Lai has a photo taken on a bridge.
Lai catches a ride across the Katibas River.
Lai’s bicycle is seen on the rough logging road somewhere between Song and Nanga Yong.
Lai has breakfast with friends Datuk Yong Hua Sying (right) and Lim Bak Chai in Kapit.
KAPIT: Pensioner Peter Lai successfully completed a bicycle ride here from Kuching last month.
Lai began his journey on June 19 and arrived in Sibu on June 21 to attend the three-day ‘Go Green Conference’.
“I heard so much about Jalan Kapit-Song-Kanowit in the printed media. I told myself since I am now a pensioner, why not give myself a challenge because I believe that ‘seeing is believing’.
“With the simplest equipment, I began the journey on June 19 in the morning from Kuching to Serian, and took a break at the junction of Sri Aman Bus Station where I slept overnight. The next morning, I continued the ride to Betong and spent a night in Sarikei. From Sarikei, I went to Sibu, arriving on June 21 in the morning,” he told The Borneo Post.
Lai began his ride here on June 26, initially enjoying the tar-sealed road from Sibu to Kanowit.
“After crossing the Kanowit Bridge, it was a real challenge to ride on off-road conditions until Song. As the Katibas Bridge was closed, luckily a friend of mine, used a boat to ferry me across the Katibas River to continue the journey to Kapit.
“It was a real challenge. Imagine after the rain, half of the bicycle tyre sank into the muddy road surface. Many times I carried the bicycle on my shoulders, especially near to Nanga Sebatu to Sungai Yong. I arrived in Kapit at 10.30pm,” he recalled.
In total, he covered a distance of around 750km.
“I was not worried about the road condition because I expected it to be really difficult since it is under construction.
“The worst was when bees or other insects stung me because at nightfall they were attracted to the headlight. There was terrible pain and swelling because I am sensitive to bee attacks. Anyway, it was all worth a try – a really good experience for me,” he added.
The former Public Works Department senior technical assistant, who retired recently, first took up randonneuring – cycling distances of 200km or more – because of diabetes and high uric acid levels, which forced him to depend on medication.
A cycling enthusiast introduced him to a randonneuring club in Kuching and he also began to cycle to the office.
“We practised regularly and on weekends, in a group, we cycled to Lundu and back to Kuching. After a few months, I went for a medical check-up and in fact my sugar level and uric acid became normal. So I was convinced cycling is good exercise for health. So now, I cycle almost every day,” Lai explained.
The RM700 million 88km Jalan Kapit-Song-Kanowit is expected to be ready by 2019.