I only intended to go for a short ride on the bike. I set off from Zhuwei in the morning, after having ice cream & espresso at OOO Cafe.
On the bike, I quickly got to Guandu where I saw a familiar figure: John Groot of “Taiwanese Feet” fame. Book review: Too happy feet – Taipei Times! He writes at The Culture Shack | Ideas and stories from a global nomad in Taiwan when he isn’t on a Youbike researching new stories!
We chatted as we rode towards Taipei City, and he took off to Shezi while I kept heading towards Shihlin. I was intending to go to the department stores in Tienmu for a little grocery shopping which didn’t happen as I thought I could ride a little further to Yuanshan. That also didn’t happen, because I kept encountering ‘road works’ on the bicycle path.
I found myself cut off with a choice of going back to Shihlin or crossing the city towards Dadaochen. An easy choice, except Bailing Bridge isn’t fun to ride on – way too much traffic, no safe bike lane – and decidedly not the best choice for Dadaochen, for it’s a little bit out of the way. A kind lady directed me the right way.
At Dadaochen, I stopped for a little tea refreshment. A dash of sugar in the milk tea. Just a dash, I swear.
Next time, I’m going all in on an Okonomayaki and fries! Gotta refresh oneself!
From there, it was an easy decision to ride towards my next stop: Old Days Coffee in Banchaio (however you spell that city this week!)
A little under 5km in total from Dadaochen, and with the weather cooling off ahead of the rain, it was pleasant if one disregarded the UV index and sweat.
The road however beckoned me on.
So it didn’t seem so far from Old Days to the Hammer. Bit of walking involved, too.
On the way…
Journey over.
So not the fastest trip by any means. Nor as straight as the crow flies.
And San Miguel was waiting, courtesy of the Hammer in Yungho. Light, of course. But today the scales don’t lie.
