Epic Bike Trip to Tatachia and Alishan.

Howdy ho everyone out there perusing my blog, how is you?

It's been some weeks, if not months, since Kate and I have left Changhua County and headed into the mountains. So last weekend we did. We decided to head for Tatachia, two hours south of Dongpu, taking us deeper into the mountains. We thought it would take four hours on scooter, maybe.

What we hadn't bargained for was the extreme cold. The journey from Dongpu to Tatachia was new to us and we had little knowledge of what to expect. It was freezing, literally. As we continued to ascend our bodies got colder and when we started to ride through clouds in the dead of night on deserted mountain roads, I got little worried. At 2,600 metres we were losing the will to continue.

We belatedly arrived at Tatachia, frozen and with no means to warm up. Amazingly the sun was setting, it was beautiful, and ironically the sky was bursting with warm red and orange colours.

We asked the local climbers and campers on the road for some hot soup and quickly warmed up. We were then told that there was no place to stay, unless you book the campers lodge in advance. So we braced ourselves for more riding to the nearest hotel in Alishan. The ride was still uncomfortable, but we had the thought of warm beds and hot showers to motivate us. Seven hours after leaving Yuanlin we arrived at Alishan Hotel. We asked for a wake-up call at 4:00am so we could watch the sunrise.

The views from Alishan are beautiful, but the cloud stopped us from seeing the sunrise. However Kate and I steadfastly agreed Tatachia was more stunning.

Then I had the ride home, via Chiayi. We left Alishan at 11:30 and arrived back, after a hearty meal in the Golden Eagle Pub, around 6:30 ready for sleep. I was knackered and had to get up at 6:00am the next morning for my first Chinese lesson. Wouldn't want to ride that far again, but bloody good to have done it!

Homo-boy pops out for a quick before-leaving pose.


Happy and oblivious in Dongpu.


Kate gets some food in her.


When in Taiwan, eat as they eat!


Please someone, can I have some more! Soooo cold in Tatachia.


Yummy! Nice food too.


Blimey.


Never have I seen a Taiwan sky look so wonderful.


I've not gained weight, I'm wearing two T-shirts, two shirts and a fleece.


Made it to Alishan. It may not look cold, but on a mountain, riding a bike, it is!


Early rise, dan-bing for Martin and Kate.


Lovely cold morning, somehow the cold is harsher in Taiwan compared to the same temperatures at home.


Dude.


Dudette.


Before the sunrise.


What a view.


Us on top of the world.


Cool colours.


Her evil farts drive the tourists away.


So there!


On the way down in the mountain train.


On a bridge with my man shirts undone!


Kate starts taking off the layers as we descend.


When you've got to go, you're always comfortable knowing your girlfriend is watching.


From Alishan it's 75km to Chiyia, we're getting closer.


Sunday night and the sun sets on our way home.


MC

Good Bye Richard and Monica.

Last night was 'Good Bye Richard and Monica night', they both leave on Tuesday. We had a long and entertaining night/morning that mostly involved drinking and errrrrm.... er.. drinking. It was a brilliant plan!
We started at China City restaurant. After that we all headed for New York which was mostly whiskey drinking for me. Then we made our way to Bono's bar and finally after deciding the night was still young, it was back to Stu's place to relax in comfort.
We left about 6:30am and I have spent the whole day producing horrid farts. Great!

What, you mean I have to drink all of it! A whole pint?!?


No worries mate, I'm a geezer innit.


Ross and Rea positively glow.


Look Nick, listen to me.... I'm always right!


Two bottles of beer walk into a bar. One says to his mate "Who's that silly git?"


Tequilla for the hardcore Changhua drinkers.


Jez gets serious for a second and explains the finer details of the TARDIS.


The barmaid looking sexy in green.


The yarn is spun and everyone is engrossed. How we laughed!


Girls..gosh.. talking about hair.


I take off my glasses and get a shock at how drunk I feel.


The cute couple pose.


Me with the headache. (No dinner for me tonight!)


Kate shows off her mole shaped like Africa. Not always a wise party trick.


Kate and Ross conspire to keep drinking.


"Come on boring boy, get on with it!" She says to herself.


None of this maddness makes any sense, what have I become?


Whiskey and beer does mix!


MC

Killer and Kate

We adopted a fish, but no ordinary fish, from Tom and Grainne. It's more than a salt-water fish, it kills! The story goes that it scared the other fish to death. Tom found these condemned fish lying outside the fish tank wanting nothing more from this cruel watery world.
So today Killer lives on his own, and with a reputed memory span of 3 seconds is as happy as a fish in salt-water!


Killer is watching us, ready to pounce, if he feels his personal space is being violated.


"BOO! Ha ha ha ha, got you.." He says to himself.


The domain he commands with a fin of iron.


Oi, what you looking at... Do you want some?


Killer eye view.


Kate wonders at how such a beautifully hung blind could have been installed before she met me?


Make-up is applied. Quickly, we have places to go!


MC