4th December 2017
Mudan Township – Jinlun (69.4km)
Didn’t had dinner yesterday, because in this less than 10 houses mosquito size village, no merchandise will be able to survive. Wanted to get some food from the guest house, but the host was like “Poof”…. Disappeared immediately just after I checked in. Same as this morning, there was still no sign of the host. I just had to roll out without breakfast. After 2km from the guesthouse, I reached the dam, it means the steepest stretch of climb is over, the following ascend will be gradual.
I stopped by at the road, took out my last apple, enjoying my fruit the same time, admiring the beautiful scenery of the dam. Just 2 bites of my apple, I heard sound and saw something was moving in the trees, a big black monkey. It was looking down at me from the tree, then few more came, staring at me… or my apple?! I sensed something wasn’t right, maybe they were here for the apple, I was kinda worried that they may rush down to me for the fruit, too many of them but only 1 apple…. The wise moved would be to run for my life. I threw the apple into the wood hope that they would go after it, jumped on my saddle, hurriedly rode off. Whoa! Dangerous!
Kept torturing myself to climb the remaining 27km of killing hill with an empty stomach, my legs were still tired, my 28kg camping gears and panniers were weighing me down, and the strong winter wind were still against me. Until I eventually reached the peak to Shouka Bike Station. YES! I MADE IT !!!!!!!!!! Through the patch of devil hills, all efforts paid. The satisfaction of achieving challenge is beyond words to describe.
The Shouka Bike Station is a landmark that every cyclist must stop for a photo. It’s like a certificate to prove and show off to friends that they had made it through the challenge. Unfortunately there has no rewarded scene except a simple building.
From the station, the reward is a long stretch of descend. Zooming down the other side was an exhilarating experience, I sprinted down like a superman, and I was actually enjoyed myself zooming down. Although there was once I almost lost control to hit on the cliff wall with the speed of 46km/h, I successfully avoided the accident, but it didn’t slow down with my speed.
Soon I was at the foot hill, entering to Taiwan most beautiful highway, Erping East Coast Highway. Before I could ride on the highway, I heard wave roaring and wind howling. The wind was extremely gusty in this stretch of road, I was literally being blown into the drain, thank god I jumped off the bike just in time and the drain was dry, I wasn’t hurt or wet. After I pulled my bike out and there right in front of me, the Pacific Ocean. What a warm welcome prelude. *#%@#%&!…
I am now on a little busy highway, the flat terrain doesn’t make my ride any easier, the new challenge was the incessant wind. 17km away is the most beautiful railway station of Taiwan, Duoliang Station, a visit that must not missed.
As I approaching, the traffic are getting busier, tourist buses were along the sideway, there are more tourist at this place. As I reached the entrance, I encountered another challenge. The great slope. It is very short but very steep. As I pushed up half of the slope, I heard applause from those tourist, they were amazed of my effort, some took picture with me.
My energy was completely drained after I visited the station, 2km away there is Jinlun Town with few guesthouses. The 1st thing I did when I was there was to look for a restaurant to refuel, I had my breakfast, lunch and hi-tea altogether in 1 order, it was satisfied. Ya… the crazyoldhorse is still alive.
昨天没吃晚餐，因为在这蚊型小村没人做生意，想在客栈找点吃的，老板却像魔术师，“扑”一声，不见了。今早没得吃早餐，因为老板还没变回来。饿着肚皮推车出门，迎着冷风，继续昨天还未完成27公里坡路。两公里之后，终于骑到水坝，最陡的坡已过，乘下的坡路比较缓。从驮包那掏出最后一粒救命苹果，边欣赏美丽的景色边吃。才咬没两口，听到树上有声音，枝丫抖动得厉害，原来是一只黑猴。头伸出枝丫往着我瞧。然后又来了几只，尽管往我瞧。。。还是盯着我的苹果？！？！。。。感觉有点不对劲，这么多猴子，才一粒苹果，要是这班猴兄是冲着苹果来，那。。。？？？ 想想不大对劲，逐将苹果往林裏丢，让他们自己去抢，自相残杀，然后赶紧跳上脚车，三十六计，走为上计！
以自虐式的骑法，空着肚子，承戴着28公斤的驮包，骑骑停停，脑海裏播着周杰伦的“东风破”破冬风，终于爬到山顶，来到寿卡铁马！哇！ 简直感动到眼泪在眼眶裏转，差点就要跪地亲吻土地。哈利路亚！ 接下来是下坡路，坡度虽陡，我像在平地飞行，跟着地上好像生命线似的白线下降，有一次差点失控撞上峭壁，还好很久都没做缺德事，上帝保佑平安渡过。哎！ 连我都不得不佩服我自己。歹势（闽语）。
飞到山脚，太得意忘形，一不留神，让我的女朋友~风公主，没来由的往我脸上大力刮了一巴掌，还将我连同脚车往沟渠裏推，还好老马吃过夜粥，马上纵身一躍，来招燕子翻身，再来个泰山压顶，稳稳“跌”落在阴沟裏。谢天谢地，是个幹沟，没水，不然。。。嘿嘿嘿。。。
台湾最美的车站，多良车站，就坐落在台湾最美的公路，鹅屏公路旁，离这在阴沟裏翻车的地点才十七公里，一个必探访的景点。沿这太平洋海岸线，骑在这台湾最美的公路上，顶着台湾最丑的东北风，踩到不要不要的，差点穿越时空，就快和祖宗十八代交流时，见到路旁很多旅游巴士，知道已经到了。来到入口，有个短短，比寿卡还陡的坡，硬着头皮，继续爬。只爬到一半，听到掌声，原来一班大陆客为我拍手叫好，其中一个还指着我的大腿，说我马力够大，还有人要跟我拍照，顿时有点飘飘然的，歹势，只好谦卑点，推脚车上坡。上到车站，觉得尴尬，匆匆拍了照片， 快快闪人。
好像吸星大法，多良车站将我的精力全数吸尽，慢慢的骑到2公里之外的金崙温泉镇。 进镇的第一件事就是将早餐，午餐与中午茶一股脑儿浑沦吞下。 啊。。。老马还好死不了。
The dam of Shoka and the steep road. 寿卡水坝
Part of the dam 寿卡水坝
The scenery along the way. 路上风景 
The landmark of Shouka, the bike station. 寿卡最高点 
The “work” of the wind before entering Erping Highway. 给风吹进沟渠 
Pacific Ocean 太平洋
Beautiful East Coast Road, Erping Highway. 美丽的东海岸，鹅屏公路 
The entrance to the most beautiful railway station of Taiwan, Duoliang Station 台湾最美车站， 多良车站，的进口
Duoliang Railway Station. 多良火车站
Crazy Old Horse 