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