Trapped!

My plan was to head back up Taroko Gorge and then carry on north through the mountains. I had a fear that I would meet the same road closures as yesterday and when I reached the entrance, sure enough..........There was no queue however and Google maps suggested a way around. 

Sure enough..........I was soon in the Gorge, stopping for photos I had failed to take yesterday. Very light traffic (compared to that encountered yesterday), life was good.

The sun was shining, the surface was good, the views were sensational. It was all going so well. The road gods were smiling at me. But like all gods, a streak of sadism flickered at the corner of their smiles......

Then, a barrier across the road halted my progress. Bugger! I asked how long. One and a half hours!! I had a long way to go today and this would put me seriously behind and playing catch-up all day. I made the hard decision to turn around and head up the coast instead. I got about 1 km back down the road to be met with another road block. I was trapped! No way forward, no way back. Bugger.

Trapped!

There are worse places to be stuck. The scenery really is stunning! Eventually, the time came and I was released. I was fortunate to ride the entirety of the Gorge yesterday, so today would have been a bonus. A bit annoyed at missing out on the central road north though. Next time!

Back to the coastal route north. I stopped for my usual 7-11 lunch. Next to a cement factory (ooooooooooohhhhhhhh, the glamour!). They even had a gift shop, get all your cement based souvenirs here!

Route 9 丁

So, back up the coast. This time I avoided the main route 9 in favour of the more interesting 9 丁. A much more sinuous road that hugged the coast. Almost entirely devoid of traffic, it was a delightful consolation prize. 

As the day wore on, it was time to decide where to end the day. I was making good time and didn't want to stop too early. Jiu Fen was the decision. An "ancient town" near Keelung. I think I've been before, somewhere back in the mists of time.

It was a decent ride over the hills, avoiding the main roads: with hordes of children on bikes coming the other way. There were hundreds of them.

I was following closely behind a couple of hell's angels types. I was too scared to overtake them.

Clouds ahead, but no rain 

Then on to even smaller roads, the white line fever taking over a bit. Longest day in the saddle at 8 hours. No idea on how many miles covered.

Tea Plantation.

Jiu Fen 九份

Arriving in Jiu Fen, nothing rang a bell. I manoeuvred through the throngs of tourists on the very narrow street where my B&B (without the breakfast) was located. Out for a walk later on. Pretty place, but tourists everywhere. But after a long day in the saddle, a warm bed was my main priority.

Soundtrack: "Under the Ivy" - Kate Bush