I left the hostel in Taitung just before 7:00 a.m., and stopped to pick up breakfast (and lunch) on my way out of town.
Today I had the choice to either cut back inland and come up through a valley, or ride along the coast. I picked the coastal ride. Not much to today except for coastal scenery.
I did pass an air base on the way out of Taitung, explaining all the jets yesterday.
While I walked a couple hundred meters of the last steep climb 2 km from my destination, the rest of the day I rode across long rolling hills. The headwinds kicked up the last 10 km, and I could see the storm covering the mountains ahead of me when I arrived in Changguang (a small village just north of Changbin), the halfway point on my route to Hualien.
Alex left Taitung around noon (from his ferry from Green Island), so in theory I had a 5-hour head start. He arrived tonight about two hours behind me. Evidence that we’re definitely not cycling together tomorrow!
While waiting for Alex to arrive, I met my exceptionally garrulous (via Google Translate) hostelmate from Taiwan. He’s circumnavigating by scooter, for the 11th time. His name translates to “Sweet Potato” – a name particularly apt.
Alex arrived having caught only the edge of the rain. We spent the next while discussing and planning routes for the next few days – a fairly traditional and enjoyable cyclist activity.
We went to dinner at the associated restaurant, only to meet the Italian cyclist that Alex met this morning on the ferry. We’re all headed north tomorrow, in slightly different ways. The rain in the forecast could adjust my plan. I hope to repeat today, and arrive in Huelien before the rain. That said, I haven’t made a reservation anywhere.