A couple weeks ago I completed an absolute gem of a ride without going too far from home. For the majority of my ride I was alone with no other company other than the occasional eagle hovering above my shoulder or the garbled echo of a Taiwanese radio station being pumped into the orchards over a rusty sound system.
Considering I was never really more than a dozen of so kilometers from busy towns and more densely populated cities, this type of cycling solitude is almost unheard of.
It was only by stringing together a few country roads that I was able to put it all together into a single gleamingly clear day of riding.
(I would love to provide a map, but it seems my mapping tool is experiencing some trouble.)
The official beginning of this ride was in Dongshih, on the Dongqi St. (東崎街).
Dongqi St. is a shallow climb through the orchards on the ridge above Dongshih. It eventually tops off with a short climb before descending into the Da-an River.
I briefly linked to the riverside viaduct that leads back to Jhuolan where I caught up with the old Route 55 better known as Pinglin Rd.
Pinglin Rd. was quiet and delightful as usual. I did have to shoo off a couple of big dogs, but other than that it was its usual charming self.
After the first climb and descent on Pinglin Rd. near the Pinglin Elementary School, I made a left up the Hua-cao Keng Farm Rd. (花草坑農路). This is a tight climb along a forested hillside that is really a spectacle... until you get to the top of the hill where someone has used it as a garbage dump.
From the top I couple look out over the ridge to the larger hills looming on the horizon.
I made a link to the 54-1 that dipped into one of the more remote fingers of the Liyu Reservoir.
So much of the route was like this. A dip into a hidden gully or an arc along a a bare orchard.
I was eventually dumped off on the Highway 3, where I plodded up the asphalt onto the Route 130.
Although I have climbed the 130 several times. I had never taken the 56 from the lower section of the 130. I had exited there before, but never the opposite way. Therefore, I was a bit surprised by the degree of climbing I had to commit to on the eastern end.
I chipped away at the hill and snap a picture or two as I emerged from the forest into sunlight. Then it was back into the forest for more climbing.
The descent was a bit rough, but some parts smooth out for a good swooping drop.
I hit the Route 49 and let gravity pull me to the base of my final climb up the 51-1 toward Sanyi.
It is a bit of a chug to hack up that long climb into Sanyi. The gradient isn't too bad, but the hill is broad enough to make it a fair bit of work.
I continued along the 51-1 as afternoon sunshine filtered through the gaps in the canopy above. It was completely peaceful. What a wonderful road.
By the time I dropped out of the hills, I had been passed by no more that a dozen cars over the course of the ride.
This is a route that will go on record as one of my all time favourites.
This was 140km of riding from Taichung that well have been a million miles away.
