After marveling at the power of the sea while cycling the eastern coast of Taiwan, today I boarded a boat and set off into it.
I woke early but read for a while. I asked the host for a nearby breakfast place, and grabbed breakfast before wandering about Hualien for the morning. I visited the Pine Garden, mostly a building that remains from the Japanese occupation of Taiwan.
I also stopped at another pharmacy. I looked up the anti–nausea meds provided yesterday. They require a prescription, and primarily treat Menier’s disease, with only some potential to help with sea sickness. The pharmacy today provided something more targeted.
The van picked me at 1:00 pm and I headed to whale/dolphin watching. I talked for a while with a couple from Canada during the ride. The male half of that helped with translation along the way.
I had a long boat ride on choppy seas.
The below is my best picture of whale; otherwise I only saw the flash of fins and grey of a couple of pilot whales.
I also talked with my hostel host about my cycling plan tomorrow, and he supported my plan. Take an early train to Heping, skipping 50 km of the Sahua Highway and the four 1+ km narrow tunnels with no bicycle/scooter lane, but still riding the most scenic of the sections. Ironically that also means I skip the flat sections, leaving only the three big climbs.
Alex rode partway up the Taroko Gorge today. Then he’s also taking the train to Helping (a later train than I intend). Which means he’ll pass me … AGAIN.