2024-07-16
Start: 9:00 / Arrival: 19:00
Distance: 40km (with transfer in Taipei) / Gained height 200 hm
(map is the part only between Guanshan and Chishang)
Temperature in the morning….of course already super hot, esp. in Taipei – so I hoped it would be cooler on the east coast.
Quickly rode to Songshan station to catch the train to Guanshang. First train to Hualien was really nice. Very spacious and never had such deluxe bicycle mounts on a train (although my bicycle was to big for them, but no problem). A group of, what I guess would be, temple pilgrims was also in my car. In the beginning they tried to help my, but neither of us didn’t understand each other so we just smiled and laughed together.
Landscape was also beautiful. The train goes at one point to the mountains to the sea, through Ruifang. One day I want to cycle that as well (but with not so much heat). Oh yes. And riding even a local train here is so much fun, it simply works and has good convenience. Also passed some areas, I had cycled before on the coast – but seen from the train.
Arrived in Hualien, tried to took a picture – but one of my cameras had build up so much condense water from the difference between the trains cold AC air and almost tropic Hualien. Wow. This happened to my a couple of times, after taking the “cold” train, the camera is so cooled down.
Got some cheap but nice station sushi and continued with a regular local train. Rode through rice fields and arrived in the afternoon in Guanshan. Heat was still on.
On the way here – I had discovered, that there is a car free, touristic cycling round course around Guanshan, so rode that. Along rice fields (this time on the bicycle), embedded in the inner valley, with a slight slope and a good view on Guanshan.
Rode along some river, thought there was something in the water and indeed it was. Guess through the heavy rain before, some young goat had been gotten into the river and died :-/ First I thought she would be still alive, as the water was moving here goat lips. But no…strange moment.
Also found some nice temple before rolling down to Guanshan Waterfront Park.
Then rode to Chishang into sundown. Again endless, beautiful rice fields in the inner valley. On the way to Mr Browns, I had to pass some bridge on a bigger road to get back into the rice fields. The lorry driver behind me was so patient, gave thumbs up afterward, honks returned. Big smile on my face. Arriving the the avenue – with the sun going down, it was quite un-touristic, compared to last years visit – being flooded with tourists. So completely interesting new aspect.
Before arriving in Chishang I had a look (or cycled around) the Dapo pond. Then had a 7-11 beer, checked in and went for the restaurant from last year, as everything else closes quite early in Chishang. Refilled drinks at the 7-11 again and off the Dapo pond where I wanted to sit.
Lights had gone off, but that was so chilled. Sitting beside the pond. Thinking of what had happened in the last time. My whole stay, the work. What could be the future. After busy Taipei, this was sooo relaxing.
Sat quite some time there before going to bed.
