January 5, 2019
Jiji
Today’s ride was fairly short and easy. This suited both of us just fine - we’re both feeling a bit road weary, and we have longer and harder rides coming up in the next two days that we should save something for. It’s starting to occur to both of us that we’re losing weight a bit more than we’d like, and we need to start doing a better job of packing in the calories.
Our destination for the day is Jiji, a small place not more than about fifteen miles from Sun Moon Lake. We’re staying there for a familiar reason - we were looking for a reasonable stopover to break up a longer ride to the following destination, Chiayi. Jiji is small, but it has a good reputation as small towns go and is allegedly very bicycle friendly. It advertises a network of cycling routes through the agricultural lands that surround the town.
Our ride begins with a third pass over the bike path along the south rim of the lake. We’re here later in the day, and there is conciderably more traffic on the path. The skill level of many of these riders is none too good, and we are a bit anxious that one of them will suddenly swerve into our path.
Heart | 2 | Comment | 0 | Link |
Heart | 3 | Comment | 5 | Link |
Ah, the life and adventures of the cycle touring GBO .. so much more scenic and rewarding than sitting in an apartment in Centennial, CO!!
5 years ago
5 years ago
5 years ago
So, if you don't mind keeping him on your packing list for another tour, we'll keep using our hands and teeth to open bottles.
We always love seeing photos of our adventurous little guy!
Thanks for teaching him about how beautiful our world is when experienced on a bicycle!
5 years ago
5 years ago
Heart | 4 | Comment | 0 | Link |
Leaving the lake, we have a very slight climb over a ridge before breaking through and starting a fast three mile descent out of the mountains. At the summit, we see four completely adorable puppies frolicking beside the road, perhaps just a month or two old. Both parents are on hand and keeping guard, so we just bike by. I stop about fifty yards past the pups and start to break out the camera when the parents start barking menacingly and make moves in my direction.so I give it up and continue coasting.
Heart | 3 | Comment | 3 | Link |
5 years ago
5 years ago
Heart | 3 | Comment | 0 | Link |
Heart | 2 | Comment | 0 | Link |
Heart | 1 | Comment | 2 | Link |
5 years ago
5 years ago
We arrive in Jiji around one thirty. Too early to check in to our hotel, so we mark time a bit by riding several of the cycle paths that surround the town. We need the exercise anyway, so we might as well ride. Finally, at about three we call it a day and check in to our hotel for the night.
Heart | 4 | Comment | 0 | Link |
Heart | 3 | Comment | 0 | Link |
Heart | 2 | Comment | 0 | Link |
Heart | 3 | Comment | 1 | Link |
Heart | 2 | Comment | 0 | Link |
Heart | 3 | Comment | 0 | Link |
We don’t see any restaurants that look attractive, so for dinner we do something we probably should have been doing all along - we head to the night market. I don’t know why we haven’t eaten from a night market yet, but stupidity comes to mind as a good candidate. Everyone says this is one of the top experiences to savor in Taiwan, but for whatever reason we haven’t taken the plunge. Now, nearing the end of our tour, it’s nearly now or never.
We have a very enjoyable time in the Jiji Night Market, which is only about a six block quiet walk in the dark from our hotel. We both like being able to see what is on offer so we can protect ourselves from ordering something we’d find unpalatable - chicken feet, for example. It’s a very small market and a pretty tame scene, so it doesn’t take long to make the rounds and gather a meal. It’s a good place to start - there was nothing threatening us in this market, so maybe we’ll get a chance of to try our new skills in a busier market in the next few days.
Heart | 3 | Comment | 1 | Link |
5 years ago
Heart | 2 | Comment | 0 | Link |
Heart | 3 | Comment | 1 | Link |
5 years ago
Heart | 0 | Comment | 3 | Link |
3 years ago
There's a map on the above link along with my snaps.
3 years ago
3 years ago
Ride stats today: 29 miles, 1,500’; 581 miles, 28,600’
Today's ride: 29 miles (47 km)
Total: 519 miles (835 km)
Rate this entry's writing | Heart | 6 |
Comment on this entry | Comment | 4 |
I am always struck, every day, by your vivid descriptions and elegant photography. The videos are just icing on the cake. Thanks to both of you for sharing your travels with us, we know very well what a commitment of time and effort and bandwidth that takes.
5 years ago
5 years ago
5 years ago
5 years ago