New Year's Resolution

[Digger]

Flower Vase Rock on the coral island.



Old fort and gun complex similar to the coastal artillery installations on Rottnest Island.

Total so far - 592km.

SPOT Link is here;
https://share.findmespot.com/shared/fac ... UCtYLNPufa

Happy Australia Day (...and we shouldn’t change the date).

[pspencer]

Digger happy Australia Day to you too, agree no date change. Enjoy Chinese New Year celebrations, but keep the fascinating photos coming to entertain us lounge lizards.

[Digger]

G’day Slackers, welcome to a new working week!

Taiwan update - Monday (your public holiday (Slackers)).


Therapy while on Lambai Island.



Lobster Rock...the Island coastline in pretty rugged. It is the only coral Island off the coast of Taiwan.



It must have been their off day...I didn’t see any.

[Digger]

Me, Main Street on the Island. Doesn’t have the same appeal as Rotto. Should ban all the scooters and cars! The Island has a population of 12,000 without the day trippers and holiday makers.




Persisting with rain the morning I left. Waited till late checkout at 11am and the rain stopped.



The Island is the main fishing port for all of Taiwan. Imagine how many Illegals could fit on that!

[Digger]

Got back to the mainland on Sunday...

Had a very, very deflating day! Started with the rain but that slowed just before 11am so I was able to get off the Island ok. Got back to the mainland with the intention of cycling 20km to the next town and find accn. I was expecting to sus out the train station for details of trains to the east coast. Works out they don’t allow bikes anymore from that station since Oct 2019. Tried to find a room somewhere but none avail. My mind starts to race. No room...no train. What next. Go to bus station and can catch a bus tomorrow. Gotta find a place to stay tonight. No luck. Start heading BACK from where I came. 20 km backtrack. Ring a hotel in the meantime. No rooms avail from where I came. I then have visions of having to sleep in a bus shelter or on the beach. By coincidence, I see a hotel that is not marked on the map. They want $110 because it’s new year but I’m happy to pay.
Horrible day, very stressful but a good outcome in the end. I underestimated how busy new year gets with limited accn available. I will have to ensure I book the night before. I don’t need the stress.



I was passed by another cyclist on Sunday (they are quicker then me because of the trailer). A young bloke from Hong Kong who had sense to start from Taichung and not Taipei. There is no appeal for cyclists on the West Coast...I know that now!



I struggled to find a room on Sunday night...I underestimated the New Year crush down south to get away from the city. These small things make the $110 room seem so much more worthwhile.


Better day today (Monday)...things went according to plan (ain’t that boring lol). Caught the bus successfully although it was running an hour late due the traffic snarls caused by Chinese New Year traffic. It’s like the traffic chaos when people head south from Perth for long weekends. Taiwan has a population similar to AUSTRALIA but is an Island two thirds the size of Tasmania!!! I am now on the East coast and will hopefully enjoy a little less chaos (unlikely) and a few more better vistas. I’ll be following the coastline all day tomorrow (Tuesday).



A screenshot of what it would have taken me 6 hours to do I did in a coach on 90 minutes for $10AUD.
Best investment I ever made. I am on holiday after all.


Total so far - 650km.

[Digger]

Update - Tuesday...

Cabbage makes me fart lol. Just as well I’m travelling on my own. I’m eating locally while on the trip (when in Rome). You know what it’s like...you take the weight off one cheek and just let rip. Sometimes, I wake myself up at night with the noise hahaha.
It rained all day today. Not much I could do about it but just knuckle down and get it done. Pity really cause I was looking forward to the vistas on the east coast.
Tomorrow could be case of ‘rinse and repeat’ as I head inland thru the Rift Valley for a couple of days.



On a clear day the scenery would be spectacular...similar to Great Ocean Road in Victoria or the Captain Cook Highway in North Queensland. Pity I can’t control the weather...all part of the adventure.



Me, looking south. This time complete with poncho and shower cap lol. My hair goes ‘frizzy’ when it gets wet (actually it’s more about keeping my camera dry).



Holiday traffic returning to wherever they have come from. It must be the end of the official Chinese NY. I have noticed that accn prices reduce heavily from tomorrow (Wednesday).



