more to another side of town called Tringkap. Just one problem is that there's this pretty big hill to go over to the other side. My legs have been hurting for hours now.
A simple meal of fried rice was all we had. Nothing much to eat since its 2+pm. People also about to close shop for the day. And here are a bunch of cyclist making hell for themselves. 3pm and we are off to complete the final 17km of Day 1. Cant believe i actually survived this long. Critical junction KM131 has passed. Cousin Lee said that after this its pretty much flat once we get into the Habu area. I was looking forward to some flats. Not before we go uphill abit more. Torturing was never this long in my life.
Now at this point my right knee was aching from all the climbing. My toes are nearly numb from the hard pushing. From Habu to Tanah Merah it is just about 10km. So i started counting down the KM with the time left on the clock. We have about slightly less than 2 hours before group photo. 3++pm. We passed a lake (Yes a lake at this altitude). Looked like a giant pool of teh tarik to me. Going steady slow at 10-12kmh. Now for some reason i thought the total distance was 145km. Actually its 148km. From meter reading 131 means i have 14km to go. Not far. But now that i have realized theres an extra 3km, 3km seems like eternity on these slopes.
We were on the most winding part of the climb just before the big tea plantation of Tanah Merah. But for the past 20 minutes of so (despite the rest, lunch and slow pace) my legs really really could not take it anymore. I had to stop. Get down. And push. So much was the pain, i said "I think i might just push all the way.....all 10km from here at this point at 5kmh. Screw the photo shoot. I just want to reach the hotel. I walked with my bike........and a supportive cousin riding behind me (STILL looking in better shape than me). I keep telling him to go first and dont wait. For a good 400 meters i walked UP the slope, cars buzzing by, wearing my cleated shoes (I dont care if i wear down the cleats as i have spares). Walking up was just as tiring , just not as painful.So close we are now to the finish point. Just seemed so far to me now.
However, after a while of walking I somehow felt slightly ok to continue riding. Heck i ride at 9kmh is still faster than 5. So i hopped back on the bike and continued my slow crawl. I passed the tea plantation. Lots of eople (and a few riders) having afternoon tea. My afternoon tea is the sweat dripping into my mouth. Another 5 grueling kilometers, so we have touched 145km. 3 more km, and its just abt 4.30pm. Looks like i think we can make it, some how miraculously. Passing the small town of Tanah Merah with buildings on slopes and surrounded by mountains was a nice view to welcome after all the torture. Then we were on the final stretch.
The last left hand turn. Oddly we were wondering where is that left hand turn. We dont see a Star Regency hotel sign nor a PCC arrow sign. Well by faith, we just turned left at 148km, which went into some kind of small back road, leading to some apartments, and we were frantically looking out for cyclists, support cars, bikes on roof or a hotel with lots of jerseys hanging out the window so we know that we are on the right track. At last, we saw what we wanted to see , the finish hotel for Day 1. But i also saw something i didnt want to see : ANOTHER STEEP CLIMB to the hotel. Grrrrrr...........I gave one last push from my already battered legs. And i nearly ran out of breath but as i unclipped and set foot down on the hotel entrance, I gave a big high-5 to my cousin and we just cant believe we finally made it just in time.
I saw the luggage bags from the truck, not many left. Means we are among the rear end riders. Doesnt matter. We're here now. Legs paining, body cold , bike all dirty but hearts are happy..We grabbed our bags, got our room keys and found out our room mates for tonite are Shakhir and Alwin (!!!!!). Two jokers with us. Haha.
Getting into the room was nice. Apartment style. Shower. TV. Couch. Just nice to relax. We all unpacked , washed bikes and got ready for the photo shoot. Dinner was at 6.30pm. Shakhir somehow managed to take the hot shower. But when it came to my turn, the heater wasnt working. Now i have to take an ice cold shower in and already ice cold place. ><""""" And the floor was like ice. Tiles. Garrrhhh. I HATE COLD.
After dinner, went to buy some food for Day 3's breakfast as it was mentioned no breakfast on day 3 morning. Hmm. Wonder why. And there was a pasar malam too just opposite the hotel. But i was clad only in the PCC thin shirt and short pants. I wasnt too keen to stay outside in the cold like this. And somehow it didnt cross my mind that Camerons is cold , so i didnt bring long pants. I went to bed at 8.45 - With two layers of shirt on me and a towel + blanket. Yes i hate the cold that much. I cant wait to get down from this place tomorrow.
-End Part 1-
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