Day 921 – Tanjun Gemok to Mersing

Day 921                                                  27th January 2019

33 miles (Tanjun Gemok to Mersing) Average speed 12.7 mph Top speed 29 mph

I got up at 9.30 and went for brekkie at Ali restaurant, the same as last night. It was raining as I left but only drizzle so no coat required. Desa tehur for brekkie with 3 coffees to wake me during the rain. By the time I left it had stopped so I was still dry. I showered and packed and said goodbye.

It turned out to be a quieter but very pleasant day. I chose to take the coastal route as Michael and Joanna had warned me of the main road no.3. Soon after the big bridge I turned left and stopped at a Chinese temple to take photos.

It was a good road and quieter after the kids had gone home for lunch.

The wind came from my left and I noticed my right pannier making a bit of noise. On checking I realised that the screw that I’d had fixed way back, by a chap sawing the end off to create a burr to prevent it moving, had come loose. I can’t remember which campsite this happened at or even which country! Luckily I found a spare bolt and a nut with rubber washer to match, but although repaired I had no spanner to tighten it. It just so happened I had stopped in front of a transport company, Bistamin Transport.

I went in to ask and a young girl ran into the house, so I went around the back and found two mechanics fixing a lorry and asked to borrow a spanner, we tried a few, but ended up using mole grips. Job done, despite them being covered in what looked like blood but was probably grease. So I set off again, on testing the gears the chain got stuck against the nut so I had to avoid top gear. I fixed the chain and washed my hands at a house with another two young girls looking at me. Now I was very hot and glad to be on my way.

I only forgot two more times about the chain, but expertly discovered that used strimmer cutters work perfectly for putting the chain back on if you tie a knot in one end. The road became very good and spectacular with lots of wildlife, cattle, goats and lizards running to avoid me.

First drink stop was at a holiday home with chalets. They only had one can of drink left and a cold 100 plus was very welcome. I continued along the j78 and went through some nice small villages and then out into the wild with some big monkeys and lots of animals for me to do my Dr Doolittle impression. The road was stunning with next to no traffic and small climbs followed by fast downhills to cool down. At Penyabong I discovered a deserted beach with about 15 cats and nothing else.

Omar’s Backpackers hostel 25 ringgit.