Welcome to GAP! This is THE entrance heading to Fraser Hill or Bukit Fraser. This place is called Gap, its only a short stretch of road. After half a century, I only now come to know that the foothill of Fraser is Gap or the Gap as the bikers call it. Well, never too late to learn and I do learn new things every so often.
After yesterday's fiasco i.e. I erred in leading Rocker57 to Fraser Hill, instead we ended up at Kuala Selangor, OOPs!! We made good this time around with guidance & support from our biker buddies. Thank you, guys!
We gathered at the MRR2 (aka Middle Ring Road 2) Shell petrol station at 7.45am, enroute to Bentong for breakfast. We used the Karak Highway or E8 that links Central to the East Coast of Malaysia. After the Bentong toll, take the first left turn. That will lead you into Bentong town. We stopped at our usual haunt - Restoran Big House.
After breakfast, Sethu led the team to Fraser Hill as he was up there just two weeks ago. From Bentong, take the road that will lead you to Raub. Just a few kilometers from Bentong, you'll see a signboard to Fraser Hill that says turn left to Fraser Hill. This stretch of road is approximately 66km...a long & winding road up & downhill. Pretty shady and cooling despite it being almost mid morning.
In the approximately 1.5hr ride....seriously, only 8, yes EIGHT cars passed us by!!! Boy oh boy, the long and winding road is surely not only long and winding...it was deserted and lonely too.
Little did I know that the trek from the junction to Fraser Hill was gonna cost me an aching butt and a vow never to ride 'anywhere' uphill or downhill where the road is winding. What's more...poor road conditions like pot holes, landslides, gravels on the asphalt added more salt to the wound....alas...poor me. I had to balance myself either holding on to the Monokey bar (where it holds the panniers) or push myself away from the fuel tank so as not to add weight to Rocker57's arduous endeavour.
The bike alone is 215kg! With the both of us and our full protective gears (padded Jackets, knee guards, boots, gloves & two units of 1.3kg helmets each)...easily he is riding with a whopping 350kg load!!! That's one heavy load, mind you. Lucky we did not bring along the panniers, else it would be even heavier!!! The many curves and bends plus bad road conditions made us slowed down a lot or risk mishaps. We were averaging between 40-60km most of the time. Thankfully, everyone arrived at the Gap, safely.
Rocker57 and I are BIG Valentino Rossi fans. He is a multiple motogp champion and his bike is number....46!! Well, the Ducati pictured here belongs to Sam, while the AGV helmet belongs to 'alien Alex'. So, when you add 1+1, you get??? = 46!!! Rossi, Rossi, Rossi! Anyway, starting this year, Rossi is no longer with Ducati. He has since returned to Yamaha where he'd achieved many accolades in the past.
This is a strange combination indeed. From what I know of Sam, he doesn't watch motogp nor know much about the sport or the bikers yet he sprayed or rather sticker-ed his bike in support for Rossi. And 'alien Alex' likes Jorge Lorenzo also from motogp but sports Rossi's helmet! Strange indeed. Hmmm....well, sometimes mixed 'nuts' are good for the soul, no? Heeee Heee....
We spent only a short while in Fraser Hill. We had objectives to meet. So, the team waited for Rocker57 and I to check out some accommodations rates while they 'chill' and chat over drinks in one of the cafe nearby the police station. In haste, I did not have time to take pictures as I wanted to save the occasion until I am really there for "cuti-cuti Malaysia".
By the way, there is only 1 way up and 1 way down. Previously, there was only 1 road leading to Fraser Hill, so traffic is directed based on even and odd hours. Can't remember whether even hour is for going up or coming down. Anyway, now...anyone can go up at any hour and leave at your pleasure. But! But, if you see a bus or truck going up, suggest you wait 20 minutes before going up, else...you'll be chugging your way up!
We took a different route back to Kuala Lumpur via Kuala Kubu Baru. This way was much more pleasant but I still think that I'll not ride up winding roads ever again...oh well...I may change my mind, who knows? Nowadays, with age, memory failure is getting more rampant, so maybe just maybe I may 'forget' my ordeal and go for another try....right? Errr....so not sure!
After lunch in Kuala Kubu Baru, we used the Bukit Beruntung way to lead us back to the PLUS highway. From there, to each its own and everyone Zoooooom home.
A few quick text messages later...glad everyone was home safely.
What is it I hear??? A loud Vrooom Vrooom in the making? Yes...be patient....you will hear it roar!!! LOL.
Until it roars....Take care & ride/drive safe! Ciao.
2 comments:
Enjoyed reading this post. Well, we all have little nuts in us that surface every now and then.
Like talking to oneself. Just as long as we don't interrupt ourselves talking, we'll be alright.
Philo Yan - hehehehe...Yup! That's why I blog...instead of talking to myself, I 'talk' into the blog :)
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