Monday, 4 November 2024

Back on the bikes and what a day it was. It was a bit of a boring route, so not many photos. However, the ride was not without its excitement. Excitement we could do without.

Google found us a nice easy way out of Chiayi, along a rail trail. It was only about 5 kms long. There were toilets, and rest stops at every road crossing. Also there was an alien space ship along the trail!

However, before we left the main road, I almost got doored, and a car tried to cut me off.

We headed out on a semi-rural road and a bug tried to bite me, in my shock and trying to get it off my arm, I hit my front brake and ended up on the road. No real damage done, a little bit of road rash, bruises on my shin, and hip, and an egg-growing on my arm. Fortunately, I have antiseptic wipes in my bag, I was able to clean myself up and carry on. The bike was fine.

I figured that everything comes in threes, nothing else could go wrong.  Until a speeding car running a red light almost hit Ralf!! I shouted at Ralf, and he stopped as the car zoomed past very close to the front of Ralf’s bike. A guy on the sidewalk, said Sorry. Apologizing for his countryman’s poor driving. Although the driver didn’t stop, we caught up to him at the next traffic lights and he stared straight ahead. He would not make eye contact with us.

We haven’t stopped at a temple for a few days. I think we should next time just to get the Gods back on our side.

As I said the route was nothing to write home about. We followed another bike path called the sugar cane trail. The trail took us past Swan Lake, which was very pretty.

We stopped for lunch at about 40 kms and then carried on into Tainan. Google took us along a very strange path through an orange grove. We couldn’t turn back as there was a dog that didn’t like us on his territory. He had barked and chased us a little way.

We also cycled along a very large berm, the floodplain was huge, and the hydro towers were on platforms again.

When we got to the Airbnb, we had to wait until 4:00 p.m. before they sent the code. This is the place that has been sending Ralf dozens of messages to tell him how and when he can get into the building. Of course, with our luck today the code didn’t work. They asked Ralf to send a video of him using the keypad. Then they sent us a new code. Never booking accommodation that has self-check-in again.

We had a lovely dinner at a Pasta place. Yummy. Good end to a bad day.

Tainan is a very large city. Population 875,000. I will write more about the history tomorrow, as we are spending a day here. We have a warmshowers tomorrow night. Mark wrote the book Riding in the Clouds. Most of his routes are very hilly, but it will be interesting to talk to him.