Tuesday, January 03, 2012

Solo ride around Taiwan by the numbers

Solo ride around Taiwan by the numbers: 16 days, 1,142km, min riding a day: 21km, max riding a day: 112km, can’t help swearing in multiple language: 100+ times, thinking of giving up: 10+ times, violating speed limit accidentally: 5-10 times. Running through a red light accidentally: 200+ times. Total cost: Less than NTD$9,000(USD$300). Weight loss: 0kg(WTF).

Hightlights of solo riding around Taiwan 2011/12/18-2012/1/2

HIGHLIGHTS:

*Ride through the most scenery and dangerous road with countless trucks/ tourist buses-Suhua Highway.

*Stay at most holy church in Taiwan right before Xmas and get lost on the next morning and chased by dogs for few times-Wanjin.

*Stay at strangers’ house for free and learn how to pay it forward-Taidong: Dawu and Luye.

*Ride in the pouring rain-Suhua highway, and east north coast of Taiwan.

*Hitchhike with my bike-Taidong to Dulan.

*Run into aboriginal people’s house, eating, drinking, singing together-Fanshang, Pingdong.

*Free massage from the hot spring hotel owner at Rueshui.

*Get away from traffic and ride on the small country road: No. 185/193/197/199.

*Celebrate the final countdown to 2012 with shitty fireworks: Near Taipei tower 101.

*Visit most hippy coffee shop for live music on Christmas eve, and again drinking and dancing with aboriginal people-Dulan.

*Meet new friend on the road and switch bikes to ride: Taidong, Hualian.

*Visit friends along the way for free meal and stay: Chiayi, Tainan, Kaoshung, Taipei, Shinzu.

*Free lunch at police office-Mudan, Pingdong.