Thursday, November 26, 2009

Day 12 Sat 24/10 - Best Scenic View on Top of Mt Hehuan and Wuling

Total Distance : 71.2 km
Today's Temp : 14 25c
Average Speed : 12.6 kmh  max: 52.0
Time On Bike : 5 hr 36 min
Average Climb : 6%  max: 26%
Total Altitude : 1058 m  max:3207 m
Today's Spending : NTD 120
Total Distance Todate :370.3 km
Total Spending Todate : NTD 1131

What a FEELING & SPECTACULAR downhill !!! Imagine rolling from an elevation of 3275m of Wuling down to a low of 650m on the way to Puli ,stretching to a distance of 40km, the only setback is I only manage to record a poor maximum speed of 52 km/h. I was a bit of cautious due to some corners are really sharp and being 1st time on this road,it is always wise to be on the safe side. Today's ride is the best so far in term of scenery and also the highest altitude recorded at Mt Hehuan 3158m and Wuling 3257m . There are many local cyclists mtb or roadies on their lightest outfit climbing these 2 mountains and post photo in front of the popular landmark in Wuling with their bikes hell up and yell  " I Did it !! I Did it!!"  I did not follow suit as my recumbent is too heavily loaded and also one need to climb up many staircase to reach. For Taiwanese cyclists, considered a sense of high achievement and pride to conquar this highest peak accesible by road . At this peak about a football field in size, surprisingly there were no shops or stalls to sell somethings like foods  hot or cold drinks in view of the large numbers of cyclists. I would definately like to sit down and relex with a cup of hot coffee, and at the same time admiring the mountain sceneries , from here I can see from far the winding road and recalled how i pedalled up and catching breathe by holding on to the side railing without getting down from the bike..As i was busy taking photo, my mobil ring and it was Da Tou Mu (nickname) call up to check where am i now . He was a good friend of John who is expecting me just down the road about 40km .He was very active in cycling before but somehow slowdown after taking over his father's Hotel business here. He was waiting by the roadside and saw me overshoot for about 100m. He told me to setup my tent in the empty swimming pool . Well ..well..well.. new experience why not? I will stay here for 2 nights and then continue my journey to another popular tourist spot - Sun Moon Lake.


     Taroko National Park, travel east on Route 8 will take you to Hualian on the Pacific Ocean


                                                                 A region of pine forest


                                                               Mt Hehuan Tunnel on Route14A


                                     Energy refill preparation for the Mt Hehuan climb


                                                 Somewhat like our Genting Highland coner


                    Beautiful road and scenery make you happy and forget the hardship and pain


                                                                      The SMILE say it all


                Reaching the Northern side of Mt Hehuan and the starting point to climb the mountain


                                                                  The climb continues...


                                                                           And continues...


                                                         Looking back the road before


                                                     The mountain getting closer and bigger


                                                                       Why lah , so longgggg


                                                  A short decent and a building in front.....





                                                            Yessss! Mt Hehuan 3158m


                                                  Lots of tourist on their own transport


                                                                Mt Hehuan Villa


                                                       For a cup of hot coffee, off course


                                                             Road to Wuling, another 117m climb





Popular spot for photo for every cyclist as a sense of achievement to conquar the highest road built in Taiwan


                                                     Looking back the way before


                                                   And the way ahead.....downhill of course


                            Another feat of Malaysia Boleh ,Recumbent Boleh and Meng Boleh !!!!!


                                                   Met some local cyclists on the way down


                  Replaced the front Kenda tire ( badly wornout ) with the everlasting Schwalbe Marathon


                         Da Tou Mu was waiting to greet me by the roadside with hot coffee


                                       A perfect level and clean spot to setup the tent


                                                               


                                                         Da Tou Mu's Holiday Villa

                                             With some nice shade and tables to relex