Garmin Activity: https://connect.garmin.com/modern/activity/771378504
237km, 10h32, 3353 elevation
237km, 10h32, 3353 elevation
This trip had been on my schedule for many, many weeks, but do the circumstances I never really got to it. Today I decided that would be different! Although I must say, when i woke up, Heaven did not look secure to me so I was quite uncertain about taking such a long trip. My thoughts were: Let's go to Puli and see from there...
I did the usual rite of getting ready and heaving the bike set up, having my quick breakfast down the hill and making the climg through Houshanlu. I cycled to Fengyuan, further to Shigang along the Fengdong bicyle lane to Dongshi. From Dongshi I took the Hwy 8 to Heping. En route I stopped at Long'an Bridge for a nice early picture
The road found its way to Hwy 21, my personal favorite, however I only occasionally ride it in this direction. But always a pleasure of being here: 3km uphill, 1km of a platform and a nother 3km. In Chinese this location is known as Baimaoshan, white hair mountain. It goes all the way to Puli, exactly what I plan to do today.
Some snapshots of me riding my bike and enjoying my new helmet. Really like this helmet!
This location is yet to be explored! It goes to Tougui Mountain back to Xinshe or even Guoxing. Now that will be a very creapy little mountain path. Guaranteed to be immensely steep!
Two more km of climbing and the roller coaster ride to Guoxing can commence
Last time I came here was with Mr Cai on his S-Works Tarmac when we rode the Three Hills Challenge of January 18th
Goggles on is cooler for sure
Nice views along Baimaoshan
Almost there..
Didnt take any pictures during the descent, since I have ridden that rode a few dozen times. After making it to Guoxing, I kept following Hwy 21 which is another ascent and then a descent and yet another ascent to Puli. The last section does have a few km with a fairly steep gradient in there, varying from 9 to 14. I had never ridden Guoxing to Puli via 21 before. I had done it the other way at least nine times. So this was a new experience, going slow where I used to go fast and vice versa.
A local farmer cultivating the land
There is a little cycling path here which I am bound to check out on a favorable occasion
That path goes behind me
Tai 21... My grounds...
I really like coming here. A quick break and then the next part of the ride
I was gonna judge in Puli what I was doing next, and now that I am here and the sky is fairly tranquil, I decided to challenge Wushe Reservoir, Aowanda tribe's hometown. I am getting smarter and smarter and for this trip, not only did I prepare to numbers (Tou 71 + 89), I also took the effort of looking up the name of the street i needed to take in Puli center to make it there. This street name was Zhongzheng road. So from Puli I took Zhongzheng Road, which collided with Road 131. I just kept watching my gps map and following that road until Tou71 literally popped up in front of me: Mission Accomplished!
Never thought it would be so easy to track Tou71. This road goes all the way to Wushe Reservoir. Will be about 30-40km of ascents and descents
Next stop: Wujie! What a cool name
The first few KM are pretty ok. it starts to ascent very steeply from 4km. It will be about 13-15% over there
Of course, no Puli riding without tunnels, that's a certainty here in central Taiwan
Let's have a quick selfie, but actually I am stopping to prepare my bike: lights, camera, action!
Into the hole!
This tunnel is still pretty fair, it has room for two cars and it is even illuminated. But it is still a tunnel where my voice will rebounce and my GPS signal will dissappear.
This side-effect makes it really look like a dark hole
Outside of the tunnel, things are back under control. This is where it starts to descent.
One small problem though, no wait, two problems: ONE it is rainign, TWO this road is FULL of iron spokes and potholes for water irrigation purposes. That makes them going down slippery and even dangerous. I had to unclick my pedals and slown down drastically on nearly each and every one of them. No way to go around, I could only brake and cross them. After today I decided I would get rid of my road pedals and go with SPD MTB.
But regardless of all that, the views are nice
And so desolate...
Tou71, 13km mark
My precious bike! Good to have it back!
See what I mean? Dangerous as hell!
Wujie Tribe
I am actually hiding here because of the rain. It is really raining ahrd now and I kinda regret being here at this instant. Especially since it will mean, my bike will get dirty
Wujie small bridge. I just had to check it out
Now here is a geography concept turnover: Zhuoshuixi runs here in the depths of Nantou! Check your maps, it really does!
This tunnel signifies the end of Tou71 and the beginning of Tou83. Which means between Puli and Wushe, i am about half way. Which is good news!
Wet and dirty roads will not be gentle to a freshly washed bike
Awesome scenary
More potholes, I mean tunnels
Taiwan is really big, unlike what the Taiwanese say. So many remote places I cant believe it. And i am only talking about Central Taiwan. Such an infinite maze!
This road has no signs what so ever and is full of twists and turns. How can one not get lost at least a couple of times?
Still climbing
Still feeling fresh
This road is full of ascents and descents. A good interval work out!
Nice! Another tribe! I met a friend here
who was kind enough to take my picutre
More Zhuishui River...
This road goes straight through this aboriginal village, and it goes straight up as well
Wushe... nearing...
According to my milage, cant be too far now...
I have seen this location on the map. I will have to go straight, to Wushe. Aowanda will be another day;'s trip.
Lovely though...
I always like points of reference, they work really well mentally. Just keep going boy
Wushe Reservoir, not as full as it used to be
Getting more than enough exercise today!
I cannot believe I just did this entire trip, I still have to go back home which is a hundred km from this location. What a giant ride today!
Aowanda, I usually only come here when I go to Wuling, so this really feels strange
This is it, the way to heaven, and I am going back to Shalu
Thank you for visiting Ren ai county
Renzhiguan, I really feel like I am going for a Wuling trip...
This mark is the beginning of the race Wuling from the West
Tai 14, somewhere in Guoxig, on my way back home
When I came bye the 136 to Taiping I decided to go for it. I said to myself: I will make a very honest attempt at finding that little road Nathan was talking about. I really did find it after a few km.
But the road conditons inside were just... terrible... and I mean really terrible...
Steep as a mofo with 20%, I can take that, but this road was nearly impossible to have grip. It got me walking twice.
But then you stumble upon this wonderful view and you just forget about all the frustrations you just had...
Via Taiping to Wufeng, back to Shaul, what a ride
Splendid!
Wufeng, that's the place to be right now, preferably before dark!
Wauw, what a wonderful sunset. Thank you Nathan Miller!
What a lovely day, a fantastic ride! one for life!
When I got back home I missed an inch of 240km, did a lot of climbing, somewhere around 3k and spent several hours in the sattle. A wonderful top-notch workout that it! Adios!
