Monday 23 April 2018

LTF Spring Ride (14-26 April 2018), Day 4 : Sun Moon Lake to Puli

At Yidashao Wharf, Sun Moon Lake
Leaving the Wharf
Sun Moon Lake, Bikeway
Misty at SML
Right after Peacock Garden, we found quite a few mansions along the single lane, country road
Rolling further downhill 
Midway stop 
Despite the rain, Sue needed to take a photo!
Yippee! We are in Puli
Landslides and roadworks along the way our to our hotel
View of Xiang Ting Hotel from suspension bridge
Pretty wobbly
The whole length
One group photo before we check in to our hotel
It's 10 km downhill again for some sightseeing
Midway to town
Feeling 18 chocolate factory
They distribute free choclates, but you end up paying for expensive coffee!!!
Bike shopping in Puli. We visited Giant and another local shop where Sue bought her stand from a beetlenut chewing boss
Tea break at the junction to Geographic Center of Taiwan
Steep climbs to Geographic Center of Taiwan
Steep climbs to Geographic Center of Taiwan
Quite a walk up!
The monument at Geography Center of Taiwan
Great views from the hilltop
It's back down again
Dinner at the hotel lobby


We woke up to a depressing morning. It was raining! It had started raining in the middle of the night, teetering to a drizzle by the time we got down for breakfast.

When the wind brought in more rain clouds, we reluctantly postponed our roll out time. Even German precision had to bend towards unpredictable weather conditions sometimes.

Sue, who was always the last one down, stuffing her face in the shortest time possible, was allowed a more leisurely breakfast this morning. Today, she was spared the hamster stuffed cheeks!!!


We knew we had overstayed our welcome when we finished all the soya bean in the pantry. Bored, we braved the rain and the cold for Yidashao wharf before heading out.


The climb from the wharf was almost immediate. By the time we returned to the door steps of Itathao Hotel, we had broke out in sweats.

The climb continued and so did the rain.

Thankfully, the rain clouds passed soon enough, allowing a short detour to the Sun Moon Lake bikeway. A beautiful ramp led all the downhill to the lakeside before going on for a distance.

Excitedly, we made it to the lake but soon regretted our decision. The wise ones volunteered to stay with the bikes instead!!!


Not far from the bikeway is the Peacock Garden. Through its carpark, we made our way through narrow, single lane road, all the way downhill. Along the way, we passed quite a few villas. Further downhill, paddy fields dotted the countryside.

Kind George helped the lady down the bus
View from a farm shed during heavy downpour
Wet road conditions to Puli
Mists by the road
Heaving towards another tunnel
Going downhill was not a breeze. It was cold and soon, heavy rain caught up with us one more time! We had to take cover by a farm shed.


Thankfully, our ordeal came to an end soon enough. Warm Vietnamese noodles and warm sunshine greeted us in Puli. Both of which were essential for our next embarkation…a 10 km uphill climb to our hotel just to drop our bags before heading downhill again for some sightseeing! Which explains our humble dinner of store bought 7 Eleven fare, taken together at our hotel lobby that very night!!!


Photo courtesy :
KC

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Xiang Ting Hotel, Puli













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