I bid farewell to Mr Chung and started out riding along once again my sometimes friend Hwy 17. From the start I could tell this was not going to be a great day. My legs were telling me they didn't want to ride a bike today. Oh well, just amble along and take each kilometre at a time. It was time, as I once told Alfred when we were out touring and he started complaining, to "shut up and suffer in silence".
So long Beautiful Tainan
Goodbye to - not welcome to - Tainan City
About 18 or 20 kms down the road I stopped for a break and some fuel. Top of the menu was a can of cold coffee. I actually first thought of having a beer in honour of my friend yesterday. But wisely did not.
Mr Brown's coffee in a can
Actually, maybe I should have gone for the beer. It was this coffee in a tin can that might have upset my stomach because a few kilometres up the road I had to make a mad dash for a secluded bush for, well ......
A full 35 kms into the ride I stopped again. This time at a 7-Eleven for an egg and lettuce sandwich and a peach iced tea. I sat around lazily surfing the net and making use of the free wifi that every 7-Eleven seems to have here in Taiwan. In fact almost every coffee shop, convenience store and hotel has free wifi here. How I love Taiwan!!
There weren't too many stretches of cycle path today. But here is a side road that only bicycles and scooters are allowed on. It ran next to the coast and the view was so pretty.
Fisherman
Another 10 kms and I entered Kaohsiung. I have to admit my focus was more on navigation as I did not really take any photos of entering Kaohsiung City. In fact I should have focused even more on navigation because I took a wriong turn and started heading back north to Tainan. Thankfully google maps got me back on course and only cost was 2-3 kms. At least getting lost saved me one problem. Getting in early. I actually arrived at 3 PM on the dot. I checked into the Kaohsiung Bike Hostel and here I am. This is really a youth Hostel and I booked it because it's a cycling hostel. But I think I am used to a little more luxury than they provide. Not that there is anything wrong with it at all. If I were 25 again I think I would be in my element. Still the people are friendly and there are plenty of restaurants nearby. I Just hope that the young people don't party all night and I can get some sleep. I can hear a few of then having a bit of a party now. Yes, I have turned into the grumpy old guy I always said I would never become. My god, listen to me!
Solar farm just outside Kaohsiung
Tomorrow it's back to Taipei on the High Speed Rail. My son Kenny arrives in a few days and after a few days we will continue the journey together. So until about 26 November there will be no bike touring, although we are likely to go for a few rides around Taipei.
Have I mentioned lately how much I love Taiwan!!!
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