Cycle Taiwan Day 15 Yuli to Hualien A long and strenuous ride

As usual starting the day with a breakfast at Guangfu Road GPS : 23.331448, 121.312556 it is just beside the hotel.  

A typical Taiwanese breakfast with fried stuffed pancake, bao, glutinous rice roll and soy bean drink. Not really my kind of meal but I don't mind for a simple meal to start the day.

Passing by a market in Yuli as we slowly exit the town.

We found a dedicated bicycle path and happily we went onto it.

This beautiful lane leads us to a long bridge 歐亞板塊與菲律賓海板塊交界處 solely for bicycle at GPS : 23.321114, 121.330567

And also a marker indicating the fault line that divides Eurasian-Philippines Sea Tectonic plates at the bridge. It is believe that the earth movement has allow minerals to ooze out to the surface to improve the soil condition hence producing the tasty and aromatic Chishang rice.

We have actually overshot the route to Hualien and weren't aware of the mistake. Having fun meeting other riders and continued enjoying the beautiful trail. By right we should be turning off after crossing the bridge.

Anyway we found Yufu Lake Bikeway which was converted from an old railway line.

The old Dongli Station is now defunct and is part of the beautiful Fuyu Lake Bikeway. The railway line has stopped operating because of the uneven strata caused by the fault line compressed between the Eurasian plate and the Philippine Sea plate. For the record we overshot by 7km.

Anyway one for the album for remembrance at Donglitiemayi Station 東里鐵馬驛站. At this place we met a retired Architect, Mr. Chang who wanted to spend more time with us on his work but unfortunately we had turn back and re-correct of direction for our next destination. 

We also met a solo tourer by the name David Flatley from Australia who was travelling on the opposite direction from us. Photo credit Anne Cheong.

At last we got ourselves re-orientated and were back on track at Route 30 followed by Route 193.

The ride continued on route 193, flat and easy for the moment.

Crossing back to Route 9 using Gaoliao Bridge at GPS : 23.385559, 121.343345

At this spot on Route 9, GPS : 23.404506, 121.338324 I managed to capture a train passing through the red bridge.

After Sanmin 三民, a small town of Yuli we were greeted with a climb which we cannot escape anymore but to endure.

A rest after the climb by the road side.

There are a few tea stores around this nieghbourhood, whenever you see tea stores there will be highland for you to take on.

A cluster of shops just before arriving at the Tropic of Cancer Marker Park.

Tropic of Cancer Marker Park
北回歸線標誌公園 in the vicinity of  Ruisui Township GPS : 23.465836, 121.357566

Jo indulged in a tea purchase at one of the stalls at Tropic of Cancer Marker Park.

So far we have visited two markers in Taiwan, the first was at Chiayi and now at Ruisui. During summer the sun will travel directly overhead along this line from Chiayi to Ruisui.

Still at the top of the elevated road of Route 9 we could see a 5 green segmented railway bridge.

There you are the 5 green cages which we saw it when we were high up on the road. GPS : 23.476371, 121.357948

We stumbled onto this crowded shop 瑞穗綠茶肉圓
 selling a meat dumpling specialty, we tried and it was good and yummy. Located at Zhongzheng North Road GPS : 23.498034, 121.377477

We had a long chat with the operator on their special food and he recommended us to visit Danongdafu Forest Park.

The food that we ate at this popular shop at Ruisui.

Riding on another long bridge at GPS : 23.505535, 121.386837 at Route 193 as mentioned by the meat dumpling shop operator.

Out of nowhere in a secluded corner along Route 193 we saw a prison apparently of minimum security (Rehabitation Centre) and a park with interesting sculptures of animal.

We surely had a tough moment at Route 193 it was strenuous with the hilly road at this last stage. Fenn was happily rolling downhill and overshot by 1.5km. I had to speed up to catch up with her and inform her that she has missed the turning.

At last everyone was at the junction with these striking frames to welcome us. The forest park is about another 4km away. The location of this place is GPS : 23.610281, 121.4360724

Danongdafu Forest Park 大農大富平地森林園區 at Guangfu Township GPS : 23.610356, 121.424922 with a size of 11-hectares of reforested ground that was once used as sugar fields. A park that you would love to come  and take lots of picture.

Among the many features found in the park which we just wish that we had more time to spend on the park. It was getting dark, we have to leave and continue our journey to Hualien.

It took us another 8km to reach Guangfu Station and the time was 10 minutes to 7pm.

At last we have finished with our cycling for the day and a tough day indeed using Route 193 cycling a distance of 77km.

The train fare to Hualien. NTD63.00

After checking to Chan Tai Hotel for NTD1,000 per room per night, we walked into a shop beside the hotel to try their delicious fish milk soup with minced pork rice. Tomorrow we will explore Hualien City.

Day 15 - Yuli to Hualien was a strenuous ride from Yuli to Guangfu Station after that a train ride to Hualien.