Ride & Camp to Pos Gedong, Bidor

It was a hectic start of the year with so many happenings and scheduled events for me, but I am more determined to continue ride and camp for at least once a month. At first, I have scheduled a ride weekend on 11th to 12th January to Pos Musoh but missed that ride due to work commitments. The following week, my scheduled training was postponed, so after a few exchanges of messages, I was invited to join a small group ride and camp to Pos Gedong, Bidor.

Six of us will be rounded at Petronas Jalan Rawang – Kundang and only Cikgu Joe will ride from Seri Iskandar.

It was a rather warm morning with ambient temperature around 25°C with clear sky. The team gathered as early as 7.30am and the sun hasn’t fully risen that day when I arrived around 7.25am.

We took off through B27 heading towards Jalan Terusan Utama, riding a shortcut (Jalan Rantau Panjang) undergoing upgrading process and turning left just before UNISEL’s main campus. The road surface of B33 was bad as compared to my previous ride here with many uneven surfaces and low grade patching works. It gets worse on B42 Jalan Raja Musa and riders were advised to ride at moderate speed here as it is dangerously bumpy.

We went straight into Kampung Seri Tiram Jaya and into loose gravel trail heading to the canal. We rode through low hanging palm oil leaves on red laterite surface trail before it clears near Jalan Haji Sharif. Soon the road became wider and we were riding in between the canal and vast paddy field of Sekinchan.

We turned right into Jalan Sungai Panjang and there were not that many vehicles on that road. We reached the UP Estate Sg Panjang Jetty around 9.15am to cross Bernam River into Perak state border.

Ferry Sg Panjang (UP Estate)
GPS 3.744104, 101.141859

It took about 10 minutes to cross the river and we were off to Kampong Changkat Kereta through Ulu Bernam Estate. The estate trail are mixed between tarmac and loose gravel, with about 5km dead straight passing through an airfield.

We passed through plantation road right after the orang asli settlement and this time we noticed the broken tarmac surface has become worst than our last ride through here.

Trailend GPS 3.7915653, 101.2721024

We were relieved when we met proper tarmac road of Felda Gunung Besout and it was hip exercise session towards Sungkai and later for an early lunch at Mee Kari Ramli Bidor

Mee Kari Ramli, Bidor
GPS 4.106389, 101.295470

Cikgu Joe whom were riding alone this weekend, arrived shortly after 11pm and after a quick chuckles we were off towards Pos Gedong. However we noticed a durian stall just before the junction so we stopped for a durian dessert.

Photo Credit to Hashim

Photo Credit to Ikhwan

Photo Credit to Hashim

The weather was hot and humid with heat blowing underneath our jacket but that didn’t stopped us from having durian, at RM8 per kg, it was a bargain. Before we leave the stall owner advised us to be extra careful as the winding road were steep and we nodded in appreciation for his reminder. A sign of caring is a good indication for the people surrounding the area.

We continued riding towards Pos Gedong, but it wasn’t too difficult as the road were on tarmac and in relatively good condition for an orang asli settlement. Just be mindful of coming vehicles as the road is narrow with a few hidden corners. Sometimes, small 3-tonne lorry making its way down the corner having difficulty to slow down and as riders we have to be vigilant in that situation.

We arrived at the at settlement around 1.45pm and asked around for Bah Dahali’s house. He is the chief for three main settlement in that area which are Kampung Bagak, Kampung Kelat and Kampung Berindu.

Photo Credit to Hashim

Photo Credit to Jimm

Photo Credit to Hashim

Photo Credit to Hashim

Photo Credit to Ikhwan

Photo Credit to Ikhwan

Photo Credit to Ikhwan

Photo Credit to Hashim

Photo Credit to Hashim

Photo Credit to Ikhwan

He was away when we finally found his house but were ushered to fill the guest book – a standard procedure when we visit any orang asli settlement. While waiting for him, we passed some souvenirs to the village’s children.

(From left) Hashim, Jimm, Bah Dahali, Pejoi, Ikhwan, Cikgu Joe, Zadiq & myself

Photo Credit to Cikgu Joe

He arrived shortly after and we asked his permission to camp by the river in his village. He told us to find a campsite behind a nearby surau and we nodded to his suggestion. We rode around and later found a trail used by the villagers to get to their Petai plantation. We had to cross a clear creek and settled on flat area in between rubber trees and some durian trees by the river.

Photo Credit to Hashim

Campsite Pos Gedong
GPS 4.1706590, 101.3734453 (Please ask for permission)

About 3pm, all tents, chairs and bed were up and we jumped into the icy cold water of Sungai Gedong. This would be one of the earliest tent setup we have ever done in our entire ride and camp history. The crystal clear and icy cold water is a treat despite easy access and close proximity of this settlement.

Two rounds of river bathing later we have dinner around campfire and around 8.30pm, Hashim started to prepare burgers, complete with cheese, mayonnaise and thousand island. Zadique prepared vegetables saute with sambal belacan but his dinner partner – Man, was unavailable.

Photo Credit to Pejoi

Our set up were quite simple but around 9pm, it started to drizzle and we have to put up our flysheet to be our roof. We talked trough the night over sunflower seed and hot tea and around 11pm, we retreated to our tents.

The next morning, we prepared instant noodles for breakfast and we stayed a bit longer until around 9.30am before packing our equipment. All garbage were packed and we put some effort to ensure our campsite were cleaner than when we found it. No empty bottles or cans were let behind.

During our exit and crossing the creek, I’ve locked my front wheel and loose footing. Ikhwan came for a rescue after a quick photo snap but no damages or injury were sustained.

We were gathered one last time in front of the surau for a group photo.

We took off from the settlement around 11.00pm heading towards Restoran Capati Tapah for lunch.

Photo credit to Pejoi

After lunch we said goodbye to each other and started riding back home through Tapah and I have arrived home safely around 2.30pm

It was wonderful start for another adventurous year and being among friends in the wild is a blessing. I get to enjoy fresh air from all the greeneries, steady flows of pristine cold and clear river from Titiwangsa Ranges and in company of great people with durian dessert as an added bonus.

Ride snippets:

Riders:
1. Rashidin Kawasaki Versys 650
2. Ikhwan Kawasaki Versys 650
3. Jimm BMW F800GS
4. Pejoi Yamaha Tracer 900 GT
5. Cikgu Joe Kawasaki Versys 650
6. Hashim Kawasaki Versys 650
7. Izadique BMW Dakar F650

Distance: 320km
Date: 18-19 January 2020
Lowest temperature: 21°C (Campsite)
Highest temperature: 35°C (Tapah)
Expenditures: Lunch RM20
Petrol: RM60