GOING NOWHERE FLAT - A recent TN(Taman Negara) recce by the brave souls of KOTRTs 5 - 7 May 2001

In preparation of the upcoming Taman Negara Ride on June 8-11th, a few intrepid KOTRT riders took it upon themselves to recce the SUPPOSED 36 km trail from Camp Nusa to Kuala Sat, on the boundary of the National Park. After over a month of planning and deliberating, this recce is finally happening, and it couldn't be sooner. The recce team consisted of:

William and Kar Hong , the young thoroughbreds blazing the trail
S T and yours truly, retired racehorses to bring up the rear
Azmi and Sup, coordinator and mapper
Sany, honorary K L rider
York, casual observer
Gary, 4wd support , mechanic and Gunga Din

Joining us were 2 guides from Camp Nusa, Rosli and Rosli in their 4wd, without whom this recce would have been very difficult. The information that they gave us was that this trail is 36 km long, fairly easy terrain and takes 2 hours plus to finish by 4wd. Exactly halfway is a small village with the charming name of Kg Pagi where our boat and lunch will be waiting for us. The idea is that should things not go according to plan, we will take the boat back instead of completing the second 18 km to Kuala Sat.

That we were all up by 0600 showed this was going to be a take no prisoner mission. It was a wonder that we could sleep at all after the previous nights dinner where we learned that no one has ever done this ride before, we would be the First .Between jokes about receiving Datukships and land titles, fame, chicks, etc, etc, there was not a man among us who was not excited. There was very little said that dark morning, and even less to get ready. All our Camelbaks were bulging and everyone had his secret Energy source. I knew my Marlboros are there with 2 lighters. We were the Floating Restaurants first customers and proceeded to shock the Mak Cik with our appetite. And then we were gone, as fast as we appeared.

Our convoy of 3 4wds pulled out of the morning mist and appeared menacingly on the high ground above Camp Nusa at about 0900. There to greet us were the 2 Roslis, with Big smiles and greetings. Knowing what I know now, I can imagine what was going on inside their heads.

The sun was already very high and the shadows short when we finally rode out on the clearcut trail. This is a logging track, pure and simple but that did not prepare us for what came our way. First it was a low rumble and as it got nearer the mechanical monster really put fear into hearts with the ruckus it creates as it snakes it way along the track it calls home. It is the dreaded Sun Tai Wong, literally the King of the Mountain, with 10 wheel drive and a huge exhaust spewing out black smoke and deafening noise. On its back it carried out the fallen giants, cut down weeks or even months ago. To see a whole procession of these timber trucks is really saddening. Our rainforest is slowly dying. But along the trail it was very green and we saw a lot of nice big trees, must be the commercially worthless ones. William even saw 2 deers standing casually by the side of the track.

By the time we reached the junction to the River and Kg Pagi, it was almost noon and our computers showed 16 km. While most of us still felt pretty good, the sweat-drenched jerseys and faces showed the sun had exacted a heavy toll from everyone. Keeping up a brave front we pedaled triumphantly into the village. No kompangs and village maidens awaited our arrival, but something equally important. LUNCH. Our boatmen had performed exactly to cue, with lunch and cold drinks all spread out for us. But we ungratefully moved it out of the stiflingly hot coffee stall to a spot beneath a big tree overlooking the Tembeling River. We couldn't have asked for a better lunch spot. Needless to say, the curious villagers were there to visually share our nasi goreng, which never tasted better. It was perfect, not too salty, oily or pedas. No one could believe we were proceeding on to Kuala Sat. From all the shaking heads, you would think we had stumbled into an Ecstasy party.

We could not resist taking a group photo by the Kg Pagi signboard, if not for anything else at least proof that we were there. Good stuff to show to our grandchildren. And time was slowly moving on, but we did not. In fact most of us did not remember what the time was when we finally got our butts off the grassy shaded spot but it was after 1300 that we started the journey of no return. We confidently bade our boatmen goodbye and told them we should be at Kuala Sat before 1700. Why Not? Its only another 18 clicks, we will be there in no time.

When we finished the 2.5 km ride out of the village to the " Main Road", we were hit by a dust storm, in the midst of which was the culprit behind it, the now emptied timber trucks . Now unencumbered, these monsters were doing their version of the Monte Carlo Rally. Along the same track we are supposed to ride!!!. It was positively terrifying, no words can describe our horror. All those trucks that we encountered on our way in, were now returning empty back to God knows where for their next load out. With the now blazing sun beating down on us and these dust monsters appearing every 5 minutes, it became painfully clear that we had wasted too much time. The next 5 km was absolutely the worst and it was then that my FD decided to become recalcitrant.

But God is not without mercy as we were greeted by a beautiful tree-shaded stream at the end of the 5 km torture trek. Here we rested most willingly, waiting to regroup. By the time the 4wd caught up, it was past 1400 and we had to go to Plan B, the Forced Boarding of the 4wd. Half the group would be ferried by the 4wd a few km ahead while the rest pedaled on waiting for their turn to travel in this undignified fashion. We had no choice, we had run out of time and it turned out to be our wisest move. As forewarned and expected we soon ran into some serious climbs, we had to cross a low range of hills. At this stage none of us was looking forward to anymore climbing, even our fittest riders were getting cramps, due to dehydration and exhaustion. We had not expected the second half to be so tough and as it turned out so longggg.

