Some
days ago I cycled from my home on the outskirts of Tainan to Chaozhou in Pingtung County (屏東縣潮州鎮). To avoid traffic, I took back roads wherever
possible, yet managed to travel in a more or less straight line –
except for the middle fifth, where having no option other than
Highway 22 (which passes near Foguangshan) if I were to cross the
Gaoping River – I was compelled to travel east rather than southeast.
According
to Strava, I covered the 78.6km in just under four and a quarter
hours. Not Tour de France pace, I know, but I'm proud of what I
achieved, and I look forward to a few more long rides before the
weather gets too hot. The elevation gain during the ride was 262m.
Almost all of that, I'm sure, was accounted for a climb just north of
Agongdian Reservoir, and another on Highway 22 where it goes below
Freeway 10.
This
isn't a route I'd claim to be especially scenic, although I did pass
through some very pleasant villages once across the Gaoping River. It's just one which worked
out well for me on the day. More useful for visitors to Taiwan is
knowing that it's now pretty easy to take your bike on certain
trains, and that some commuter trains have carriages which have been
adapted for cyclists (see first and second images). However, this
isn't possible at all stations. For instance, as I was reaching the
end of my ride, I knew my options were limited because I could take
my bike aboard at Pingtung (屏東),
Xishi (西勢)
or Chaozhou, but not Guilai (歸來),
Linluo (麟洛)
or Zhutian (竹田).
I
got to Chaozhou about half an hour before the train to Tainan was
scheduled to leave, and the young lady who sold me my tickets (full
price for me, half-price for the bicycle – see third image) said it
was imperative to be on the platform ten minutes before departure. Do
bear that in mind.
And
the cost? As with every form of public transport in Taiwan save forthe bullet train, impressively cheap: NTD182 for me and the bicycle,
one way. That's USD5.89 or GBP4.74.
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