DAY33 Day-Off in Taipei

On DAY 33, I woke up at 4:30 AM and headed outside around 10 AM. 

It was cloudy and 20 degrees. 

The number of people wearing short sleeves was gradually decreasing. 

I wandered aimlessly, visiting places I happened upon. 

There was nothing in particular I wanted to see or hear. 

I had breakfast at a convenience store. 

There wasn't a day that went by without using a 7-Eleven in Taiwan, except when there wasn't one in town. 

I'm sure the first thing I'll miss when I get back home is 7-Eleven.

It rained in the afternoon. It's going to rain again tomorrow. 

It was mostly sunny on the west coast, but as I headed north from the east coast, it was rain, rain, rain. 

I went back into town in the evening. 

I was caught in the rain on my trip out. 

I had dinner at a restaurant near the hostel and my day off in Taipei came to an end. 

Now it's time to prepare for tomorrow's final run.

*Today's Distance: 0km

 Total Distance from Taoyuan: 860.1km

*Today's Photo Album

*YouTube Playlist

DAY32Keelung-Taipei 25.5km

Started at 6:20am, again in the rain. 

There were some ups and downs from Keelung, but nothing too serious. 

My shoes got soaked from the rain. 

I didn't have time to dry them. 

I entered Taipei city just after 10am. 

However, Taipei city is large and expansive. 

My accommodation for the day is in Wanhua district, a distance of 25km. 

There are many Japanese companies in the shopping mall, just like in Japan. 

Tomorrow is a day off. The day after tomorrow I will run 33km to my goal in Taoyuan city. 

There doesn't seem to be a walking or cycling route to the airport, so maybe I'll take a taxi again?

*Today's Distance: 25.5km

 Total Distance from Taoyuan: 860.1km

*Today's Photo Album

*YouTube Playlist

DAY31 Day-Off in Keelung

I'm enjoying my first day off in 12 days. 

I don't have anything in particular to do, so I'm just aimlessly wandering around Keelung city center. 

It's cloudy, and 23 degrees, so it feels like autumn here too. 

It's chilly when it rains and the wind blows. 

I'm craving something warm from a food stall or restaurant. 

It has a unique port town atmosphere, similar to Maizuru and Tsuruga. 

Young people always flock to this bustling, stimulating town. 

There are many tourists, and souvenir shops pop up everywhere. 

There are modern buildings, as well as old, historic buildings. 

I heard that the ferry between Ishigaki Island and Keelung will resume in September.

*Today's Distance: 0km

 Total Distance from Taoyuan: 834.6km

*Today's Photo Album

*YouTube Playlist

DAY30 Dali-Keelung 51km

I set off just before 6:00 AM. 

My time enjoying the views of the East Coast was over for the day. 

A slight error in my Google Maps route selection forced me to change course and ride over 50 kilometers. 

I had to go inland at some point, so I chose North Route 37 and  Route 102. After crossing a 370-meter pass, I came across another pass, followed by a series of small ups and downs. 

The gradient was about 10 percent. 

It was raining on and off. 

I still had my rain suit on. 

After 42 kilometers, I arrived in Ruifang, with only 10 kilometers to go. 

I entered Keelung City just after 4:00 AM, and at the bottom of the mountain was the port. It was my first night run, and it was raining. 

I felt quite dangerous weaving between the bikes and cars. 

I finally arrived at the hostel after 6:00 AM, having completed 51 kilometers. 

This was the longest distance I'd covered in Taiwan. 

Despite my exhaustion, I had to disassemble my buggy to bring it inside. 

I felt a sense of relief that I'd finally made it. 

Tomorrow will be my day off!

*Today's Distance: 51km

 Total Distance from Taoyuan: 834.6km

*Today's Photo Album

*YouTube Playlist

DAY29 Wujie(Yilan)-Daili 37.6km

 

Set off at 6:30am and had beef rice for breakfast at a nearby restaurant. 

The morning drizzle turned to rain, but the sun came out in the afternoon and the blue sky became visible. 

I headed northeast again towards the sea. 

The route was mostly flat. A woman on a motorbike gave us food and drinks, as well as a 1000 yuan note, which I was so grateful for! 

I passed through Toucheng and came across several small towns, and couldn't find any accommodation so I considered sleeping outdoors, but fortunately I found a hostel in front of the Dali station and checked in straight away. 

It got a little hot, but I managed to finish the 37.6km.

*Today's Distance: 37.6km

 Total Distance from Taoyuan: 783.6kmkm

*Today's Photo Album

*YouTube Playlist

DAY28 Shoufeng-Hualien, Suaoxin-Yujie(Yilan) 18.6km

Left the guesthouse at 8:30 AM. 

It was drizzling with occasional cloudy skies. 

I replaced a worn tire at a bicycle shop in Hualien City. 

It was 11.8 km to Hualien Station. 

It seemed like a train was coming soon, so I got on with the buggy. 

It was my first time ever taking a train with a buggy. 

The distance was about 100 km, and the ride took an hour and a half. 

I got off at Suaoxin Station just before 3 PM. 

I wanted to get out on the east side of the station, but the elevator to ground level was out for maintenance. 

I had no choice but to leave on the west side, take a 1.5 km detour, and get onto the road on the east side. 

I arrived at the free space in Wujie, Yilan I'd been told about a little after 4:30 PM. 

I'll be staying there tonight. I had dinner with the Okusa couple, who were introduced to me by a friend. 

It'd been a hectic day, but everything went smoothly. Thankfully.

*Today's Distance: 18.6km

 Total Distance from Taoyuan: 746kmkm

*Today's Photo Album

*YouTube Playlist

DAY27 Fengbin-Shoufeng 40.6km

Started at 6:00 AM. Cloudy skies, 22 degrees. 

There were plenty of ups and downs. 

I entered the mountains and passed two mountain passes, but I easily cleared them. 

There were six tunnels, but after the third one, there were four in a row. 

I returned to the coast and it started raining in the afternoon. 

On rainy days, there's no place to shelter, and no place to rest. 

I was delighted to find a 7-Eleven, hidden from Google Maps, just 5 kilometers from the finish. 

Later, my friend, Hasshi-na (Ohashi-kun), who was on a whirlwind Taiwan tour from Shiga Prefecture, came to the hotel by bus and taxi. What a big surprise!!

We had a pasta at the restaurant next to the hotel. 

Meeting the people you want to meet requires passion, the desire to do what you want, the way you want. 

That day, I realized that finding something that moves you is more important than impressing others.

*Today's Distance: 40.6km

 Total Distance from Taoyuan: 727.4kmkm

*Today's Photo Album

*YouTube Playlist