It was a year shrouded with uncertainty and anxiety. The grip of pandemic while it has loosen after the announcement of a successful vaccine development still restrict our activities and movement throughout the country. In addition, it rain a lot this year as compared to the average and my miniature garden which normally battling with lack of water is now flourishing. I have managed to squeeze a trip in between this and incoming holiday season to a campsite planned much earlier but was postpone due to interstate movement control order in September.
In the beginning only Fred and Mark stated their interest but Syahril somehow manage to charm his way into the trip a day into the ride weekend. The three of us will ride from R&R Rawang to Kuala Kangsar and off to Lata Buluh for lunch before joining Mark at the trailhead beside Sungai Ahning, located around 372km north of Kuala Lumpur. The campsite is a clearing on 280m cliff over Ahning Lake, a man-made lake created after the construction of Ahning Dam in 1985. It offers panaromic view of lake’s valley with jagged hilltops surrounding the irrigation dam.
It was around 8am when I left with ambient temperature around 23⁰C and the road was wet after an overnight rain. I arrived at the first rendezvous point around 8.30am and found Syahril already there while Fred arrived slightly after. After a quick chuckles, we rode towards R&R Sungai Perak and the traffic on the E1 North-South Expressway was plenty but smooth. As we passed Tanjung Malim, Gunung Liang’s peak was covered in clouds and the view was breath-taking.
The weather remains cloudy with local spots of drizzle and we arrived on schedule. Fred was trailing behind and arrived slightly after. From there we exited through Kuala Kangsar and headed to Restoran Tasik Raban to pack lunch and dinner. It was around 12 noon when we arrive at the restaurant, which was just preparing for lunch meals.
We rode to Lata Buluh through A6 Jalan Sumpitan and it was drizzling as we entered a trailhead leading to Kampung Ayer Jernih, an adventurous option to the waterfall.
Trailhead Lata Buluh GPS - You can also enter through Kg Ayer Jernih
N5.15734° E100.89208°
Fred and Syahril fell at this section but I was already ahead of them. When I returned they were already on the bike. Syahril’s bike unable to start at first so we jump the battery and it cranked beautifully. However it emitted white smoke, as the oil has overflown into the exhaust manifold. He told that it was turned upside down and the smoke disappeared after a while. Fred was alright and we arrived at the waterfall around 1.00pm.
Lata Buluh
GPS N5.12931° E100.87747°
After lunch, we returned to A6 Jalan Sumpitan heading to Gerik.
During one downhill corner I was entering it too fast. Late braking and slippery road cause my front wheel to slip as I tapped the brakes. I jumped while the bike skidded sideway and hit a road post. I escaped unscathed mostly due to my full protective gears while the bike only suffered scratches and broken windshield. After a few checks and test I have given a good to go and we continued towards Weng.
As I have lost my navigational setting during the fall, Syahril took over as lead. His ‘slow’ pledge as leader only lasted 10 minutes, when he disappeared among the traffic, only visible as we get near Gerik town.
At this point the weather was perfect, overcasts in a few spots along the road and the road surface on FT76 passing Gerik and later FT4 towards Kuala Pegang was immaculate. We took a right turn towards Baling and K10 to Weng afterwards. We stopped at Buraq’s Oil station in Weng to refill and continued on Lebuhraya Baling – Durian Burung towards Pedu.
However after 15 minutes on the road, we were disappointed when we found the road was closed so we have to turned back towards Sik and take an alternate route. Sorry Mark – so many obstacles caused our delay of arrival.
We have to ride through Naka and Kampung Musa to back to Lebuhraya Baling – Durian Burung and met with a heavy rain before finally arrived at the trailhead around 6.40pm.
Ahning Trailhead
GPS N6.35958° E100.71618°
Campsite Ahning
GPS N6.35097° E100.72582°
That night we rekindle our past rides and it has been a year since I met Mark. This is also the first time Syahril, Fred and Mark met each other since they all join throughout different timeline. After 8pm it started to get cold and steady breeze with mist blowing towards us from the valley below and I escaped to my sleeping bag. Around 11pm we went to bed. That night the wind stopped and it started to rain heavily about two hours.
The following morning the weather was clear and that is when I have decided to remove our big flysheet that was blocking the view. As soon as I have finished, it started to drizzle so Syahril proposed we could use his small flysheet as shelter.
We had breakfast in the clouds and it continued to rain even when we started packing.
It was 9.30am when we headed to the main entrance of the dam for a group photo and later rode to Mark’s home, where he has offered me his old windshield for replacement.
We rode through Kuala Nerang and later towards Alor Setar Selatan. The weather was gloomy with intermittent drizzle and we arrived at Mark’s home around 11am. We were introduced to Mark’s family and installation of the replacement windshield was quick. We went to lunch at a nearby Nasi Kandar and was joined by Mark’s wife. After lunch we rode back towards KL through the NSE highway.
I have arrived home safely around 4.30pm and relieved that I have successfully concluded this year’s ride and camp. It was hope that next year, conditions will be better so we will have more opportunities to explore our region through our hobbies. One note to readers planning to visit this campsite, please take care of the cleanliness and take back whatever you brought in garbage bag.
Ride Snippets:
Riders:
1. Rashidin Kawasaki Versys 650
2. Fred Honda CB500X
3. KW Mark Honda PCX150
4. Syahril BMW 1200GS
Date: 19-20 December 2020
Lowest temperature: 18°C (Campsite)
Highest temperature: 32°C (Tapah)
Expenditures:
Petrol: RM80
Food: RM20
