Joe’s induction to the open road

January 4, 2020

Tainan to Kaohsiung City

I’m very proud of son Joe. This is his first ever cycle tour. We’ve been taking the riding fairly easy so he can acclimatise to a very different country, and to attune to the rather odd mode of travel that, unlike him, I’m very used to.

Today Joe did his first ever open road ride on a loaded bicycle in the fairly challenging environment of a Taiwanese regional highway leading into a major industrial city. He did the 60km with ease, despite the usual cacophony of motor scooter swarms, other loud traffic, heavy air and very unfamiliar surroundings. It was not an easy introduction to open road riding for a novice. Well done Joe for handling it so well.

We departed our Tainan hotel at about 9am and took an hour or so to reach the city outskirts. From there, there were a few route options and we chose to mostly follow the National Cycle Route 1 which is mostly the right hand lane of Highway 1. It was busy with lots of traffic but felt safe.

The route was mostly flat, the air very hazy and temperatures pleasant in the low 20°Cs. We stopped for several snack/drink breaks at roadside stalls, and ate an excellent Thai meal for a late lunch. We also diverted to see the Lotus Lake.

Then we pushed right on into the centre of Kaohsiung City and are staying in The Kindness Hotel near the main railway station. It’s very comfortable, but the WiFi Internet was too weak to upload photos. I uploaded these later.

Image not found :( — Our first roadside tea stop for the day

Good bridge path for pedestrians and cyclists.

We join the local peloton for a few hundred metres.

...were actually Indonesian students here studying English and Chinese literature. We had a quick chat with them. They were from Central Java.

Keen observers will see the sign for Cycle Route 1.

So much plastic! Cropping cucumbers or pumpkins.

Cheerful market gardener on the city outskirts

Entering Kaohsiung City not far from Lotus Lake. Easy cycling.

The front of our hotel. Free loan bikes for guests.

Our secure bike parking in the hotel basement

There were numerous Indonesian restaurants near our hotel. Nasi Goreng for dinner.

Today's ride: 60 km (37 miles)
Total: 195 km (121 miles)

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