Sg Sedim Weekend Escapade 29th-30th July 2000!
I guess everyone has been busy with their daily routine/work ever since coming back from Sg Sedim? However...these particular 2 days at Sg Sedim...we cast aside our differences, work( with the accompanying stress & pressure from it! ), demanding employer(s), personal/family problems( if any? ), nagging spouses & crying child(ren), over-due rent/hire purchase/loan(s) 2 pay...< Grin > & we lived, caroused, bonded & rode happily under the sky of this white water haven as one united family! Oh well...it's back 2 the grind & the real world that we live in after that!
First & foremost...the organising committee of K.O.T.R.Ts would like 2 extend a heartfelt thanks & appreciation 2 all, 4 the excellant turnout! Special thanks 2 En Anuar 4 the sumptous food which was enough 2 last till breakfast( Bu-urp! ) & 2 Mrs Matthew 4 lending a hand with the food preparation at the "kitchen" campsite! Hah! Your help didn't go un-noticed! < Grin >
Sg Sedim...a little bit about this place. It's an area located in the state of Kedah, famous/notorious 4 it's white water rafting experience & scenic trails that always end at wonderful spots like a nice riverbank 4 a dip/picnic or at a cascading waterfall! One would however have 2 "earn" & work hard 2 get 2 this wonderful/remote places! < Grin >
Sat 29th July...
The trip...somehow there was a communication breakdown in conveying the time to meet at Green Lane Petronas ST. Sunny's party were already there at 9.30 a.m. & had 2 wait 4 the rest of us who were still packing gear & loading bikes in2 our vehicles! Mucho apologies 4 the wait. The morning rain didn't put a damper in anyone's spirit either as we were quite prepared 4 it.
The rain stopped by the time we loaded up everything...& it was a good thing too that Sup arranged 4 extra transport in the form of a Rusa Van( mucho thanks Rozie! ) that helped ease our carrying load! With everything loaded & secured, we finally rendezvous with the rest of the merry band waiting at Green Lane. Some had however already gone ahead after their patience had run out. The 1 1/2hr journey 2 Sg Sedim was smooth sailing thanks 2 Sup's detailed mapping! What are we gonna do without u, eh Sup?
Expecting 2 meet up with the front group at Sg Sedim...we were quite surprised they weren't even there yet!?? We decided 2 look 4 the missing party whilst the rest unloaded our gear & bikes. We were only halfway out of Sg Sedim when we caught up with the missing group...apparently they missed a turning en-route!! O.k. so now we had everything & everyone accounted 4...finally!
Self, Sup & crew decided 2 take a drive out 2 Kg Sedim 2 have lunch & tar-pow back 4 the rest who were busy unloading gear & bikes. After lunch Gary our mtb Dr. stayed back at campsite 2 accompany/supervise the children in the white water rafting adventure while some of the other kiddies joined us on our recce ride 2 the waterfall off the loggin trail. Early on during the ride I noticed that my seat-post was coming loose, after much infuriating adjustment I realised my seat post had a hairline crack...of course there were others who speculated that my heavy "behind" was the cause of this "fracture"! < Grin > We were soon at the falls, admiring natures splendour & artwork! After taking a dip, Mark issued a challenge if anyone who could ascend the steep slope that only a while ago, the kids bombed down! Almost everyone had a go at it but the best attempt was by a kid named Ah Mou who almost managed 2 get 2 the top with a little help/push from Mark! He literally carried Ah Mou up & over the ledge of the slope! It was soon time 2 ride back as by now everyone's looking 4ward 2 the evening's bar-b-cue!
