For the past 6 days we are heading south along the west coast of Taiwan island. Today is the day we going in different direction, we are heading back to north. Unofficially we have done done the journey or "cycle" half the island of Taiwan. For the sake of capturing sunrise leaving homestay as early as 5:30 am. In the end due to thick cloud we are not able to see the sun. Move on to the road going to Taidong (台東).
Many have told us the east coast will be hilly and nobody mention about the wind. We have to counter the wind from front and left while cycle. Praying for the wind from our back but it never happen probably that is first time I pray thus god can't really hear me well. At one point our bike was blown "away" by the wind while parking side by side to each other.
Scenery on the east coast? Yes, everyone who has done cycling round the island of Taiwan will tell you east coast has the best view of all. Too many spot for photo and we are just started the route on east coast heading north. One of the magnificent spot was Fengchuisha (風吹沙) a.k.a. Wind Blow Sand, the name came from its natural behavior on this place. Every year during the seasonal northeast wind direction will carry the sand from the beach to the road. Usually one third of the road will be cover with sand.
Besides fighting with the strong wind I keep telling myself that I will be back to this enjoying the scenery while staying in those simple yet nice small hotel. One of them called Hotel de Plus which has a unique design that attract me most.
We didn't have a proper breakfast in the morning thus stop in a small town called Manjhou (滿洲). This place is slightly far from the sea and the land here are mainly are used for agriculture. From windy and sea view we are entering to peaceful farmland with fresh breath from the green. Passing by a small desert (九棚大沙漠 a.k.a. 港仔大沙漠) where you could play with slide and buggy.
Next few kilometers was challenging, we were guided by my Garmin to off road trail where local will trek by foot. We notice something not right but still try to go further in to see if it is possible to go through. A group of student walking out of the place and their teacher advise us to turn back. The reason is with our bike not possible to go pass this trail easily. This way will shorten the distance and from elevation profile tells not much of climbing to dealt with. With much regret we turn back to take longer route with tougher climb. Most local who cycle in this area will fear of this route which they called Shouka (壽卡).
Shouka has a small police post was once being left unattended but recent year many cyclist will pass by that post thus it was refurbished to cater as rest stop for cyclist. Why this was made special for cyclist because local cyclist call this hill climb a Devil's climb (21 kilometers continuous climb up to 436 meters above sea level) and as cyclist should not miss this climb if you are calling yourself tough cyclist. This post was the top of the climb and those who succeed the climb would leave a message on the wall of the building. Hell yeah....we did that!!!Spending extra time to take longer route with crazy climb we are way behind time. From Shouka to Taidong is another 79 kilometers, though with about 20 kilometers of downhill we still need to rush at faster pace to reach Taidong which is another 59 kilometers. We have to decide on changing route option. A quick decision was to get ourselves to Taidong first then will plan for the next few days route thoroughly.
We will do our best to get as close as possible to Taidong but set a few backup point where we can find another mean of transport to go Taidong, which usually is train. When almost reaching Dawu (大武) it is getting darker and we have to go to the training station check the time of next train. This is second time I mark a crossed on my tour for not doing it right.
From the ride detail, I found out we did a distance of 92.59 kilometers...not bad at all! [Added on 10th April 2013 @ 11:45 am]
Actual ride route on day 06 with elevation profile and speed graph against distance.
Ride detail from my Garmin Edge 800.
Many have told us the east coast will be hilly and nobody mention about the wind. We have to counter the wind from front and left while cycle. Praying for the wind from our back but it never happen probably that is first time I pray thus god can't really hear me well. At one point our bike was blown "away" by the wind while parking side by side to each other.
Scenery on the east coast? Yes, everyone who has done cycling round the island of Taiwan will tell you east coast has the best view of all. Too many spot for photo and we are just started the route on east coast heading north. One of the magnificent spot was Fengchuisha (風吹沙) a.k.a. Wind Blow Sand, the name came from its natural behavior on this place. Every year during the seasonal northeast wind direction will carry the sand from the beach to the road. Usually one third of the road will be cover with sand.
Besides fighting with the strong wind I keep telling myself that I will be back to this enjoying the scenery while staying in those simple yet nice small hotel. One of them called Hotel de Plus which has a unique design that attract me most.
We didn't have a proper breakfast in the morning thus stop in a small town called Manjhou (滿洲). This place is slightly far from the sea and the land here are mainly are used for agriculture. From windy and sea view we are entering to peaceful farmland with fresh breath from the green. Passing by a small desert (九棚大沙漠 a.k.a. 港仔大沙漠) where you could play with slide and buggy.
Next few kilometers was challenging, we were guided by my Garmin to off road trail where local will trek by foot. We notice something not right but still try to go further in to see if it is possible to go through. A group of student walking out of the place and their teacher advise us to turn back. The reason is with our bike not possible to go pass this trail easily. This way will shorten the distance and from elevation profile tells not much of climbing to dealt with. With much regret we turn back to take longer route with tougher climb. Most local who cycle in this area will fear of this route which they called Shouka (壽卡).
Shouka has a small police post was once being left unattended but recent year many cyclist will pass by that post thus it was refurbished to cater as rest stop for cyclist. Why this was made special for cyclist because local cyclist call this hill climb a Devil's climb (21 kilometers continuous climb up to 436 meters above sea level) and as cyclist should not miss this climb if you are calling yourself tough cyclist. This post was the top of the climb and those who succeed the climb would leave a message on the wall of the building. Hell yeah....we did that!!!Spending extra time to take longer route with crazy climb we are way behind time. From Shouka to Taidong is another 79 kilometers, though with about 20 kilometers of downhill we still need to rush at faster pace to reach Taidong which is another 59 kilometers. We have to decide on changing route option. A quick decision was to get ourselves to Taidong first then will plan for the next few days route thoroughly.
