Day 867 4th December 2018
36 miles (Skudai to Pontian)Average speed 9.3 mph Top speed 31 mph
We were up at 10 and I went for brekkie of paita or roti with an egg inside and dal and Malaysian spicy sauce and two coffees.
We left at 11.30 after sorting out Don’s WhatsApp. Then we went in search of a post office so that Lucas and Don could send stuff home. As I was navigating towards a park area with a post office, Lucas asked a cafe owner for a post office and he directed us back 3 miles over two sizeable hills. I wasn’t happy but followed him anyway. While they were sorting our their post I went to a Chinese temple and saw a waterfall with koi carp.
Garden with a waterfall and koi carp pond
Then we tried to avoid the motorway and I tried to navigate towards a wooded path. On the way we stopped for green coconut and some fried fruit fritters where the lady serving took photos of me and her.
We stopped for a food break
When we got to the path it went through palm trees and was rather wet. Lucas didn’t fancy it at all, but Don and I were keen at first, though after the pair of them got a bit bogged down we decided to try to find a road around instead. Maps me wasn’t helping much as it next took us to another unmade road. With a six mile detour ahead we decided to join the main expressway and lifted our bikes over the barrier. Now we were flying along and made it to the restaurant in time to avoid a big shower and eat.
We messaged Michael to say we’d be arriving at about 6.30 and he sent Jackie to meet us at McDonald’s. Jackie showed us to the cycling club as we followed him in his car. Once there we were given a beer and shown our beds and lots of photos. A great place for a club and they are going to turn it into a hostel for cyclists, which is pretty much what it is anyway. We showered and then Jackie took us to a restaurant to meet Michael and most of the other club members to celebrate Michael’s 44 th Birthday.
Birthday celebration for Michael
Happy Birthday Michael
We ate fish which Jackie brought from the market and many other dishes, all washed down with lots of beer which was served in small glasses which were constantly topped up by the waitresses, so you never really could tell much you’d had. Well until two in the morning when the head started pounding as Michael ordered another two bottles of tiger!
And another beer!
Pontian cycling club. Totally Free.