bentontaiwan: Day 15 Mon 15/10 - Sun Moon Lake Camp to Jiji Homestay

Today Distance : 64.1 km
Today's Temp : 25 - 31 C sunny
Average Speed : 15.6 km max: 61.5
Time On Bike : 4 hr 06 min
Average Climb : 3 % max: 14 %
Total Altitude : 601 m max: 822 m
Today's Spending : NTD 970
Total Spending : NTD 9387

If you want to cycle the full loop of Sun Moon Lake is around 33km, but we only did about 20km where we turned out from the loop to continue our ride to the south on route 21. This part of the road is the same road that i cycled before 3 years ago. I still can refer the same write out on this blog where i camp at Tongfu about 58 km from here.So we are targeting the same .The climbs were gradual and down from the road we cycled,there is a wide river almost dried out with many trucks and bulldozers working on those rocks and sands. We stop at a town called Xinyi and as usual had our lunch in 7-11.This area is famous for grapes plantation. The grape is purple in colour, i bought some and really taste good.There is also a building for making wine and selling wine souvenir,but does not entertain visitor to see the wine making process. Suddenly, one man came to me and saying" are you going up to Alishan and Tataka?' Yes,i told him. Then he told me the road is closed until 24 Oct as he just turned back from there."Then how about bicycle,can go or not?" i am still hopping. " No way,even motorcycles also can't pass" his tone was very firm.So further information is we had to make U-turn back to the junction and continue to Shuili, the only plus side is generally downhill on route 16. Too early to end at Shuili, we continues for another 6 km to Jiji , a nice little small town where i visited, with my Taizhong friends 3 years ago.Once in Jiji town, we were attracted by an ice shop selling all sort of ice kacang. i ordered red bean with Yam cost only NTD 45, very big bowl and cheap,really full and satisfied. We took some pictures at the famous Jiji train station. Now we go hunting for best budget accommodation around the town.the 1st one we asked ,price was ok at NTD 1300 but the room was rather too big,more for family. The 2nd try was successful at NTD 1200 and we both like it very much,especially for Tony,as there is wifi for his i-pad. The owner lady was very friendly to serve us ice coffee in her coffee shop for free,and our bikes parked in the coffee shop,as Tony had mistakenly told her our bike is very very expensive . We went out to town for dinner and only in bed till 12 midnight.
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