A ride to the west

WAKE UP!
... screamed my alarm clock at 5.30am on a sleepy Sunday.

So early? Yes, I am going for a ride!
The group is meeting at 7.30am at Lakeside MRT so I intended to take a really slow ride there. The route I am taking will be about 32km (a shorter route of 27km is available but I don't feel like going left, right, left).

Got out of the house at 5.45am and rode slowly. The skies looked a little red and the rain did start to fall when I reached Raffles Place. Before that, when I rode past Fullerton, there were some drunk teenagers outside Butter Factory, all wasted and lying on the floor.

The drizzle got a little heavy but heck, I am halfway there so no point turning back.

More drunks near Vivocity spotted. Oh, St. James.
Then this chap in a car yelled at me from the car his friend was driving.
"Hello good morning! It's raining!"
I smiled back and said it was okay. (more like no choice... haha)

West Coast Highway is such a longwinded and boring road. Finally spotted the sign for Jurong Town Hall Road and made a right turn. More boring roads till I saw the Science Center.

Huffing and puffing away (was about 5mins late), I rode past Chinese Garden MRT. Then a voice whispered, "Good morning Maam!"

It was KC! He waited at the wrong station and luckily for him, he saw me puffing by so he followed me.

Lots of riders were already there when I finally got there. The rain was still falling gently.

After a short prayer and a minute of silence for a fellow rider, Paul Lim, we proceeded for our Sunday ride. We went past some lake, I spotted the Chinese Garden and I tagged along the sweeper of the day, Stanley, at the back of the pack.

The Lake

Chinese Garden

We had a short brekky at a newly opened MacDonald's (it has a drive thru too!) and headed towards an interesting place. The Dragon Kiln, is one of the last few surviving pottery place called Thow Kwang Pottery.

We were introduced to the kiln which uses wood to fire up and the Dragon Kiln only 'works' twice a year. Usually, the modern-day electricity brother will do the job. I spoke to the owner who said they have pottery classes and don't really create wares for commercial use anymore.

Dragon Kiln

Clay versus Steel

The electricity brother

They might be gone soon because the Government is taking back the land so if that happens, it sure is a big shame.
We were allowed into the Dragon Kiln for a look see too!








After a nice tour and short break, we had to work our asses off when we entered NTU. Why?
SLOPES LAH!

Thank goodness I chose to ride my MTB and not a SingleSpeed else I might have to push the bike up the slopes! Never ending. Luckily I wasn't a NTU student else I think I might just quit school on the first day!

The day ended at a food centre somewhere in Boon Lay (totally not familiar with the West) and I refueled with 2 cans of isotonic drinks plus 1 bowl of wontons.

I was planing to ride back alone but some guys were going back to the East so I was supposed to follow them. However they set off first so I lost them within 2 minutes. Francis, who was supposed to hop onto the MRT, rode with me instead. He was very kind to do that and showed me Alexandra PCN. Before that, Vince rode together until he reached Commonwealth. We managed to snake out from Zion Rode and then cut through Robertson Quay until we reached Victoria Street.

The ride cut through Bugis, Geylang (almost fainted from durians) and I powered up the Kembangan slope. By the time I got home, I managed to clock in 90km. Wooopeee!

More rides to come!