1st December 2017
Tainan – Kaohsiong (53.9km)
Thought will be a good day today when I woke up, cause I only need to cover the lost mileage from yesterday’s to Kaohsiong, but I was greeted by a flat rear tyre this morning. Thought wanna buy some times, so I changed a new tube instead of patching, just a few air pumped to the new tube, “POW!!!”… The tube burst. @@…. Made a prayer for the burst tube; earth to earth, dust to dust, rubber to trash…. R.I.P tube… Then buried it to recycle bin. Back to the old fashion way; patched the old tube. After patching, did some CPR for the inner tube, Walaa!!! It resurrected! No leakage.
After 8:00am, the owner of the guesthouse still not back yet, pushed the bike out and locked the door, rolled to Kaohsiong. From Tainan to Kaohsiong, only 40km according to google map. Hoping to have a better scenery, decided not to follow Cycling Route #1.
Followed Highway 1,turned in to Highway 17 to Yong’an District, passed Ziguan District to Zuoying District. These were actually paddy fields route. All I could see was paddy fields… paddy fields… paddy fields… Picked a wrong route…
Followed google map, again it led me to insane route, to a lane where I have to climb a 4 story staircase across a bridge to enter into the city. This insane secretary, google map…. Speechless…. Arrrggghhh!!!…
Wandered around at the edge of the city, tried many roads and asked along the way, like maze game; rode additional 10km to finally found the way. A small lane led to the city. Once enter into the city, the trip turned into a scenic ride. First a beautiful pond, Lianchi Tan, at the end of the road. A Dragon And Tiger Pagoda at the left. Beside the lake are hawkers stalls, selling ice cream and light food. Bought an ice cream and snapped some photos, carried on to the famous attraction of Kaohsiong, The Lover River.
Lover River is beautiful, it was isolated from the busy city. The water is calm, flowing slowly. A long stretch of wooden walkway built aside the river, felt peaceful when I sat on a bench beside the river and enjoyed the view. Left the river and headed to the heart of the city, traffic was insane when I came to the city. Right in the centre of this cosmopolitan city laid a big garden, where people spend their leisure time here. Watching the contrast of the scenario, on my left, busy road with heavy traffic; and in the garden, people walk leisurely, jogging and cycling, some sat on the grass reading news paper. It was a 2 difference world in one place. I sat on the grass for awhile to enjoy the 2 different worlds, and left at about 30 minutes later. I need a laundry after my 5 days ride, since it’s still early. “Yes! Time to restore a clean crazy old horse!”. I hurried to a guesthouse and checked in.
还以为今天会是个美好的一天，因为今天的骑行只是要補回昨天没完成的路程。当我下到楼去，迎接我的却是好像失恋到泄气自杀，扁扁的后轮。还以为换新内胎可以省点时间，当我为新胎打气时，“碰！！！”， 新胎还没见世面就夭寿了，爆胎！ @@。。。没法度（闽语）。唯有用传统的方法～補胎。補完胎后，用打气筒跟它做心肺复苏CPR, 果然妙手回春，又复活啦。
混水摸鱼的过了八点，老板不在。推车出门，骑往高雄。
我的秘书，谷歌地图，说，此去高雄只是40公里，想着距离不远，就舍弃环岛路线，选骑效外路线，希望有更好的景色。更屎！ 一路走来都是水田。。。
我怀疑我的这个秘书，谷歌地图小姐，脑筋真的有点三不搭八的，依照她的指引来到高雄市边沿，要进城，必须先爬个四层楼梯，跨过铁桥，越过高雄车站，再下个四层楼梯，才到市中心。狗头！！！我一隻老马怎样扛一辆加上行李差不多整四十公斤的脚车爬四楼， 又下四楼呀！笨阿你！！！
一路骑车问人，走了很多冤枉路，终于找到一条进市区的小路。路的尽头，是美丽的莲池潭，潭的左边有间庙塔，龙虎塔。庙旁不少卖吃的小摊。 买了个冰淇淋，拍了照，骑往高雄的热点～爱河。
爱河离市区少于一公里，是一条恬静漂亮的蓝河。爱河的景点位置在下游，从这裏不远就是高雄码头，然后就流出南中国海。从宝岛地图看，就好像一隻鸟的屁股在漏油。河岸旁的人行道种着长长的九重葛。缓缓的河水恬静不湍急，坐在河边有一种很平静的感觉，在那边发了一会呆。
进到繁忙的市中心，车流量高很多，在这繁忙摩登的城裏，有个大花园。在我左边是繁忙的交通，右边是个悠闲的花园。花园裏有人在跑步，骑车，还有坐在草地上看报纸，晒太阳，一丛一丛的人群。一个繁忙和宁静的强烈对比。 找了间客栈，趁着还有阳光，赶紧把所有衣服洗了，今天要好好休息充电。
Kaohsiong Station 高雄车站
This small lane leads to Kaohsiong. 进高雄的小路。
End of the lane is this beautiful Lianchi Tan and the Pagoda. 小路得尽头， 莲池潭和龙虎塔。
Love River 爱河
Walkway along Love River 爱河畔的人行道
Flowers beside the river. 河畔种满九重葛
Kaohsiong City Centre 高雄市中心
Crazy Old Horse 