bentontaiwan: Oct 13, 2012

Today Distance : 21.4 km
Today's Temp : 12 - 23 C sunny
Average Speed : 7.0 km max: 47.5
Time On Bike : 3 hr 24 min
Average Climb : 4 % max: 18 %
Total Altitude : 720 m max: 3275 m
Today's Spending : NTD 1640
Total Spending : NTD 6468

A very dramatic day that ends up calling my Taiwan Da Tou Mu for a rescue operation half way down from Wuling to his 4-star hotel 5 km to Puli.The day ride started with a bright note and we are very determined to make our final climb to the highest motorable road Wuling. From Dayuling its only 10km to Wuling and the weather is bright and sunny.The very steep gradient forced us to make many stops by holding to the yellow red railing without getting down from the bike.Tony was even more determine....die...die...also must reach there! He was at the top first by 2.15pm and then me 10 minutes later.We posted some pictures with 360 degree views and started to enjoy the downhill at 3pm .What comes after that is totally unexpected.I was in front with Tony following behind,suddenly i lost him from my rear mirror,so i stop and waited, only to be informed by fellow cyclists that he had a flat tire.We met up again after his repaired, and this time Tony asked me to follow behind.But Tony is going down bit too slow and i find difficult to brake following him.Soon the expected happen again with another flat right at the valve,due to overheating of the rim using V-brakes.I took out my 20" spare tube for him but my tube is strada type (big head),while his is small head type.At this juncture,we can only wait to see any other cyclist with 20" tire can offer help or flap down any vehicle to take us down. Then 2 Malaysian cyclists Riko and David came and taken a picture that we have a smiling face but a worried heart. Failed to get any lift, I tried calling my friend Da Tou Mu in Puli for help.Once confirmed my friend is on the way , i left Tony and tried to ride down before it gets dark.I was given a scared too as i discovered that i am losing brake on the continuous steep downhill, the mist is coming in very fast, its very dangerous to ride with very little brake,so i stop trying to find the spare disc pads.Another shock for me as the spare was not in my tool box. Luckily at the right time,an mpv stop voluntarily to fetch me, while my friend also came as i told him my friend Tony is waiting up there.By the time we reached the hotel, Da Tou Mu send us to a Giant bike shop to buy spare tubes and disc brakes and tapau dinner of beef noodles.We took a queen size bed room for NTD 1700,the cheapest my friend can offer.After we finally lies on bed ...Hmmmm,,,What a dramatic day that ends up happily at a 4-star hotel as the best reward for conquering the highest motorable road in Wuling.

Dayuling Junction joining the central route 8

Our destination is route 14 to Hehuanshan

Good to have such breakfast before the climb NTD 90

Giant Linzhi of Dayuling

Taking a sharp n steep corner

Good to take a rest at the shade

With the number of tires,you can imagine how dangerous this sharp bend is

If the going gets tough,the tough gets going ,even if to get down and push

They say don't look back in life,but not in cycle touring,this is appreciating what you had just achieved to be here

Cabbage of Dayuling

Boxes of Cabbage for the city market

Good and smooth road surface if you don't mind the gradient

Meeting a group of trekkers on their way down

Looks like they are the owner of the 2 recumbent,so matching

The entrance of Hehuan North Peak

Soul searching high up in the mountain

Getting smoked by Tony,don't play play with him after this tour

Great view

I never get tired of such view

The way we came

The way ahead

Looking good even after minor landslide

Arriving at Hehuanshan

Can you see Tony's Grasshopper muscle on his right leg

View point of Hehuanshan

Many tourists came with cars and buses

Taking a well earned rest before the final assault to Wuling

Very tough and steep 500m climb to Wuling

Cars park at Wuling

The way down to Qingching Farm and Puli

Crowded landmark at Wuling for the highest motorable road in Taiwan at 3275m

All the hard climb to reach here Pays off

On the way down

Was informed from fellow cyclists,Tony's flat up there

Rare chance to meet with 2 malaysian cyclists Riko and David on the way down from Wuling

Tony have runs out of spare tubes,waiting for rescue

Our very expensive 4 star Hotel NTD 1700 as our reward for reaching Wuling

My friend Da Tou Mu's Hotel

Today Distance : 31.7 km
Today's Temp : 11 - 22 C sunny
Average Speed : 6.3 km max: 48.5
Time On Bike : 4 hr 59 min
Average Climb : 4 % max: 18 %
Total Altitude : 1104 m max: 2496 m
Today's Spending : NTD 530
Total Spending : NTD 4825

From Xinbaiyang at 1644m , the climb continues up to Dayuling at 2500m. Dayuling is situated at the junction with another road from north to south. The ride toady is all about climbing except for one stretch where we enjoy a short descent of 200m , and then back to hard climbing again. As we went higher in altitude, the weather becomes cooler and cooler and it really chilled when you rest for even 5 minutes.There is only one rest stop restaurant at Bilv where we had our lunch of rice with beef sauce and a cup of Taiwan Tea with honey cost NTD 210. Tony ordered double portions,great eater,good sign really to replace all the energy for those hearth bumping climbs.We stop at a police station in Guanyuan which surprisingly also very cycle friendly, with all the needs that a cyclist needs.The friendly police recommended a place for us to stay which is located about 150m up from the road. The cheapest dormitory is NTD 500 per person.But the young counter suggested us to push on for another 4 km to Dayuling, where homestay dormitory is much cheaper between NTD 300-350. By the time we arrived at Dayuling,I really feel so tired, hungry and cold. And to add salt to a wounded rider, our homestay is 100m down from the road on very rough cemented road.With not much choice, we just paid up to the owner and wheel our loaded bikes slowly.This is a very basic cheap accommodation for cyclists, choose your own bed and blanket, hot shower,power.No keys are needed. But we felt very comfortable inside the room rather than camping out with temperature can dip below 10 C.The only disappointment is no coverage for our internet.So another early bed night.