bentontaiwan: Oct 20, 2012

Today Distance : 70.2 km
Today's Temp : 23 - 33C cloudy
Average Speed : 12.4 km max: 61.5
Time On Bike : 5 hr 38 min
Average Climb : 4 % max: 14 %
Total Altitude : 1227 m max: 855 m
Today's Spending : NTD 333
Total Spending : NTD 10181

We recorded our longest riding distance today of 70.2 km compared to 67 km previously.The longest ride did not mean the ride is easy and flat,in fact it was tough to negotiate many of those killing steep bends,rolling but long climbs.Another reason is the hunting for a suitable campsite was very hard in this part of Taiwan,lands on both sides of the road,were fully occupied for fruits growing.We stop at Dapu for lunch at a restaurant for fried rice with prawn with extra of some duck meat and egg. The weather was hot and after a stomach full lunch, make ones sleepy and lazy to move.We met some nice people on one of the rest stop shop,they were fascinated by our recumbents,and asking permission to sit on it and have their picture taken. They buy us a beer and 40 pcs of dumplings ( Shui Kou ).With these free goodies,we struggled to reach Nanxi by 4.30pm, and checked out the only homestay ,but was not happy with the price of paying NTD 1300 for sub-standard room,with a spoiled lift and have to carry our panniers up to 3rd floor.The search continues and opposite a 7-11,we spotted an empty shop with space for 2 tents,but was told by a man that the empty space is used by the owner as car porch at night. We quickly pack up and move further inside,and found some empty space to set up our tents as night fall rooming fast. When everything is done and had ourselves clean from the water taken from the 7-11,a police car approached us and told us someone had rang the police and he came to check it out.The police man very friendly and told us why we camped at the bushes of people's land, are you 2 not afraid of snakes.We explained our situation and saying sorry for all the troubles.The kind policeman,in his 50's then offer us to go to their police station to camp. We hurriedly packed up and cycled about 300m escorted by the police car to the station. We became the attraction instantly with all the police staffs,asking lots of questions and even trying to test out Tony's recumbent.We set our tent at the back of the station on the designated car park for police car. We had another hot bath before bed. Good lesson learned is, during emergency situation, we can actually look up for the police station to set up tent.One up for the friendly Taiwan police force.