Some bike rides are just mythical and carved in one's memory, even five years later. Let me share with you the very special story of this - for me - epic bike ride.
I woke up around 7.30 which was too late to join my cycling friends at the breakfast stand, but at Luzhou bridge, I met Wu Wenyang, one of my cycling buddies. I cycled with him in the direction of Wugu. I joined him all the way to |Zhonghe.
My job in Taipei was not going well to say the least and actually I wanted to escape from that. I just wanted to cycle the whole day. So that is what I did! I called in sick and spent one of the most majestic cycling days of the year outside.
Early in the morning together with Wu Wenyang, who took my picture
A view from over the bridge. Then he explained me how to go to Xindian and I went that way.
Wearing the typical 3490 bike club gear.
I cycled to Xindian, near the Bitan area and had a breakfast. There I called my buddy Tars and asked him if he was home tonight (in Yilan). He was and that settled the destiny for this day. I would go to Yilan! From Xindian, I followed Hwy 9 into Wulai. The road there had two climbs and two descents but the views were magnificent.
Nearly an hour into Wulai I noticed I was going in the complete wrong direction. I asked people in 7-11 and they told me it is not possible to go to Yilan via Wulai. I had to go all the way back to Xindian and then follow Hwy 9 to Yilan. So there I went!
In Wulai
View over the bridge
This was such a great discovery for me!
Welcome to Wulai!
It is a shame that I did not bring a better camera, but at least I took many pictures.
Wulai is located deep in the mountains and it is a very mysterious place
Within Wulai there are several descents and ascents, a perfect interval training!
People selling all kinds of stuff along the route.
The road was wide and there was not too much traffic. Honestly it is because people should be working, including myself on this day!
Then I headed back out of Wulai, back to the real Tai-9
I never went over this bridge, no idea what there is.
Indications for cyclists, from my position. Left to Xindian, Right to Wulai
The passage from Taipei into Wulai and back to Xindian absorbed my whole morning. When I started Beiyi Road, it was noon and getting very warm.
Moreover, this was a mountain pass, which made cycling even more intense
When I stood here, I was tired and finishing my last water. I should have bought some at the 7-11 in Wulai!
Like that, I found myself in the mountains of Taiwan.
A combo feeling of tiredness, suffering and joy that I was doing such an epic ride.
Progress was not so fast as I was exploring the area.
Very steep. There is a Buddhist temple here
It was 16 km to a small town called Pinglin. There I would be able to drink. But would I make it there?
I blamed myself for not taking enough water. I hoped that it would soon be over.
Small police station
This very spot marks my salvation. there was a little, albeit dirty shop, where I could buy water. I bought Supao and water. I was so happy to be able to drink.
The water gave me the power to continue! Optimism reached me again!
How awesome to cycle through the mountains like this
Beiyi road, the connection between Taipei and Yilan
Here I stand, with roadbike, doing nice sports. I was proud of myself! Compared to how I came to Taiwan a few months earlier, I had changed a lot, for the better...
Then another nice thing happened: On a downhill section I went past a group of four cyclists who were cheering at me. I stopped and joined them for a chat. They were a group of four friends who were cycling around the island after doing military service. At that moment, cycling around Taiwan seemed PRO for me.
One of the guys in the group who called himself Juanito Juan was a true polyglot. He spoke good German, even some Spanish. there was no reason to question his English and of course we conversed in Mandarin Chinese. Needless to say he deserved my respect! Anyway, since they also were headed to Yilan, we decided to join forces and go there together.
We made pictures along the route. Slowly the sun was setting, it was the afternoon and the mountains were mythical to me.
Since they were riding on travel bikes with some stuff, I was faster uphill, but I waited for them and made pictures. It was fun.
Perennial Beiyi road! Thank you for such a wonderful day
We went to Pinglin where we had a meal together in a typical restaurant.
Serious look but I was really happy that day. I had already forgotten the stress of the job in Taipei.
Waiting for my fellow riders.
The good part is it offered me some unique pictures of myself as well.
Slowly getting darker...
On the signs, I saw the distance to Yilan shorten. It was less than 20. It was more than 60 in at the beginning of Tai-9.
Cycling around the island together is so nice. I was a bit jealous that I could not join them.
These youngsters are enjoying their time
That was an expensive camera
New made friends
Cheers followed on a downhill section, which gave us the time to rest
the ups and downs of Beiyi
What an awesome day!
The weather was very good. I was shocked to see such great temperatures in November. Impossible back home.
Mysterious mountains
A newborn rider!
Closing in on Yilan
Daylight was slowly shifting away
The last 12 km of Beiyi are a descent, but when we got there it was already dark. So we proceeded with care. I remember the harshness of ramming one pothole on my way down. Luckily that did not leave me with a flat.
Twists and turns in the road
Biking Bart and Pedaling Pete
This day I learnt that to be happy you dont need a lot. You just need a good bike, some nice weather and a few mountains.
They would btw go down to Hualien and Taitung, Kenting and then back to Taipei.
This is where the long 12km descent started
This is parking for trucks
During the descent we saw the lights of Yilan. The descent was a bit scary.
At the end of the descent or ways parted. They were going to Yilan city, I was going to Wai-ao, a small village a bit north of Yilan. That was where Tars was working. I was feeling so glorious during those last miles. I was telling a few people I cycled over here from Tamsui, they all said I was crazy haha. I asked the route and eventually I found it. Tars was impressed by what I did!
Later that evening, we ate hotpot and went to hotsprings. That was very relaxing after such a lovely day. It did not take me long to fall asleep at night. The next day I was cycling back to Taipei.
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