If it is such that I don't remember when it was that I had my last long bike ride, then, yes, I have to (sadly) admit that the last long ride must have taken place a very long time ago.
There have been a few short ones this year.
Not too long ago I went on a ride to Lower Peirce Reservoir, but because I got lost wandering about the PCN at Sengkang and Punggol, it was dark by the time I made my way on the hills of Yio Chu Kang Road, and the gates to the reservoir were closed by the time I got to the stretch of Upper Thomson Road.
Then there was the time when I took the TMCR to Changi Village, returning on the Loyang Avenue-Pasir Ris-Tampines-Bedok route- but, like how it had been to Lower Peirce, there are no pictures of this ride as well.
On hindsight, I should have.
This is not a route to be underestimated.
Sure, it looks easy on the map- very straightforward- but get there and you'll be thrown a curveball of traffic conditions, road conditions and heavy bike traffic on the PCN.
I'm a road rider.
And at Pasir Ris, most of the roads filter left.
These are the roads that for the longest time seem to never finish their renovations, and so bike riders like myself not only have to slide around some gaping potholes but also have to watch out for headlights of oncoming cars on the right.
You'd think you'd be fine after you clear Pasir Ris.
No, for some reason everyone seems to be rushing their way when you're at Tampines, and when you're coming down to Bedok from the Tampines side.
That ride was so stressful I didn't want to do it again.
Less stressful, however, was this route that I took on this particular afternoon.
There was first an errand pit stop at Hougang, then along Avenue 8 we went towards Punggol Park. The intention had been to go onto the PCN and head to Coney Island but somehow we made an odd turn and found ourselves on the road heading into Sengkang.
Somewhere on this road- don't ask me what the name was- it began to rain. We didn't stop- not until we went onto a flyover and came down to where the Bright Hill Evergreen Home was.
Here at a bus stop we stopped, waited for the rain to lighten up, then picked up our route after.
The plan was to go to Lorong Halus but somehow we made a wrong turn (again) into some road (I think it was Punggol Central) which found us on Pasir Ris Industrial Drive 1 that- had we continued- would have brought us to Pasir Ris Drive 12 and Pasir Ris and beyond.
Fortunately we remembered the space of this area quite well, and we quickly made a left which then brought us onto Lorong Halus itself where we then backtracked until we got to the red Lorong Halus Bridge.
Next time we come we'll make a right at the wetlands and cut through Coney Island (via the Serangoon East dam and the east entrance) to Punggol Point and The Punggol Settlement instead of going on the PCN.
Much faster that way.
Less complicated too.
Still, being on this side of the water afforded me some wonderful (and unexpected) views.
The sun had gone down by the time we arrived at Punggol Point, so a quick refuel dinner of ee-mian at one of the places, and back on the bikes we were, heading our way forward towards Marina Country Club, Seletar North Link through Punggol Timor and Punggol Barat, then, finally Yishun Dam.
Across Yishun Dam (tremendously crowded these days) we went, onto Yishun Avenue 1 and all the way we went until the junction of Yishun Avenue 2.
Here we had a little discussion. Were we to go back via Lentor Avenue or we were to continue onto Yishun Avenue 1 and onto Mandai Avenue?
We agreed on the latter. (I didn't feel like traveling back east via Ang Mo Kio)
So towards the other side of Yishun Avenue 1 we went, then onto Mandai Avenue. Here we stopped again, trying to decide whether we should go down Sembawang Road, or forward to Mandai Road.
I was for Sembawang Road at first, but later agreed with my co-rider that since we'd come this far, we should go Mandai Road instead.
So off we went.
I'd forgotten how hilly the hills of the Mandai area were.
Either that or my stamina was off the whack.
Let's just say that it was a nice surprise to see the Tower Transit Bus Depot on one side, and the very welcoming sight of the Shell station (it's still there!) below the huge glowing logo of Sheng Siong
Here we made a left and onto Woodlands Road we went.
Also a very hilly road with lots of cars (where are they going?) I have to say we got a bit pooped, and so decided it necessary to make a brake stop at Hillion Mall where we dropped (tiredly) onto the paved outdoor area sipped a packet of Ovaltine each.
Two bottles of green tea were stuffed in my backpack by the time we recovered and decided to head back onto the road. Towards Upper Bukit Timah Road we went, passing by a few churches, lots of dark green foilage, the Rail Mall and finally that long slope that brings you to Dunearn Road.
From here it was a straightforward route down- one that we'd done many times before.
Along the way we went past a couple Downtown Line MRT stations, National JC, the Farrer Road turn, the Kheam Hock Road turn, the (old) Raffles Town Club now Pullman Residences, Stevens Road, Singapore Chinese Girls' School, Chancery Lane and- Newton Circus.
Tee road had become Bukit Timah Road by now (I don't know where, honestly) so we simply carried on until the distinctive lights of Tekka Center (can't miss that HDB block) and Tekka Place loomed ahead.
Straight onto Sungei Road and Ophir Road we went, passing by the Our Lady of Lourdes church before turning left onto Victoria Street.
It was an even more familiar route after that.
Past Hotel Boss, past Lavender MRT and Pico, past Kallang, past Sims Drive, Sims Way, onto Mountbatten Road, then Old Airport Road and then we were back at Tanjong Katong Road- near the point where the east side begins.