Ride & Camp to Mentigi Bay

The plan was to ride to a southern bay called Mentigi Bay or later renamed into Teluk Iskandar, about 160km southeast of Kuala Lumpur in a port city of Mersing with our spouses. Joining me in this couple ride was Shahriman on his new Tiger 900 and Fred on his Wmoto RT3. 

Photo Credit to Effa 

We made a move from Rawang around 8.15am and the weather was clear with ambient temperature around 24°C. Fred was already onsite when we arrived at our first RV1 around 8.40am, and our wives were formally introduced. There were relatively fewer congregations of bikers at the station that morning, despite the lovely weather to ride. We made a move towards Karak around 9.00am and the highway surface was immaculate with moderate traffic heading to the east coast.

We took exit 813A towards Karak and later FT09 towards Telemong, riding through winding road in between durian orchards. It was durian’s off-season so there were a lot less traffic in this section but I was disappointed to find the road surface turned worst after we passed Manchis. We turned left into Felda Chemomoi riding through inner roads eventually into FT10 Jalan Teriang. 

Photo Credit to Effa 

After Felda Raja Alias 3, we turned left again towards Bahau through FT11, this road is a single lane road connecting Bahau and Keratong. Despite being a main road, I was again disappointed to find the condition hasn’t changed much after all these years. It is narrow with inconsistent road shoulder, junctions were not clearly mark with signboards and plenty of low-quality patches are scattered along this road. Riders are advised to ride carefully in this section.

The final section in the first half of today’s ride we turned left again towards Muadzam Shah, riding into FT12 where we met a few groups of riders from Singapore. We had arrived at Petronas KM78 around 12.30pm to refill before having lunch. The weather was hot and humid with ambient temperature around 34°C but in the horizon we can see dark clouds were moving south.

We made a move towards Kuala Rompin through FT63 passing Bukit Ibam and Mardi facilities. Road condition was moderate and it started to get cloudy. My promise to wait for Fred in this section is hard to fulfill and eventually I left him but Shariman kept his following distance. As we passed Endau, it started to drizzle and that has helped with the heat. It was drizzling intermittently as we approached Mersing and just before the town, an uncle on a moped bike cut through my lane, triggering an emergency braking. No untoward incident as I was expecting his bold move 250 meters before it happen.. but I am more worried about traffic behind me. What a way to ride uncle!

We have eventually arrived at Mentigi Bay Glamping site around 4.00pm, a few minutes earlier than Fred and Ellie. The campsite was better than my early expectation as it is complete with a pantry, firewood pit, a sunrise dock, garden bathing area and more. 

Tent setup provided by the site, beach view.

However the A-shaped chalet is too low for me as my head keep banging on on the roof, one have to stick in the middle section to avoid it. 

That afternoon my wife and I went riding to the beach of Teluk Iskandar during low tide, where you ride on the flat solid beach.

Later that night we rode out to a seafood restaurant, 6km from the campsite. The Mersing sky at dawn is majestic with blue and red colors decorating the cloud formations. This is the moment that most travelers missed in their travels. 

We had dinner at the restaurant and at the same time had a simple celebration for my birthday. My wife brought a few decorations with one mochi cake – later shared across the table. We went back to the campsite and sat around the firewood pit, sharing horror stories at campsites. Around 10.30pm we retreated to our chalets.

The next day, it was cloudy – so we missed the chance to watch the sunrise at the dock. We had coffee and instant noodles for breakfast.. no luck today to watch sunrise.

At 9.30am we were gathered for a group photo. Fred – however decided to depart earlier. 

Photo Credit to Effa 

We rode around the bay all the way to Flinstone Castle before heading towards Kahang and Kluang. 

Photo Credit to Effa 

We rode through FT50 Jalan Mersing and this route was fun with its twisties along forest backdrop.  The target lunch spot was at asam Pedas Ikan Air Tawar Empangan Mahkota and we eventually arrived there around 11.30am.

Around 1.30pm we said goodbye to Fred and made a move towards Rawang through North-South Expressway. 

The weather was cloudy and it started to rain just before Seremban R&R, when we made a stop to refill. We finally arrived home safely around 4pm.  

Ride & Camp to Lata Cangkah, Setiu

 

It was a month full of uncertainty and events that led to a postponement of the original planned ride date. At the end, on the riding weekend, less than half had persevered and stayed – leaving only Zadiq and me leaving on Saturday while Mizi, Jeff and Muskat will start riding on Friday afternoon from central region. Cikgu Joe will ride alone from Seri Iskandar while Jo, Syaril & Mat will meet us at the last RV point. The plan is to ride to Lata Cangkah, a public recreational spot well-known for its crystal clear cascading water from Gunung Tebu Forest Reserve, situated around 35km northwest of Kuala Terengganu.

 It was a clear morning with ambient temperature around 25°C when I made a move from Rawang towards Bukit Beruntung exit. I arrived at the exit around 8.00am and Zadiq arrived slightly later, riding on a green Triumph Tiger 800. This was a training for incoming Rimba Raid, he said. Amused but I didn't refute that statement. I went to refuel my bike at Petronas before taking Route 55 towards Raub, making a quick stop at Selangor Dam viewpoint.

