on this trip.
After breakfast, we pushed on towards Kuala Kangsar.
To ride from Kuala Kangsar to Lenggong and beyond, one must be able to endure the long climbs with gradients ranging from 3 - 10%.
And with a heavy load, it's seriously no joke. To the uninitiated, one might end up hurting himself as the legs are subjected to strain and fatigue.
If you climb a lot and can spin your wheels at a constant speed of 60rpm without stopping, this would be a piece of cake.
But if you are not, be prepared to suffer.
As far as the climbs are concerned, I would rate the level of difficulty to medium-hard.
I was riding rather slowly with an average speed of 14.9km/hour and linked up with Abang Din, his wife and two sons on a signboard showing the road's gradient.
There, we parted ways. I never saw them again.
Prior to this trip, I have contacted an old friend, Uncle John Pah from Ipoh. He told me to keep him posted and since I am staying a night in his town, the only decent thing I could to, is to pay homage to the guy.
Back at camp, I had plenty of options. One of the guys who live in Klang came in a large van. He offered me a ride home, which I politely turned down.
So, there I was, rolling down a ramp towards Kuala Kangsar.
I set out at 07:30am and reached the entrance to the Royal town around 10:45am.
From Kuala Kangsar, I had the option of packing my bike onto a hired car and head towards Ipoh's railway station. My plan was to change the departure time for my ETS ride back to KL from Ipoh.
Based on past experience, hiring a car from a cabstand in a small town is basically bad news.
The cabbies would try their best to fleece you.
A ride from Kuala Kangsar to Ipoh costs about RM65 one-way. Basically, you charter the whole car.
In Kuala Kangsar, it took me a while to locate the cab stand and I finally found it, I kinda stuck out like a sore thumb.
An elderly Indian man asked where I wanted to go, I told him my destination and was assigned a driver.
I pulled the cabbie aside and asked if he could show me the price list. The man, who claimed to be the chartered car association's secretary was offended. He started to raise his voice and made condescending remarks.
"We charge you for the fare and you pay extra for bringing a bicycle! Don't talk a lot and waste my time!"
I told the guy to take a chill pill. I was only asking. The right thing to do, is to avoid confrontation. So, I left the cab stand and rode towards the edge of town and called Mr Sugu, the polite chartered car driver from Sungai Siput. From Kuala Kangsar, there's roughly about 25km to cover. All, a route too familiar.
I rang up Sugu who told me that he was outstation. He rang up his son Yogeswaran who agreed to fetch me in Sungai Siput.
So, that said, I skipped the hostility in Kuala Kangsar and made my way further South. The day, as it seems, was still young..
OPPOSITE PAGE: CALM BEFORE THE STORM: The Tern parked next to the writer's tarp shelter before the campsite was hit by an evening thunderstorm.
LEFT: Riding out of Lata Kekabu to Tasik Raban and Kuala Kangsar. The route is scenic during the daytime and is worth the experience.