May 1st 2016, the next day we planned a ride around the highlands. I was planning not to ride at all, but the guys appealed to my sense of comraderie and group leadership to lead a ride around the highlands. It wasn’t too hard to talk me in to planning a route and leading them, as I knew the roads so well in the area. Guess I’m a glutton for a good ride. Getting up early, the sunrise on the highlands was amazing.
We set off at 9am heading towards Kuala Lipis. Head South to Ringlet and then take route 102 & 235. This is a newer road coming up the Eastern side of the Highlands and is just an awesome road. Very little traffic, long sweeping bends and great views. It really is a must ride road. You have to be careful in some areas as the road is broken up and has been repaired is some places. You don’t see the broken bits until you’re pretty much on top of them. Essentially it’s over 100km of fast flowing riding. We split out along the road. Me leading, Mark with his ZX-10R right on my tail, followed by JC and Nicola & Roy taking up the rear. We re-grouped at the bottom before heading into K. Lipis to refuel and have a water break.
After that we headed off Northwards towards Gua Musang along Route 1506 which comes out of the NE side of K. Lipis. This then joins the Eastern ring of Route 8. All good country riding with undulating road and plenty of flowing bends. On reaching R8 head North. There is a new section of Route 8 that is a dual carriageway highway which is constructed as a bypass. Staying this we take the old Route 8 which gives a nicer ride.
Arriving at Gua Musang I lead the group to a burger restaurant which we have used many times before. We took over part of the restaurant using one desk as Helmet store.
After having lunch and another refuel we then proceed to head back up the mountains to the Highlands. It’s important to fuel up here as there is no fuel stop going up the mountain. To get back up take the D30 heading West out of Gua Musang and then turn into Route 185. It’s another lovely road but as it’s not highly used the road is decayed in areas and has a few heavily broken sections to treat the blind bends with care. But all in all it’s a great ride.
Arriving back into the Highlands by 2.30pm, the road 59 leading into Brinchang is heavily congested. Almost standstill traffic so a lot of ballsy riding through the traffic more of less bullying your way through. After getting the chaps back to the hotel I then had a date for high tea with Andrew and Anita at their hotel, the Cameron Highlands Resort. On the way back got caught in the rain and took refuge in a shelter for 40 minutes, sharing with a few locals and having a chit chat.
Dinner was an indian restaurant, The Cameron AA Curry House not far from the hotel which we dominated for the night.
Motorcycle Chronicles by Jamil Siddique 