Taiwan

???????? Taiwan

Wow!

Posted by on 17, Feb 2020 in 2020 - Winter in Taiwan, Taiwan, Tilly the Tandem | Comments Off on Wow!

Wow!

Leaving the glitzy second city behind, (slowly) we had my front bag support snap off the handlebar on one of the numerous bumps. And that dear reader is why you bring tonnes of elastic cables and cable ties with you! A few minutes later we had some cable ties and the elastic cable holding the mount and my front bag securely in place and proceeded southwards towards the Tropics . The few days cycling from Taichung was some of the most stunningly beautiful we have ever done. Not for the scenery, but just for the things we saw along the way. The temples are exquisite and we pass on average 1...

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National Cycle route 1

Posted by on 11, Feb 2020 in 2020 - Winter in Taiwan, Taiwan, Tilly the Tandem | Comments Off on National Cycle route 1

National Cycle route 1

The national cycle route 1 goes all the way around the island. There appear to be variations of it as we have been on the 1, the 1-1, 1-2, 1-5 and the 1-16 and we tend to follow it where it is flat. It does head up into the mountains but we will let it and plot our own way through the fields and villages instead. We hate hills.The route follows the coast for much of the way down the west side and has huge sections that have been made dedicated cycle paths through Mangrove swamps, along the sea wall and through forests. It’s a gorgeous ride and even the bits where the cycle path ends...

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Well that was easy…

Posted by on 9, Feb 2020 in 2020 - Winter in Taiwan, Taiwan, Tilly the Tandem | Comments Off on Well that was easy…

Well that was easy…

We retraced our steps out of Taipei toward the airport and had a coffee break at the Old Cermaic Street tourist attraction en route. We seem to be more of an attraction than the pottery to the tourists but sat in the sun enjoying a coffee and watching the world look at the bike, point at us and wave. I can’t see why Harry and Megan got fed up with this celebrity lark….As you will all probably know I’m a fussy one with caffeine and sugar and the Taiwanese love both so decaf Coffee doesn’t exist and sugar free stuff is in its infancy. You can get Coke Zero with added...

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Jetlag and Taipei

Posted by on 6, Feb 2020 in 2020 - Winter in Taiwan, Taiwan, Tilly the Tandem | Comments Off on Jetlag and Taipei

Jetlag and Taipei

We’ve struggled (me in particular) with Jet lag this trip. On our first cycle we arrived in Taipei and I went to bed at 5pm and didn’t wake up until the next morning. We thought this was it cured but that night we both went to bed about 10pm and woke up at 11;30am the next day missing breakfast, which in my books wasn’t any loss at all as I can’t face noodles for breakfast and they don’t do cereal often. But even so we’ve had a great time in Taipei. We’ve not done too much. We’ve been to see the temple at Longshan which was fascinating as its a...

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On to Taipei

Posted by on 2, Feb 2020 in 2020 - Winter in Taiwan, Taiwan, Tilly the Tandem | Comments Off on On to Taipei

On to Taipei

Our first proper cycle was good to get under our belt during the Chinese New Year with the much reduced traffic. We didn’t actually have to venture on to too many roads as there’s a very good cycle network here and where that is absent you can tuck yourself in amongst the three million mopeds that dominate the road. They even have their own roads! So sometimes you have a footpath, next to a cycle path, next to a moped dual carriageway next to a main road. It can take you about 20 minutes to get across that lot on foot.And the traffic lights spend ages without changing most have a...

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Hello Taiwan

Posted by on 31, Jan 2020 in 2020 - Winter in Taiwan, Taiwan, Tilly the Tandem | Comments Off on Hello Taiwan

Hello Taiwan

http://www.lindaandjon.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/VID_20200127_112357.mp4 Everything went like clockwork for the journey from Ipswich to Taipei. The taxi turned up 45 mins early, we arrived at Norwich airport hours early and had an easy check in with no problems with our luggage or Tilly and a nice snack and farewell Jenever at an airport bar at Schipol before boarding the 12 hour flight to Taipei. That went smoothly, was comfortable with plenty of leg room, good food and a good entertainment system too. Shame about the babies that cried non stop but that’s what ear plugs are...

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