Gravel Routes: Desa Mekarsari — Bukittingi — Tibu Tereng
Explore three routes and end it with a dip in the river.
The infinite possibilities of Lombok amaze me. I knew even before I explore and slowly expose its beauty, regardless how small it looks like on the map, this island is massive in some ways because it’s filled with endless adventures.
This one is no exception.
This journal contains three routes which you can explore to your likings. Ride one, ride two, ride three of them; the most important thing is that I’m hoping that you’d find these routes as delightful like I did.
Desa Mekarsari
Desa Mekarsari is located only 10km from where I live, but somehow able to fill me with that stimulating emotion when you discover something new and you just know that you’ll like it a lot. It’s one of those places that’s woken by the dawn chorus, even though it’s fairly close from the city.
This village is the first part of three routes that I combined in one journal, with Tibu Tereng waterfall as the final destination.
Being an unexpected biking trail, chances are, you’d never see any bike passing through Desa Mekarsari. Maybe there are around on weekends, but I’ve never seen anyone with a bike, probably because I always visit this village on weekdays.
Two things to bear in mind when passing through Desa Mekarsari: it can get muddy even during the dry season, and beware of mosquitoes. Therefore, I tend to make stops as minimum as possible in order to avoid those vicious creatures.
One thing that I’ve mentioned a few times about riding in villages in Lombok (or everywhere, for that matter) is the importance of smiling, saying hello, and even making conversations with locals when you take a rest.
Certainly, positive things have their own advantages. In this case, it was the discovery of this track, and the village itself.
Desa Mekarsari
Bukittinggi
I can’t think of a place or a time where a landslide serves as a sign of good times ahead; except maybe Bukittinggi on a Sunday morning. This route starts with a big hole on the right side of the street, just before you enter the dirt. Of course, I really do hope that the local government fix it soon.
Just like any other journey to a strange/new place, you’ve got to pay attention and be careful. One thing that I can highlight is that the terrains change a lot in this route. And if you’re anything like me, it will probably affect your usual performance.
The deeper I ride into Bukittinggi, the more interesting this route gets. The dynamic of everyday life is full of uplifting spirits here; older woman carrying things on top of their heads, kids giving me high fives, and this one house that blasts dangdut house music at 8 am.
There’s one thing, though. This route is sometime dirty in certain parts, full of plastic trash. If it bothers you, maybe it’s an opportunity to help clean the area. Maybe. It’s entirely up to you.
Bukittinggi is a hill that’s filled with tall trees, which cover a lot of surfaces from the sunlight. And since a lot of areas has concrete pavement, they tend to be slippery. I mean, really, really slippery.
Routes
Tibu Tereng
Tibu Tereng is one of many, many waterfalls in West Lombok. If you’re comparing it to other waterfalls, it wouldn’t blow your mind. The water doesn’t fall from a tall cliff, it’s not crystal clear most of the time; in conclusion, it’s just one of many ordinary waterfalls located not too far from the city of Mataram.
However, the journey itself is sensational. After passing Desa Mekarsari and Bukittingi, the first thing you’ll see is the formation of hills of Rinjani, wide open and mysterious. It makes you wanna stop to witness it, inhale its energy, simply appreciating its beauty.
The path to the waterfall slightly fit two motorcycles, with a forest on the left and a cliff on the right. That means it’s wide enough for a bicycle, which makes it safe to go fast as long as you can balance it to avoid falling to the right side.
And believe me, you’d want to go fast on this one.
Who else likes to end a ride by taking a dip in a river?
