Couple Ride & Camp to Cherating, Pahang

The last time we had spouses joining our ride and camp trip was 2 years ago where we rode to Pantai Seri Tujuh in Tumpat, Kelantan. Therefore when my wife indicated that she would love to do it again, I have quickly planned a trip to Cherating just before the coming fasting month later this week.

Riding two-up is not a simple task for couples with lots of responsibilities, in-terms of planning for the trip. Therefore we couldn’t do this very often and there are also a lot of couples in the ride & camp circle that are unable to join us. Cikgu Joe Min and his spouse with Cikgu Jasni & his spouse had confirmed their participation and will be joining me at Gohtong Jaya on that Saturday morning.

The plan is to ride to Lemang To’ki Bentong for lunch and continue to ride along Pahang River all the way to Pekan. We will camp for the night at a very nice private beach called Payung Campsite in Cherating, Pahang. The next day we will ride back towards Bentong via LPT and ride on the old road Route 2 towards Temerloh for lunch. Heavier than normal load with two riders and camping equipment means tarmac-only route so no offroad detour planned for this trip.

I have departed from home around 8.17am after mending our kids to a guardian home and finishing the remaining home chores. The weather was hot around 28°C with a slight overcast on the horizon. We rode to Ulu Yam Lama vie Route 1 and B57 before taking a turn towards Kampong Kalong and Gohtong Jaya.

The sun was already up when we rode through the winding road from Ulu Yam so it was clear from mist. By the time we arrived at Gohtong Jaya, it was cloudy and cold with ambient temperature was around 22°C. Cikgu Joe Min and Cikgu Jasni arrived slightly afterwards and we had a light breakfast at a mamak stall.

We have departed towards Bentong around 10.11am and rode down the winding road slowly as there are many vehicles heading the same way. 

We arrived at Lemang To’ki around 10.50 am and we stopped for lunch there.

Photo Credit to Cikgu Jasni

Lemang To’ki 2, Bentong

GPS N3.49745 E101.92453

There aren’t that many customer at the restaurant but the service was very bad. About 30 people are queuing for their piece of lemang & rendang and the staff handling the service was rude and very inefficient. We have to queue about an-hour just to arrive at the counter and being told that rendang was out of stock and I have to make a scene just to get our lemang. In addition, the condition of the lemang serving area was very dirty and has flies flying all over the place. This is definitely the last time we’ll come here.

After the Lemang To’ki blunder, we made a move towards Temerloh via E8 LPT before making an exit at Exit Chenor. We stopped on Sultan Ahmad Shah Bridge for pictures before riding along Pahang River towards Pekan. 

Some sections on this Route 82 towards Pekan had been resurfaced and constructions that we saw during my last ride here towards Muadzam Shah was completed. To be honest, this route is among my favourite route in Peninsular Malaysia.

We then made a left turn towards Pulau Rusa and Route C106 heading towards coastal road of C17 to Kampung Sepat. It was a very hot and humid day with ambient temperature around 36°C. Just before Pulau Rusa we had 2 minutes of rain but it soon cleared when we reached Pekan.

taking 5 minutes of rest on a hot & sunny day ride

Route C17 through Pantai Sepat was very beautiful and there are people spending time with their friends & families with blue sea water and clear sky on the horizon. 

The heat from the sun was penetrating through my double visors with my dash thermometer reading was at 38°C when we stopped at the main junction after Tanjung Lumpur in Kuantan. We continued riding towards Sungai Ular through Beserah Route 2 and stopped for drinks at Nasi Ayam Pasu at Kampung Cherating around 3.53pm.

Nasi Ayam Pasu

GPS N4.12884 E103.38782

We have reached our destinations around 4.38pm and started to set up tents.

Kak Ita & Nur Hamizah told to walk to the campsite

the flag was already there when we arrived

Payung Campsite

GPS N4.12105 E103.38807

I have rode back out to Pantai Chendor to buy fish and squid for dinner and by 6pm our camp was ready. When we arrived, there are not many campers were at the campsite but as the night goes on, the number increased and by midnight the site was almost full.

It was my turn to prepare dinner, so I have prepared fresh fish and squid that were bought earlier with vegetable soup, ulam raja, sambal belacan, satar ikan and white rice. Cikgu Jasni and his wife Kak Ita with my wife helped to prepare dinner.

Hamizah striking a pose. The water was warm

Picture Credit to Cikgu Joe Min

sunset over Cherating

After dinner we sat around a flag discussing the recent election result. It was Cikgu Min and his wife Hamizah turn to prepare supper and we had egg sandwich with coffee over the night beach view.

Our supper that night, egg sandwich with coffee

A rain around 10.30pm made us retrieved to our tents and Cikgu Joe Min opted to sleep in a double decker hammock with his wife.

Double decker hammock setup. Picture Credit to Cikgu Joe Min

sunrise over Cherating

The next morning I strolled along the beach with my wife while Cikgu Jasni and Kak Ita prepared fried fritter and sliced honey dew with hot tea for breakfast.

We took some time to swim before packing our equipments. By 10.00am, we were on the bike ready to make a move.

The ladies from left to right: Effa, Kak Ita & Hamizah

We made a quick stop to pack some keropok lekor and filled up petrol before heading towards ECE link passing through the infamous MCKIP Industrial Park.

The ride on a straight and relatively empty 2 lanes highway was too mundane and somnolent so we exited at Gambang to continue riding towards Temerloh through the old Route E2.

Riding on Route E2 passing through Paya Bungor, Sri Jaya and Maran was better with its sweeping curves and scenery and there are not that many vehicles were on the road that day. 

Despite being an 'old' road, this stretch of Route E2 is in excellent condition with fantastic road surface and ample signboards.

We arrived at Temerloh around 12.19pm and head to Gerai MPT Lurah Semantan for lunch. It was Sunday, so the road leads to the stall was closed for morning market. We parked at the junction and walked to shop.

Gerai MPT Lurah Semantan

GPS N3.44929 E102.42287

After lunch, we continued riding towards Karak through Route E2 and made another stop at Masjid Karak for a break and prayer. We stopped for 30 minutes here and had coffees before continuing towards Genting Sempah and Gohtong Jaya. Passing through zero kilometer Karak of Route E8, we took a chance to take group picture.

We then continued towards Gohtong Jaya and the traffic on the highway was very bad with very slow traffic right after Karak toll plaza all the way to Genting Sempah exit. 

We said goodbye to each other just before Ulu Yam as Cikgu Jasni & Cikgu Joe Min will ride towards Batang Kali and Ipoh while I’ll continue towards Rawang. It was raining as we reached Rawang and we safely arrived home around 5.00pm.

Riders:

1. Cikgu Jasni & Kak Ita - Kawasaki Versys 650

2. Cikgu Joe Min & Nur Hamizah - Kawasaki Versys 650

3. Myself & Effa - Kawasaki Versys 650

Distance: 741km

Duration: 2 days

Petrol: RM90

Date: 12^th – 13^th May 2018

Average moving speed: 78km/h

Lowest temperature: 22°C (Genting Sempah)

Highest temperature: 38°C (Kuantan)

Payung Campsite:

Own Tent: RM15

Rental Tent: RM20

Contact person: Mr. Zamani 011-3120 3232