We will do our best to get as close as possible to Taidong but set a few backup point where we can find another mean of transport to go Taidong, which usually is train. When almost reaching Dawu (大武) it is getting darker and we have to go to the training station check the time of next train. This is second time I mark a crossed on my tour for not doing it right.
From the ride detail, I found out we did a distance of 92.59 kilometers...not bad at all! [Added on 10th April 2013 @ 11:45 am]
Arrived at this monument again before 6:00 am hoping to get a photo shot on sunrise.
That is my breakfast served on top of my handle bar bag which will last me till another 30 kilometers.
Looks like we are out of luck due to thick cloud in the sky.
Take our breakfast then just go on the journey with disappointment because no sunrise no sunshine.
Nice backdrop but it was not fake...too good to be true.
From front or rear I look too good...NO, it was the scene beautify my appearance!
As we promised earlier, "I help you, you help me."
The advantages of having digital camera were able to snap as many photo as your memory card can hold then we can choose which is better. So our photo shooting philosophy were just blindly shoot at what we think is good to have it.
Wished I did bring along dSLR and tripod for more and better photography.
The view worth the effort to cycle against the strong wind.
The start of east coast, the wave was constant hitting the coast.
With his windbreaker he can barely stand still when I snap this photo, so does I try hard to get steady position to press on the camera.
I have seen many of such view on photo which they printed on corner a place in Switzerland. I believe we can find many other of such magnificent view in here too.
I am in my dream...
Fengchuisha (風吹沙), means wind blowing sand.
The area you see sand does have plants underneath but due to strong northeast wind it carries the sand from beach upward to where we stand at about 40 meters high.
Not many cars along this road because it was a place to have vacation and this day was Wednesday therefore local will not come.
We have get support from the notice board for our bike to park, with just our stand not enough to hold our bike from being blow by the wind.
A shot of my trustworthy BlackBeauty before leaving.
Find out if any other nearby POI worth a visit.
Can you see the sand on the road which may cover one third of the road?
The sand build up another small hill.
Coast guard cum rest stop for cyclist. As cyclist you can get almost any help you need here.
Reached a small thus getting additional food from a shop near to this convenient store.
Desert in Taiwan.
The information on this unique notice board attract my attention, it says the local in this township were able to make music easily regardless they are well educated or not.
You can see a piece of desert far from this photo, unfortunately I don't see anybody visiting this "playground" for buggy and slide.
A closer look at the desert.
We are back to the coast.
A small fishing village near to the famous desert in Taiwan.
Here is the port where fisherman will "park" thei boat, did you notice what is their boat made of? Most of their fishing boat look like this.
This is a rest stop built for visitor to enjoy the view of fishing village nearby.
This side mirror is not only used for seeing incoming vehicle from behind but let me see what I missed from another point of view. Sometimes we have to see thing from many angle to really enjoy the beauty of it.
I should have gone into this police station to ask for direction instead.....
Got into off road trail lead us to nowhere.
Went into a town after hours of nonstop climbing, hope we could find food for lunch because from map or GPS do not see any possible location we could find food.
Found 2 native houses also look like a restaurant to us, pick one nearer then just order whatever they have to offer.
Too hungry thus not able to judge if this taste good or not, we can't be picky anymore because not sure what we can find if we go on. Moreover we not sure how much more uphill we have to climb.
These are the top of those hill I climbed and yet to reach the top.
Shouka, you really the right place to test a cyclist determination and strength!
Shouka, you really the right place to test a cyclist determination and strength!
When I reach here just a simple thought of getting water refilled and use the toilet. Just before I write this journal did a quick check on Shouka and felt so happy to have a brief stop in this great place, Shouka Bike Stop (壽卡鐵馬驛站).
A rest stop where I rewarding myself a cup of latte from 7-11 at two third of the downhill from Shouka. In fact I was a little disappoint with the downhill here, I was being slow down by the truck ahead of me and I have hard time to find way bypass due to its length.
A very long stretch of coastal road with head wind going towards Dawu.
Park and ready to enter platform in grey mood...
This station platform is about 2 floors above ground, and we have to carry everything climbing up stairs to the platform.
The proof of my cheat... :(
The train was full with student and those going home from office. I have to place my bike near to exit where more space to let other walk. That place was so noisy and no way to hear the announcement from the train master which cause me several minutes lost.
I didn't hear the announcement when train reached Taidong thus going off train at next stop Luye (鹿野) which is two station away. Luckily got one train coming from north going towards Taidong which is scheduled to arrived Luye 7 minutes later. And special thanks to the station master (if not mistaken he is about 50 years old) who helping to validate my ticket for returning to Taidong. He sees me carrying so huge bike bag thus asking me stay and wait for him at platform while he crossed the railway track to his office getting the stamp. This is what I called customer service and also why I respect them, Taiwanese.
My ride partner get off the train on the right time thus he managed to survey the area and secured a room in a motel. After getting our stuff securely stored then went to this place for dinner. We are the last customer who dine in the shop.
So far this is the first spin dry machine offer in the place we stayed. To those of you who plan to cycle around Taiwan should take this as a must in your consideration of the place to stay. Otherwise you will always got the feeling of wet under pants all the time when you cycle.
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