A-ah the bar-b-cue! All the days activities in the water, riding the trails & fun under the sun suddenly took it's toll on our stomachs come dinner time! After some anxious moments of waiting under the huts while it rained...Anuar & his "kitchen crew" finally got the bar-b-cue pit going! Mind u!? The rate we consumed the food was as if we haven't eaten 4 days! Or perhaps it was just the right atmosphere combined with a merry bunch of very hungry people!? We had sing-a-long featuring Gary on the vocals, guitar/percussions/back-up-singing by Mark & Anuar...& that was only the 1st session! By the time we finished our makan the rain too had stopped, we decided 2 have our nite-ride. Nite-ride! The very mention of biking at nite woke the kids up & hurrying up 2 join in! The forest suddenly became alive with the sounds of our bikes & voices! Our bright lights pieced thru' the pitched dark trails as we bike in the cool breeze of the nite. We continued with the 2nd jam session, sipping our warm beverages with freshly toasted marshmallows...this time featuring Sup & William on musical instruments with Turbo on vocals!? Yea, he sang! Over-nite...we suddenly discovered so many hidden singing talents amongst the K.O.T.R.Ts! With the proper ambience & merry company, one could easily b coaxed in2 doing things that one won't find oneself doing normally! Like...say doing a nite ride in the middle of a pitched dark forest trail? Or even taking a midnite dip in the cold freezing waters of the Sedim River!!? Well, apparently some of us felt we needed 2 take a bath after the ride! Thanks though 2 ST, 4 keeping "watch" whilst some us braved the cold icy waters of the nite!
It was soon time 2 call it a nite & everyone retired 2 their respective sleeping areas...it's pretty amazing how many people could b crammed in2 a small sheltered area but we somehow managed all the same, with all 4 corners of our tents "protected" by mosquito coils!
Sun 30th July!
I don't think anyone actually slept much but we made the most of it! It was just slightly over 6.30 a.m. & most of the kids were already up & cycling all over the campsite! All ready 4 the trails ride ahead! After our group shoot & headcount of riders participating in the mornings ride, we were off! We biked thru' the logging trail descending out at the rubber collection area & on2 the tarmac trail till we came 2 this left fork where the trail started 2 get really interesting! After the bridge crossing we turned right & started the single-track climb up all the way 2 a wonderful riverbank where everyone( well...almost! ) took a dip in the cool refreshing cascading water. Our merry group soon broke up with Turbo leading the front, ST & Gary in the middle...with self & Sup sweeping from the rear as we ascended the trail. All the way as we rode along the trail, we could hear the crackle of walkies with various group leaders informing the others of their positions. We soon came up 2 this fork where we wisely chose 2 turn right 2wards the cascading river & rested by the riverbank!
Words could NOT do justice 2 describe the magnificance & splendour of Sg Sedim as one would need 2 b there 2 b able 2 really appreciate/experience Gods brush-work with the landscape! Soon...it was time 2 continue back 2 the campsite 2 break camp! The ride was thankfully incident free. There was however still the nerve wrenching part/adventure of crossing 2 the other side by walking on a tree trunk placed precariously over the fast flowing river! Good thing one of the local campsite operators( yea, the guy with the really radical hairstyle! < Grin > ) helped us out by carrying our bikes across the tree trunk! This is THE one part at this place that I'm not particulary fond of & yet wouldn't do without!? After tossing my shoes 'an socks over, I barely managed 2 get 2 the other side...PHEW! Some even took 2 crossing/wading the river instead of testing their sense of balance on this tree trunk! Well...2 each it's own! As long as u get safely across!
The suggestion 2 have lunch at Sg Kob's Freshwater Fish Farm got everyone motivated & packing soon enough! Lunch at Sg Kob was over in a nano-second with over 30 hungry mouths 2 feed! I'm sure everyone lived up 2 the reputation of eating 2 ride & vice versa! < Grin > Well...we soon bade each other farewell after the wonder-full lunch & everyone got on their way home. Hmmm...in a way I wished we could've spend a little more time at Sg Sedim but work & our families beckon! Sigh! There's always other trips & places 2 visit!
Thank-u everyone...specially 2 those who so painstakingly contributed 2 the overall success of this trip!
Once more, special MUCHO THANKS 2...
-Gary who so graciously closed shop on SSat so's he could b with the merry band...'an his Courier transport 4 the kiddies/bikes...
-Sup, ST & co....4 their recce work,, mapping of the location & site plan...uh-oh not forgetting the maggi mees, snacks & beverages!
-En Anuar 4 the food( SEDAP!! )...& Mrs Matthew 4 helping out!
-Rozie 4 transport...
-If I missed out on anyone...jangan maraah ya?
Good effort K.O.T.R.Ts! SYABAS!
Web keeper's note: For those who wish to take a look at the pictures taken by Azmi and Gary, please contact Gary at (017) 478-1000 or visit Gary at Sim Bicycle shop, Carnavan Street, Penang.