Expedition To Taiwan – Day 2 （踏脚车遊台湾－第二天）（中文版请往下滑）

27th November 2017

Hsinchu – Taichung (104.6km)

Woke up in a strong cold wind at 6:00am with a tired body from a restless night. The raged wind that gusted and flapping the tent thorough the night making for an interrupted, restless sleep. I woke up several times to made sure that the tent was still stand and nailed at the same spot, i don’t wanna wake up in the middle of somewhere away from where I pitched my tent. Fortunately the tunnel tent was strong to withstand the wind. And sleeping on a freezing ground was so cold that it was like spears into the bones, even the 15ºC sleeping bag could not help resist the coldness.

Hsinchu, in Chinese it means New Bamboo. But you certainly won’t be riding in a romantic bamboo forest, it is just a normal tarmac road. It is not a city either, it is actually a small town along the coastal line. I did not see any commercial or high rise building, mainly low roof houses spreading here and there, more like a modern village. Road was quiet with few vehicles in the highway that ran along Pacific Ocean. Maybe I was in the rural area of Hsinchu and missed out the modern side of it.

Afer packing, rolled out at 7:10am heading south, to connect to the highway, you have to pass through Xiangshan District with many small, quiet villages. Then came to Zhunan Township. Along the way, hardly seen any people, It is too quiet and peaceful. Only a convenience store at the end of road that joint the highway route 61, had breakfast, then continued on riding.

Rode along route 61. As I approaching south, the temperature kept rising constantly, from 19ºC to 21ºC, and became 25ºC within 2 hours, for a man that came from tropical country (Malaysia), the fluctuation of the weather was irritating.

According to the map, first attraction for today’s ride should be Fengqing coastal line. As I reach Fengqing Beach, saw a long bicycle path built along coastal line. I was the only rider. It was like the end of the day, for a moment, I thought rapture happened, and I was the one who couldn’t made it. Gosh…. Scary…. The beach is beautiful with gentle waves, windmill along side added the beauty of view. Every scene are the same along the beach, got bored with ocean views and wanted to see some buildings and “Human”, so, instead of to Lukang Township, half way from the bicycle path, I turned out and hit on the West Coast Expressway to inland, heading to Taichung, to visit Fengjia Night Market again. I actually having fever from yesterday’s cold, so it is better to look for a warm bed instead of camping. Reached Fengjia at almost 7:00pm, rode straight to the night market, end my day with some good street food, stayed at Fengjia tonight.

昨晚没一夜好眠，一早六点就给冷风催醒。昨夜的风实在怕人，每次听到海浪咆哮时，一会儿之后那催浪的狂风就扫过我的帐蓬致晃动，像要将整个帐篷连“钉”拔起。还好我的是隧道蓬，要是三角蓬，早就给吹进海裏去了。还有我那可耐15ºC的睡袋都不能抵挡的、从地裏直透进骨的寒气，不止不能睡，还差点让神经风给谋杀掉。

新竹，一个沿海的小镇，听名字，还以为是个大城，可能我是在郊外吧，沿途除了稀稀落落的矮房，都没看到大楼。人烟稀少，路宽车少。

拔帐，收拾好，七点十分，逃难似的离开海天一线区向南骑，经香山区大大小小的村庄，经过无数的矮房，见到几间食店，就是没见到人，人都跑到那去了？。。。最终见到一间便利店，随便吃了点早餐，继续行程。

沿着61县道向南骑，天气开始转热，从早上在海边时的19ºC到离开海边时的21ºC, 再到现在的25ºC, 两个小时以内的变化，身体有点不适应。不久以后来到风情海岸。沿这海岸线还有一很长的单车道，海岸漂亮，海浪温柔，海风轻盈，沿途还有大型风车点缀，但还是只有孤单的我，没见到别的人影。原本的目的地是鹿港，但看了太多海景，想要感受一下人潮，就半途改道往南骑。到台中，重遊逢甲夜市，再回去怀念的那间牛肉麵。今晚就在逢甲过夜吧。