Night market -Taitung.

Stats for today.
Distance - 59.0km.
Avg - 16.1 (slowed down because of the conditions).
Total so far - 709km

SPOT Link is here;
https://share.findmespot.com/shared/fac ... UCtYLNPufa

[KoosWA]

No Coronavirus mask yet?

[Digger]

G’day Slackers, Taiwan update - Wed 29 Jan.

Finally, some respite from the urban sprawl. Today was all about why I cycle tour. Quieter road (although still some traffic on Highway 9), decent scenery in the form of mountains either side, paddy fields, pineapple and banana plantations as I cycle thru the East Rift Valley. It was cold today (max 16 degrees) and tomorrow will be cooler with a max of 14 degrees. No rain today and tomorrow should also be dry. Gotta get to my destination before 3pm before the rain is due.


I am currently riding thru the East Rift Valley...mountains on both sides. This looking west.



The Luye River crossing...I’m not sure if the rivers ever flow/flood.



Highway 9... I’m inland from the coastline for three days.



Finally some respite...paddy fields and sugar cane. Cold temps though. It is their winter here ATM. This is looking east to the other mountain range of the valley.


Stats for today.
Distance - 54.6km.
Time - 3.21 hours.
Avg - 16.2kph (cold headwind and gentle slope up most of the day).
Max - 56.9kph.
Total so far - 764 km.

SPOT Link is here;
https://share.findmespot.com/shared/fac ... UCtYLNPufa

[Digger]

G’day Slackers, Taiwan update - Friday 31 Jan.


Still cycling thru the East Rift Valley....


Great day today overall for different reasons. I decided to create my own route instead of using the suggested route on my nav app. Best thing I could’ve done. A little more difficult (elevation wise) and longer distance but a really relaxing ride thru rural backroads and small villages. I’ll pull up for two nights at my next stop and do some local exploring. Got a great room for $40 tonight in a hotel undergoing renovations.


Some weird hay structures on the road side...I’m the one with the bigger brain.



This is a rice ‘nursery’. From here the rice will be hand planted in the paddy fields.




This side of the country has a long history with its aboriginal heritage.

[Digger]

The morning sun today (Friday) actually breaking thru the cloud cover for a change.



The roads were deserted...I guess as soon as they build a smoother, quicker more direct highway then motorists will use those. That suits me. This was Route 193. Still in good shape.



I went thru a small village and the Main Street was lined with totems...everyone different from the one before.

[Digger]

The view from behind the handlebars...it will be short lived I’m sure.



For a moment, I had a flashback to 2017 when I cycled alongside the Rhine River.



I consider myself a seasoned traveler...not much surprises me. This is a toilet seat (duh). Manufactured by Panasonic. The toilet seat was heated...I wasn’t expecting that. I was too scared to press the other buttons!



It reminded me when I was cycling thru rural Thailand in 2016 and came across this in my en-suite. I thought it was some sort of gym equipment. Then I saw the ‘instructions’ on the wall lol.



I still smile when I think of it. I’ve downloaded the plans from the Internet...just gotta find time to get it made.


Stats for today
Dist - 57.5km.
Time - 3.28 hours.
Avg - 16.5 kph.
Max 53.8kph
Total so far - 876km.

SPOT Link is here;
https://share.findmespot.com/shared/fac ... UCtYLNPufa

[Goldie1]

Look forward to your travel story’s Digger great scenery & photos but starting to wonder about your accommodation you seem to be frequenting on this trip, stay safe out there on those crazy roads.

[pspencer]

Digger keep up the great photos, your selection of the rural roads looks much more relaxing. Got a good laugh with the Pleasure Lounge. Probably takes orders at Cats for mass fabrication. Ha Ha!

[Cookie]

Very entertaining commentary and great photos - now back to work and take some more.... for us that are at work LOL

[spacey1]

Love yer work digger...

Just the kind of work I could easily fall into...

Keep 'em coming.

Ah, Taiwan, home of the Queensland sugar industry... well that's were it moved to all those years ago... Some folks made a buck or 5 out of transferring Australian know-how...