The only good thing was that we get to do a really good downhill run, on our bikes not the 4wd. Its was only then that I stopped wishing for my hardtail and SPDs and the downhill was treacherous enough to warrant riding a full sus the entire way. Thanks to the wonderful Santa Cruz suspension, I pulled ahead of the rest of the pack and soon came to a junction. The right fork was uphill and did not looked inviting but to my dismay soon a timber truck came along it and I thought Oh No another climb. But upon checking with the truck driver I found to my great relief that K Sat is the other way but my poor command of Cantonese and Mandarin did not allow me to ask how much further, a very bad and costly mistake. While I waited for the rest, I reasoned that we are still going to run out of time if we don't hurry. Azmi was next on the scene and together we waited. But the rest of the group still did not show and after pointing out the way to Azmi, I told him I have to go on and continue scouting without our guides in the 4wd as they haven't caught up with us. It was getting late...

At this point the group split into two, myself, and the rest. So the story will be finished in 2 parts seen from 2 angles.

Derek's Finale

I kept telling myself that we must have done at least 12 km and soon I will become the first person ever to cycle into Kuala Sat. Wah, Fame, Fortune, Babes, and Siti Norhaliza swimming in a pool of Pepsi in her never before seen bikini.The next 2 km was quite easy and soon its back to the grind and honestly my memory is a bit blurred here as I was focusing 100% on my riding It was somewhere along this blurred stretch that I heard the sound I never liked but at that time it was the sweetest music to my ears, an Outboard motor. A Boat! A Boat! Kuala Sat cannot be far ! I suddenly was filled with this tremendous rush and new found energy and pedaled on at a totally stupid fast pace and completely missed a signboard to another village. If I had seen this signboard and waited for the rest, the story would have been completely different. As it turned out I was soon totally dead after about 2 km and Kuala Sat nowhere in sight and as Murphy would have wanted it another set of hills loomed up. It was one of the most difficult climbs in my life. Running very low on water, I was burning up inside and all alone, but I knew I couldn't stop, it was almost 1700. So the long painful climb continued, there was only one thing on my mind, Kuala Sat. I was shaken out of my stupor by the sound of a 4wd coming from behind but it was not our 4wd, but a couple of totally bewilded loggers who cant believe what they are seeing.

Slowly but very surely I was getting closer and closer to hitting the wall and wisely decided to stop. Allowing myself a short sip and a cookie I pondered if it is really worth it, no wonder no one has ever done it. But what the heck, I figured I must have done over 20 km from Kg Pagi and almost 40 km the whole day, K Sat cannot be far now. So another painful climb into the saddle and grind. It was shortly after this that I heard the second 4wd, this time it was ours. But only the guides and Gary were on the 4wd. Where are the rest, did something happen, Oh No. I knew from the big smile on Gary's face that everything was OK. The rest of the group had gone the other way at the last junction I missed and gone to another village, Kg Samas, where I had heard the boat. I told Gary to go ahead to K Sat and get the boat to pick them up. But the guide shook his head, K Sat is still half an hour away. WHAT!, it cant be, I have cycled for at least 25 km and its still about 10km away, why that's double what its supposed to be. But they were very sure and insistent. I knew then there was no way I could have done it. Luckily I had enough sense left to say Enough and got onto the 4wd. Thus ended my ride which eventually worked out to over 45 km. We eventually got to K Sat, close to 1800. Well I made it by fair means AND foul. The boat was still there waiting for us. And, YES, I had my picture taken with my bike beside the Kuala Sat signboard. But no Datukship, no Siti or even a Pepsi. LOSER! We took the boat down river about 20 minutes and saw a very relieved group of MTBikers waiting and waving...flashbacks of SURVIVOR!?

AZMI's Finale

Lonely me...watching Derek pedaling away. Bloody idiot that I am to be here waiting for the rest of my equally crazy bunch of K.O.T.R.Ts when we could all be enjoying our Sunday in the cool comfort and civility of our homes 'n families! Worse, here I am all alone on the logging trail where a TIGER was reportedly sighted casually crossing into the dense jungle a few days ago! This is no place to be when nightfall approaches.

I prayed hard that the rest would soon catch up and that everyone was safe and sound. I tried hailing the rest on the walkie and what a relieve it was when Sup's voice crackled faintly to reply that they were nearby. By the time the pick-up came, everyone was ready for the downhill ride towards Kuala Sat. What a descend it was! It's steep with loose gravel on the side & very dusty...no thanks to the lorries plying the logging road here. We eventually came to an area plaining out assuming that Kuala Sat must be very nearby...only to be greeted by another hill climb! To add further dismay, at a junction after the climb, we were informed by a passing pick-up driver that it would be ANOTHER hour or so to Kuala Sat...by a properly equipped 4wd! Geez!! What an anti climax 'n disappointment it was for everyone.

It was getting late, everyone was tired and there was no way we could continue cycling to Kuala Sat. We were not prepared to camp overnite and at this point it was decided unanimously to cycle into Kampong Samat(not sure of spelling & you should see this Kampung for yourself!< Grin >) and for Gary with the pick-up to proceed towards Kuala Sat looking for Derek and also to inform Jaspal, our boat guy to pick us up at Kampung Samat instead of Kuala Sat.

After what seemed like an eternity waiting by the jetty we heard the familiar whooshing of Jaspal's jetboat. It was the sweetest sound to our ears & also to eveyone's relief, Gary & Derek were already on the boat. We quickly loaded our bikes and ass into the boat for a speedy journey home!

Lesson learned here! We were misinformed and took for granted the actual conditions, distances and time taken to traverse the logging road we were riding from Kampung Pagi to Kuala Sat. We must've covered 60km+ under the scorching sun, all the way from Nusa Camp-Kg Pagi-Kg Samat! Not forgetting to mention the dust and wonderful black soot we inhaled from the passing timber trucks...and to think we left the urban jungle for this!? < Grin > Anyhow, through thick and thin we stuck together, everyone got out safely and that's what matters most to me.

End of report.