It was a national public holiday for Labor Day in Malaysia and the plan is to ride to Telemong to recce a small waterfall at the headwaters of Perdak River, 15km south of Karak, Pahang. It was a short 12km logging trail from Kampung Sungai Perdak but the trail climbs to 530m above sea level before a right turn into a descending trail to 440m basecamp within a kilometer.
I was joined by fellow riders on various motorcycles, with Mr. Zoolhilmi riding a 1000cc Versys and the furthest was Zairul ‘Asoi’ Hafiz from Melaka. The rest are all from Klang Valley and we met at BHP Karak on that Tuesday morning around 9.00am.
When I arrived at the station, it was bustling with riders awaiting the arrival of their peers. Being the most famous rendezvous point for Klang valley riders riding east, the station surely is the busiest place on every holiday morning.
Ijal, Shah, Ejat & Aizee Jo were already there when I arrived, while Zoolhilmi arrived shortly after and we’ve departed towards Karak town around 9.15am. The ambient temperature was around 25°C and the traffic was moderate with a few groups of bikers were also riding east towards Bentong and Karak.
Keeping the pace with all the motorcycles, we rode slowly towards Karak and arrived at Petronas Karak around 10.04am to join Kimi on Keeway TX200, Wak Moon and Phui on BMW F800. We have regrouped again at the junction of E9 to Simpang Durian, as Wak Moon and Kimi made a quick stopped at the town to pack their lunch.
Asoi was already waiting at the waypoint when we arrived there around 10.30am and the weather was hot with a slight overcast.
Sungai Perdak Waypoint
GPS N3.32672 E102.06210
Ejat informed that he wanted to wait for his friend from Temerloh so we rode into the trail around 10.48am with ambient temperature around 30°C after reducing our tyre pressure.
Ejat still trying to get in-touch with his friend when I left him
The first section into the trail was nicely laid tarmac heading to Kampung Orang Asli Sungai Bot before the offroad section started.
The second section was made of compacted soil and sands with relatively big boulders of rocks scattered on the road.
Kimi Keeway
Local orang asli boys riding past a group of riders helping the fallen anak gajah
Photo Credit to Ijal
When I arrived at the junction around 11.40am, it started to rain and I waited there around 15 minutes to ensure everyone didn’t missed that junction.
Junction to Ulu Perdak Campsite
GPS N3.27347 E102.02931
The first group, led by Phui was already 20 minutes ahead of us. The grizzle lasted around 20 minutes and it has made the route down very slippery. The last kilometer into the campsite was a killer, as all of us found no traction available on our wheels and we have to descend very slowly.
Photo Credit to Zoolhilmi
Photo Credit to Ejat
Ulu Perdak Campsite
GPS N3.27997 E102.02560
We finally arrived at Ulu Perdak campsite around 12.30am and started to have lunch. Asoi have made a pot of hot coffee and we have our packed lunch while the rest started to cook instant noodles.
Photo Credit to Zoolhilmi
The relatively small waterfall has one pool with at least three available campsites around it. There is also a makeshift toilet, made using zink-ply on one of the campsites, on a safe level above the water.
Photo Credit to Zoolhilmi
Photo Credit to Zoolhilmi
Around 2.45pm, we started packing and by 3pm we were already on the bikes, heading out. The climb out was as expectedly difficult after the rain. The soft and slippery ground reduces traction on rear wheels and my dual purposes set of wheels are simply not sufficient. I was stopped in the middle of the climb and not able to move forward and double braking failed to stop my bike. I was slipping down with my rear wheels slipped to the left and my front wheel to the right. Ejat and Shah came to my rescue and pushed the bike passed the slippery section.
Photo Credit to Ejat
The heaviest bike - Versys 1000, was ridden by Phui to clear the climbing section while Ejat rode with him back to retrieve his bike from the campsite. After the climb, Zool was back on his bike riding down towards Kampung Orang Asli Sungai Bot.
Photo Credit to Zoolhilmi
Photo Credit to Zoolhilmi
The rest of us head to a mamak stall at Karak for refreshments. I said my goodbye here and arrived at Rawang around 6.30pm. It was a wet & cold ride back as it was raining from Karak to all the way to Rawang with ambient temperature was below 24°C.
Photo Credit to Ejat
Photo Credit to Ejat
Photo Credit to Ijal
Photo Credit to Ijal
Photo Credit to Ijal
I would like to express my gratitude to the team who have worked together to ensure all bikes made it in and out safely on this ride. Without the teamwork and perseverance, it wouldn’t be possible although some of us didn’t know each other prior to this ride. Ride On!
Ride snippets
Riders:
1. Zoolhilmi - Kawasaki Versys 1000
2. Wak Moon – BMW F800
3. Phui – BMW F800
4. Kimi – Keeway TW200
5. Shah – Yamaha 135LC
6. Ejat – Honda RS150
7. Ijal – Honda Wave 125
8. Aizee Jo – Modenas Kriss 100
9. Asoi – Honda Wave 100
10. Myself – Kawasaki Versys 650
Distance: 270km
Duration: 10 hours
Petrol: RM30
Date: 1st May 2018
Average moving speed: 61km/h
Lowest temperature: 22°C (Genting Sempah – 5.15pm in the rain)
Highest temperature: 30°C (Kampung Sungai Perdak)
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