Friday, October 26, 2012

Day 25 Thu 25/10 - Taitung National Army Heroic Hotel to Xiuguluan Homestay


Today Distance : 101.5 km
Today's Temp : 23  - 29 C Sunny
Average Speed : 16.9 km  max: 43.5
Time On Bike : 6 hr  0 min
Average Climb : 2 %  max: 7 %
Total Altitude :  623 m   max: 48 m
Today's Spending : NTD 678
Total Spending  : NTD 13689

Today was another long and hard ride started from Taitung city at 8 and ended in Xiuguluan late at 5.15 just before dark. Taitung is a moderate city with no high rise modern buildings,but many rows of street shops and junctions.To get out of it,is pretty much easy,just head straight to the sea coast and follow route11 with the sea on your right.Next is a town, its name meant a lot to the Malaysian Cantonese is called Duolan, something to be angered with.Luckily nothing of that sort happened when we passed, a very small town with unattractive Duolan Hill...Doulan Bay....and the Doulan Town. What catches my attention next is a place called "Water Running Up". It is located only 50m from the road and its free. The water is actually flowing from a drain up on a gradient of 5-7% to a small hill. Tony was not interested,maybe he had seen many,but i wouldn't want to miss it for the 1st time. Next attraction is the Sanxiantai,about 2 km right turn from the road to the sea coast, where a bridge consisted of eight arches connect the mainland to the island of Sanxiantai.Two other roadside attractions we passed but did not stop to see were Tropic of Canser Marker and Baxian Cave,as we were hard pressed to reach our destination of Xiuguluan ,a place popular for white water rafting sport in Xiuguluan River.Our room chost NTD 1000.We cooked our own dinner as the centre has no restaurant.
Sea of coconut trees

Doulan Hill

Doulan Bay




Water flowing up

Doulan town

River meets sea

Surfing paradise with the strong sea wave

Tribe singer cashing on the tourists in Sanxiantai


Local cyclists travelling on the same direction



Walking on the bridge

Walking on the bridge

Pebble beach

Sanxiantai - Eight-arched Bridge

Sanxiantai - Eight-arched Bridge

Beautiful rest stop along coastal road

Beautiful rest stop along coastal road



Passing thru' Baxian cave

Very long stretch of bike lane

Tropic of Cancer Marker

Changhung Bridge Bike lane

Xiugulan Homestay room NTD 1000

Changhung Bridge

Xiuguluan Homestay