bentontaiwan: Oct 23, 2012

Today Distance : 77.3 km
Today's Temp : 25 - 33C Hot and sunny
Average Speed : 17.4 km max: 53.5
Time On Bike : 4 hr 25 min
Average Climb : 2 % max: 11 %
Total Altitude : 438 m max: 114 m
Today's Spending : NTD 188
Total Spending : NTD 11736

When we leave at 8 in the morning,the owner of the bikeshop is still not open for business yet,we just drop the key and head for our breakfast nearby for roti canai and soya drink for NTD 40,Tony had nothing as his stomach is not feeling so good.We detour a bit to the seashore but was too early to see any fishermen at work.Following still on route 1,we rather enjoy our ride for a change,we hit the record yesterday,and today we will take it easy as we are now heading to the most southern tip of Taiwan - The Kending National Scenic Area. The weather is hot and sunny but not as bad as back home,occasionally with the strong sea breeze,it makes riding a fun.Being touristic,many resorts,hotels,and even houses are turning into homestays along the road, the beaches were filled with tourists from locals and abroad. Tony has another puncture at the rear tire,and this time is caused by a tiny stapler. He is using 1.5 Schwalbe marathon racer, maybe it is a better idea to change to Marathon Plus. After passing Kending town,we stop at the Eluanbi Park where there is a lighthouse, the entrance fee is ok at NTD 40,but we were scared away by the sea of tourists with no less then 20 tour buses at the parking lots.Further up we turned into a side road where one had to walk 500m to the most southern tip of Taiwan.Tony was not interested,so he waited for me as i joined others to set foot there, we had been to the most northern and now the most southern, sort of personal achievement doing it on bicycle.There were some climbs,make tougher by the uneven side and head winds, by the time we both felt tired and exhausted,luck was with us when i sighted a big building with a rader turning on top,and all those posters at the gate.I stop and check it out. It is a training centre for Coast Guard 63,while inside we saw all the facilities for bicycle including tools,pump,spanners, the boys are extremely friendly and welcomed us when we requested to put up a night here, showing us where to shower,hot and cold water dispenser, we didn't even had to cook our dinner.