Expedition To Taiwan – Day 3 （踏脚车遊台湾－第三天）（中文版请往下滑）

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29th November 2017

Taichung – Chiayi (101.9km)

My schedule was delayed due to my fever caught from the first night cold at Haitian Coastline, rested in hotel yesterday. Though still feeling ill but tried to cover the schedule, I started to roll out again in slow pace.

The terrain for today mainly flat road, with the guide of handbook, followed Cycling Route 1 headed to Chiayi. Weather was good but encountered strong headwind. During the ride, I noticed little blue signage with arrow and bicycle sign painted on the road, and a number “1” written on it. I saw many of this signs with difference number painted on the road for the past 2 days, wasn’t sure what it meant, but today, I finally “encrypted” the secret. It is actually the signage of route for cyclist, and the number “1” means Cycling Round Island Route 1.

1st attraction for today is Rainbow Village, only 7km from my stay but, traffic was heavy, especially in the morning working hour. Made some wrong turnings, finally found the place. It is in the heart of the city, located beside a park and surrounded with shops and buildings. There is only a small aisle with about 6 houses along side, and a small stall selling souvenirs. Doesn’t looks like a historical village, more like a built up tourist attraction. I left in less than 15 minutes after took some pictures. Continued on Route 1, heading to the exciting destination is the famous landmark, Xiluo Bridge. This bridge crosses Zhoushui River, built 1952, claimed to be the second longest bridge in the world, about 1.9km long.

Start riding again in Cycling Route #1, still in busy city road, soon came to Chenggong Town. A morning market at the main road of the town, rode in to a small lane from the market, about 50m away, there’s an elegant building stood at the end of the road, Chenggong Railway Station. Came out from the railway station, the vehicle traffic was a bit heavier. Out from Chenggong Town, I saw beautiful red bridges at my left, further down I hit Changhua Town. Changhua Railway Station just beside the main road, have a huge rock and “weak” fountain in front of it. Snaped some pictures, continued riding. Further up, passed by Longdeng Garden, just beside main road, you won’t missed it. But nothing attracting, just an big statue of a dragon. Came to Tianwei Highway Garden, saw a public toilet, rushed in to released the waste and extra liquid from my body. Phew… Felt so relieved….

Finally reached the beautiful red bridge, Xiluo Bridge, it is long indeed, and narrow. Met an adventurous man at the bridge, Mr. Lim, this guy explore Taiwan by walking… Wow!!!… Walk around Taiwan…1,100km… Wow!

After grabbing some pictures of the bridge, followed the same road to Chiayi. Reached Chiayi in dark, found a good cyclist friendly hostel, clean and cheap. They even allow me to park my bike in the lobby. There already a few cyclist in the hostel, from Hong Kong and China. It is soothing to meet friends with same interest.

因为发烧，昨天在旅馆睡了一天，行程也落后了一天，为了追回失去的时间，今天虽然身体还是抱恙，无奈还是得昏昏沉沉的起身刷牙洗脸，牵着车，忘了吃早餐就出门了。真是有够歹命的。

今天天气舒适又是平地，跟着手册指引，找到环岛路线一号，看到路上有蓝色长方形格，上有一白色小箭头，还画有一个骑士踩脚车的标志，下方有一个”1″的织号，过去两天的骑行都看到这标志，只是不明白啥意思的，今天灵光一闪，终于让我破解了他的秘码。哇。。聪明！哈哈哈。。。连我都不得不佩服我自己。。啦。。啦。。啦。。

原来这标帜是给环岛骑士专用，那个骑士踩着脚车的图像就是踩脚车的骑士啦（废话！），那个“1” 代表“环岛路线1号”。只要跟着这个路标，就不需要再看地图啦。

今天的第一个景点是彩虹眷村。从旅馆踩七公里，穿过繁忙的都市，不一会就到。这所谓的村啊，就坐落在市中。旁边有个小小公园，周围环绕着店铺和一栋高楼，看来不像是村，感觉像是特地建来吸引遊客的一个景点。裏面有一短短的小巷，小巷旁有大约六间小小的矮房，还有一个小小的摊位摆卖着小小的遊客纪念品。没啥看头，逗留不到十五分钟，拍拍相片，再拍拍屁股，走人。继续骑在环岛路线一号公路往第二个景点，也是今天的重点；西螺旧桥。听说这桥啊，大有来头咧，是世上第二长的桥哦，大约长1.9公里，位于云林县与彰化县之间，横跨浊水溪下游，1952年完工，到今天已经65岁了，比我还老咧。

沿途经过成功市，在成功市的早市转左约50米会看到一个很雅典的车站，成功车站。停车，拍照，走人。继续骑，在左边有一长长的红桥，桥尾就是彰化市，彰化车站就在大路旁，想假装看不见都不行。又停车，拍照，走人。

过了彰化，途经龙灯花园，又是没啥看头，又再停车，又再拍照，又再走人。（MD）最后来到田尾公园，见有厕所，飞衝进去，将体内多余的有机肥料全都捐给了那姓“马”的“桶”裏，顺便也将多余的水份排出体外。嘘。。。整个人轻了两公斤。

终于来到这美丽的红桥，西螺桥。看起来真的蛮长，蛮窄的。拍照时遇到一个徒步环岛的年轻人。哇噻！。。徒步!。。1,100公里!。。真不是盖的，比我还厉害。

离开西螺桥，朝嘉义骑去。到嘉义天已黑，找了间不错的“骑士友善”旅馆，脚车还可停泊在大厅，干净又便宜，一房四床。最最最兴奋的，莫过於我一人住完整间房。哇噻！万岁！万万岁！！！

在旅馆裏遇到几位香港和大陆的骑友，促膝漫谈，分享各自的经历。。。美好的一天。