08-Feb-2013 -- This confluence visit is the fourth out of a series of 15 visits in Malaysia and Thailand. The previous confluence is 4°N 103°E. It is in turn part of a 4-month bicycle trip starting in Tasmania at 43°S 146°E.
Normally, I was able to ride my bicycle one degree latitude further reaching one confluence point every day. This time, there were two confluence-free days in-between. One of the reasons was my exhaustion after coming back from 4°N 103°E. I also had to take care of my inflamed feet. Last but not least, the undulating terrain made me deviate to the coast.
On confluence day, I started at 7:15 AM from my hotel in Kuala Berang (9 km beeline from CP). The road to the Sekayu Waterfall helped me to get within 1.8 km. On another wide asphalt road I got within 750 m, from where a gravel track took me within 42 m to the confluence. Note that this gravel track is narrow and climbing extremely steep hills.
Now, I was standing in from of this wooden gate. It was open and behind the gate a comfortable footpath brought me directly to the spot. The dense jungle from the visit two years ago has now been cleared. The confluence is now on garden land with a grass cover and planted trees. Actually, it is not possible to identify any scene from the previous visit.
On this early Sunday morning, no people were yet active. The only spectator that I had was a cat. I rode back to Kuala Berang where I had breakfast. In the evening I stayed in Jerteh which is about 100 km further north-west.
CP Visit Details:
- Distance to an asphalt road: 750 m
- Distance to a track: 42 m
- Distance of bicycle parking: 42 m
- Time to reach CP from bicycle parking: 1 minute
- Time at CP: 8:30 AM
- Measured height: 28 m
- Minimal distance according to GPS: 1 m
- Position accuracy: 3 m
- Topography: steep hills of 10-30 m in height
- Vegetation: garden land with mixed vegetation
- Weather: fine, 25° C (felt temperature)
- Given Name: The Watching Cat Confluence
More pictures of the trip can found at mautz.net.
The story continues is at 6°N 103°E.