Unkster Uncovered 11 : The Coastal PCN

The final piece in the jigsaw is done.

That piece being the Coastal Park Connector that finally links up the entire Eastern Network that runs from the East Coast Park, to Bedok Reservoir, the Tampines Heartland, Pasir Ris Park, Loyang, Changi Village and then looping back again to join the ECP.



We did the route in reverse on Friday. From the ECP to Changi Village, via the new stretch of asphault and tar along Changi Coastal Road. But once we got to the sleepy Village, we decided to make an about-turn and go back the way we came. Figured it was too beautiful a day not to be riding along the coast.

The entire return trip of about 40km was done at a very relaxed pace. No speeding, although on some parts of the very straight and even Coastal Connector, I did manage speeds of about 45km/h.



Finished the day with an overcast sunset on Bedok Jetty before getting properly soaked by rain. Sometimes in the darkest of times, there can be beauty ya? When the company is just right...

Unkster Uncovered 10 : The Bukit Timah Mountain-Biking Trail

We did this on early Saturday morning.

And boy was it one helluva tiring experience. The Bukit Timah trail makes cycling on Ubin look like an evening stroll through the Botanic Gardens. Narrow and bordered by lallang at times, more steep inclines and downslopes than hilly San Francisco, slippery and worst (or best for some hard-core addicts) of all, strewn with rocks and granite stones the size of small human heads.



Here we were, furiously pedaling away, trying not to fall down and disfigure ourselves on the rough terrain, when we were overtaken by all these mountain-biking fanatics who were obviously experts at their sport. I swear some of these people have hidden motors and anti-slip devices attached to their expensive bikes. How else would one attack a 35 degree slope with such nonchalant ease and plummet down a horribly uneven 40m hill-face at about 30km/h? By my 3rd incline, I was already getting off my bike to push midway. Hell on several occasions, I was actually going backwards! =))



I am reasonably fit, but oh boy, I have a long way to go before I develop the skills (and guts) to take a real swipe at this game.

But we enjoyed ourselves. Huffing and Puffing aside of course. The trek through the entire trail again on foot after we put the bikes in the SUV was also a good time for bonding with nature.




And keeping an eye out for the natural things in life we Urbanites always take for-granted.







We're doing it again next week. Suckers for pain we are...