Zadiq was fast and furious at this section, started close behind me and eventually disappeared in the horizon of hairpins. At Raub, traffic was moderate and the weather started to get warm, lowering my windshield helped with improved air flow around the helmet. Engine power and gearbox reaction on my newly acquired Tiger 800 was superb but handling a 21” front wheel through sharp corners might take a while to get used, as I was accustom to 17” wheels on all of my previous rides. It take some effort to lean the bike and to change the leaning angle.

Entering Central Spine Road at Padang Tengku, I lost sight of Zadiq after a few kilometers, perhaps he’d stopped for fuel I reckon. I arrived at Petronas Bandar Baru Gua Musang around 11.30am to find Cikgu Jo was already on-site, after departing from Seri Iskandar around 8am. Zadiq arrived after 10 minutes and we had lunch here.

After lunch we ride towards Tasik Kenyir through Felda Aring route 1744. At the state border between Terengganu & Kelantan we stopped for picture to reflect its latest condition since my last passes here.

Road condition was better than my expectation through Felda Aring and after the state border it gets much better.

Approaching Tasik Kenyir around 2.30pm, the weather started to get cloudy but still no rain. We stopped at a viewpoint of Tasik Kenyir but were disappointed as the trail towards a small cape with breathtaking view was submerged. Nonetheless we went to a nearby clearing to rest and I had packed kuew tiaw soup from Gua Musang.

Trailhead to Tasik Kenyir viewpoint GPS 5.199404, 102.673486

After taking a 30 minutes rest we rode towards Permaisuri through Sungai Tong through T151 and T136. In this section it was drizzling but the potholes and road surface were full of water from the previous downpour. Yet again, at this section we lost sight of Zadiq, even after around 10 minutes of wait. I mentioned to Cikgu to proceed as he had his GPS points for guidance.

As we were joining the main route of route 3 towards Permaisuri, it started to rain heavily but it stopped as we turned left on T138, the last intersection towards Lata Cangkah. Cikgu Jo stopped for drinks at a roadside shop after the intersection and we rode slowly as there were a lot of villagers and cows on the road that day.

Lata Cangkah GPS 5.476180, 102.654486

Photo Credit to Jeff

While waiting for the rest of the group, we went around - looking a campsite and finally it was decided to camp near the gazebo area.. but we have to wait for the area to clear from the previous visitors.

It has stopped raining around 6.00pm, about the same time we finished setting up camps. We went into the river to bath and clean ourselves afterwards. The river is clear with visibility is up to 2 meters deep but the surrounding areas you can spot litters of food packaging. 

In a few spots beside the gazebo, visitors burn their food leftover - among others, leaving a foul smell of decomposing food and small army or larvae hidden behind any un-burn residue. It is a very sad sight to find at a place as majestic as this, with clear cold cascading streams from a nearby forest reserve. Nearby garbage bins were overflowing and scores of flies were having a feast on the unmanaged garbage. We had to burn some wood to ease the flies.

I would like to take this opportunity to urge all -that has plans to visit any public recreational spot to bring back whatever they brought in – including food waste, food containers and plastics.

That night it started raining again around 9.00pm, making us scrambled to set up flysheet. It continued to rain throughout the night, intermittently between heavy downpour and drizzles. Camping on the river banks, we were cautious - checking the river level every hour for any headwater or dangerous current. Amazingly it stays clear and only rose up about one foot throughout the night – signs of a healthy river catchment area upstream. We chatted under the sheet until i felt my eyes were heavy - time to get to bed.

It gets colder as I retreated to my tent and eventually into my sleeping bag. Since my bad experience with hammock & flysheet setup at Pantai Kemasik, tent setup is my no.1 choice of sleeping arrangement at a campsite, especially in rainy nights. It provides the best shelter against the elements and a thick air mattress adds to the comfort.

The next morning, the weather was nice with the sun rising in between the tree line downstream. Syaril prepared onion and potatoes fritter while we had instant noodles for breakfast. 

Enjoying coffee by the stream is really enjoyable as occasional appearances of river animals such as tortoise, snakes and fish was an added bonus.

Around 8.30am, visitors started coming to the park so we began packing. By 10.30am, we were gathered at the entrance for a group photo and then we rode to Sungai Tong for lunch. 

After lunch we said goodbye to Cikgu Joe whom will ride back through Tasik Kenyir, while the rest of us rode through LPT2.

Traffic at LPT heading to KL was moderate but it gets busier after Pahang’s state border.  We were separated at this section and I went back alone. The weather turned from gloomy from Terengganu to hot and humid in Pahang before a heavy downpour towards Karak. I arrived safely home around 5.30pm.

1. Rashidin Triumph Tiger 800 XCx

2. Cikgu Joe Kawasaki Versys 650

3. Jo Honda CRF250L

4. Syaril Honda CRF250L

5. Mizi Modenas Pulsar NS200

6. Jeff Modenas Pulsar NS200

7. Kemat Vespa Primavera 150

8. Zadiq Triumph Tiger 800 XCx

9. Muskat Kawasaki Ninja 250

Date:  30-31 July 2022

Lowest temperature: 17°C (Campsite Lata Cangkah)

Highest temperature: 38°C (Karak Toll)

Expenditures: 

Petrol: RM80

Food: RM50