The excellence of Route 8 for cycling
becomes apparent past the village of
Tiansiang as the now nearly devoid of
traffic road widens and climbs through
the mountains. Surrounded by scenic
vistas, the morning’s ride offers
something for everyone. The hardcore
cyc l i s t s powe r up 45km o f r oad
ascending from 500m to nearly 2,100m,
while those of us more inclined to
leisurely riding take our time, stopping
to take many pictures.
PHOTOGRAPHY: IMAGE TAIWAN / TOP PHOTO GROUP / JOSHUA SAMUEL BROWN
DAY NINE
DAY TEN
Cycling Taiwan
’
s east coast takes in the spectacular Taroko Gorge and picturesque Hualian-Taitung
Rift Valley.
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؇ᐽԋν་νٙ౻Ѝf
The group breakfasts with a view of
Lishan’s famed sea of clouds rising
before gearing up for the final day.
Everyone is anticipating a fine final day,
which will cover 110km from Lishan (at
nearly 2,000m) to the low-lying coastal
flats of Yilan.
The sun is shining for the first
30km, a mixture of gentle downhill
roads and a few short but steep inclines
leading to the final peak before the
80km gentle ride down to sea level. But
Mother Nature, it seems, has other
plans. As the group shifts into high gear
for the long descent, a gentle rain starts
to fall. Soon it’s a downpour and
temperatures drop several degrees.
Numb hands, slick roads, and limited
visibility make riding unpleasant,
dangerous even. After a chilly roadside
conversation, the group decides that safety
trumps machismo. Our journey’s finish
line will not be crossed on bicycles.
But the van ride back is joyful.
We’ve covered over 800km, experiencing
the sheer beauty, excellent food, and
unparalleled hospitality of Taiwan along
the way. And cutting the ride short offers a
few unplanned for options: a quick visit to
the Kavalan whiskey factory, a lengthy
soak in the hot springs of Jiaoxi, and
more time to feast at Luodong’s night
market.
Wet though it is, the road ahead
lies wide open with possibility.
After lunch at the Peace Café
(named for a nearby tree said to be
thousands of years old) we continue to
an altitude of 2,500m before heading
down to the picturesque village of
Lishan for evening drinks overlooking
mist rising from the valleys.
Tiansiang
˂ୂ
Taroko Gorge
˄ኁტ
Fengbin
ᔮᏵ
Ruisui
ᐦ
Fuli
బԢ
Yilan
֝ᚆ
45
enVoyage
