Day 17 - Thu 28 Nov: Keluang to Johor Bahru

November 28, 2019

Fine and mainly sunny in the morning with a thunderstorm mid-afternoon, while we were on the bus thank goodness. A little hotter than previous days, 24 to 34 deg, we are edging closer to the equator.

Ride: 80km; total: 865km

Walk: 3km

A nice early morning walk started my day. Not a great deal to see in Keluang, a little smelly and although littered with rubbish the workers were out sweeping the streets clean. Even before dawn the street food stalls and restaurants were already filling up with customers on their way to work. The smells were stimulating my appetite for breakfast.

Breakfast for us was in the hotel today for a change. Eggs, toast, rice, curried chicken, and some really good coffee. Drove away at 8am for about 20 minutes before stopping to get on the bikes. The road we got onto initially should have been far too busy and fast to ride on, so we were all glad we turned off it after about 10 nervous km. The drivers are much more patient than most Aussie drivers, but the big trucks were still a bit of a worry. The next 50 odd km was through palm oil plantations, as if we hadn’t seen enough of them, but at least it was quiet. Called at a Chinese Temple for a drink stop and feed the cheeky monkeys. A rather hilly day except for the last 12km of the 80 we completed. I for one was feeling a bit flat on the bike today and a few of the guys said that too. It was particularly hot, with bright sunshine for most of the morning so that could have taken its toll on us. Only six rode today, Sean and Dogan weren’t up to it, and good on them for being sensible enough to say they were better off in the bus.

Finished the ride at our lunch stop, a busy local restaurant which served amazing food from what appeared to be nowhere; don’t know how they do it. The dishes just kept coming one after another despite our protests. The guides were probably given a budget and were trying to spend it.

The transfer to the hotel took just over an hour. I suspect the driver got a little geographically embarrassed at one stage. Upon our arrival at the hotel, Sentral (a bit old but ok) we had a meeting and decided that there wasn’t much point to the ride tomorrow, only 30km and it would be a ride to nowhere, just for the sake of riding. So, after breakfast we’ll go and clear customs at the Singapore border and then get transferred to our hotel.

So, we removed all our bits and pieces from the bikes, checked in and had a well-earned shower. Thought I’d wash my cycling clothes too, although we’re not riding again, I didn’t want them smelling out my bag.

Ended up going for a walk around Johor Bahru waiting for dinner time to come around. Very fancy shopping centres with lots of security guards but hardly any customers. Might just be the time of day or day of the week.

We were taken to a Kenny Rogers Restaurant for dinner, not sure KR knows that they’re using his name. It was ok, roast chicken, rice, macaroni cheese and steamed frozen veggies. All I can say is that it filled the spot. Ramish was trying to do the right thing by the boys as there’s bar all around that place. I enjoyed sitting with the guys for a while before I wandered home with Ken.