While I've been riding all over the island for the last two years, this morning's ride must be the longest that I've been on the saddle. The new mountain bike which I bought for $300 early this year helped - it is a lot more comfortable than the previous one. Actually I was quite happy struggling with the old TREK, thinking that it was the best bike around, until I rode the new one. It's like the toddler who thought mother's milk was the best drink until he tasted honey water.My usual weekly escapades are about 3 hours of slow and leisurely ride stopping for a rest whenever necessary. This morning I started particularly early at about 7.15 am from Telok Blangah to Queensway - Holland Vee, stopping at Farrer Road food centre for the delicious mee siam. I also went up to the 14 floor of the HDB to check out the construction of the mammoth condominium d'Leedon site. From Farrer Road, I rode along the pavement along Bukit Timah Road - that was a mistake as the makeshift pavement is so darn narrow because of the construction of the Downtown MRT line. It took me sometime to get to Newton and then towards IRAS building. I then spent a few minutes watching the LTA bomber issuing a parking ticket for illegal parking on Gilstead Road. Just as his dreaded machine rolled out the ticket, the owner of the vehicle appeared and somewhat pleadingly told the warden that he had gone for an urgent leak - and the bomber gave the usual reply, " Sorry once this machine prints out I cannot do anything to reverse it", and just to prevent an ugly scene, he advised the irate driver that he can explain within a week to the Traffic Police and more often than not, they will waive the fine.
I then continued towards Moulmein Road and stopped at the MOH Anti- tuberculosis unit - to take a picture of the ancient bungalow used for years as a centre to monitor TB. I remember vividly that I used to go for annual checks at this centre during the 70s. By then it was already 9.15am, some two hours since I started from home. I continued plodding along Balestier Road where I saw more condominium building sites. Balestier Road area was my childhood playground and the few old buildings do bring back good memories of old. Time for coffee break, so I stopped at the hawker centre at Whampoa for copi-O at 50 cents a cup and may by some fortune meet up with friends of old. No such luck but I struck up a conversation with Ah Peck, who told me that my bicycle chain was useless against bicycle thieves. He told me that he had three bikes stolen over the years, one of them was an old rusty bicycle with the old fashioned gentleman handle. He said even with three chain locks - kennynair, the thieves swiped it. He advised that I should get a stainless steel half inch diameter U-Lock - not so easy to saw off. I said that would be too heavy to carry around - I would rather park the bike near where I'm seated for the copi-O. While talking to this new found friend I noticed a uniformed lady in the monsoon drain searching for things. Upon closer scrutiny I realised she was looking for the larvae of the dreaded Aedes mosquito - the sting of which can cause Dengue fever.
It's 10 am, and time to head back home. I wanted to take a different route through Kallang Basin. Having no GPS device, I need to ask someone the shortest way there. I then chanced upon an old man on a bike. He had stopped at a Toto betting shop. When he had finished making his bet, I asked him for directions and boy was he eager to help - I spoke to him in Hokkien and he replied in English. He said, " no need to take Balestier Road - follow me and I'll show you the short cut to Kallang Basin". True enough, after a short distance he painstakingly explained that I should cross CTE via the overhead bridge - then head straight to the tall buildings at Kallang. I thanked him for the help - I think he felt good doing a good deed - and may secretly hope to be rewarded with the right Toto results. Pushing the bike along the ramp was a breeze - I only wish there are more of these ramps at the O/H bridges. On the other side of the bridge is an ITE College (Balestier), and I rode on Towner Road towards McNair Road, May Road - all sounded so familiar as I recalled the school days when I walked to school daily on these roads to McNair Primary School. On the way to Kallang, I passed another MRT Station being built - the Bendeemer Station. Soon I was already at Kallang Basin Park riding along the paths lined with coconut palms towards the Singapore Flyer. Again I saw lots of construction machinery - preparing for the Singapore F1 races. I wonder if it was worth the while, spending 4 months preparing the F1 circuit, fences, lights, tracks and viewing platforms - just for 4 nights of F1 races.
Soon I was already riding by the side of Singapore River - Boat Quay and Clarke Quay, where I stopped to take a few photos of River activities. As dark clouds were forming in the sky I continued towards Zion Delta Roads thru Tiong Bahru Park - Henderson Rd and finally Telok Blangah - The last few hundred metres was in light rain, reaching home at about 12 noon some four and half hours after I had left home.It was a most satisfying morning outing.
