Bike Trip from Xindian (新店) to Hsinchu (新竹) , Part 2

Bike Trip from Xindian (新店) to Hsinchu (新竹)

2018/02/17-18, Part 2 

On the way to the Shihsanhang Museum (十三行博物館，24947新北市八里區博物館路200號，http://www.sshm.ntpc.gov.tw/) I had to pass a park.

While cycling towards the museum I noticed a father riding a bike with his son sitting on a small seat in front of him. The father was teaching him: “Look there is a bird” and the son replied “Hello, bird!”
When I overtook them the father was saying: “Look there is a dog” and the son learned: “Hello, dog!”
While I stopped and prepared to take a picture of the Museum the couple turned around and rode toward me. I’ve noticed the father saying in my direction: “Look there is a grandpa!” And the son greeted me with a “Hello, grandpa!” I greeted back to both of them with a smile while knowing for sure that even with my white beard I am only 55 years old…

Main Entrance of Shihsanhang Museum (十三行博物館大門)

Directly in front of the museum is a road sign which leads cyclists on the official path around the island.

Official Bike Path Sign in front of my Moustache Handlebar

From here I followed the clearly marked road and turned right until I came to traffic light in front of an overpass. There I’ve turned left and rode under the over-path of Expressway 64 until the Bali Liao Tian Ding Temple (八里廖添丁廟，249新北市八里區中華路三段2號) showed up on the right.
The temple was built in honor of Liao Tian Ding (廖添丁) who was a legendary Taiwanese  Robin Hood figure who foiled oppressive rulers when Taiwan was under Japanese rule (1895-1945). He was born in modern-day Chingshui District in Taichung and caught the attention of Japanese authorities repeatedly, for larceny and robbery, as well as the murder of Chen Liang-Chiu (陳良久). Liao died in 1909, trapped in a cave in the Bali District with an accomplice, Yang Lin, who had colluded with the police (Wikipedia).

Liao Tian Ding (廖添丁, 1883年5月21日－1909年11月18日, Wikipedia)

On a miner note: this Temple served as the Start and Finish of my 1^st bicycle Century Challenge (100 km) in 2017; from here I hit some familiar ground.
The road on the main entrance was lined with busy food stalls serving the worshipers of the Chinese New Year. I followed the Chung Hwa Road until it intersected with the blue no. 15 road. I rode along until it merges with the Expressway No. 61 (台61甲線). Due to the construction of a factory the road and air became were very dirty and polluted.
Bikes aren’t allowed on the expressway itself but there is a road parallel (on the right side down South, on the left side up North) which is not only flat but also shows very few traffic as cars and trucks take the much faster Expressway. 
While I rode beside the ocean, or more exactly the Taiwan Strait (臺灣海峽), I stopped occasionally for some pictures. While taking photos I tried to talk to local or travelers beside the road who were obviously heading into the same direction. 




Taiwan Coast (臺灣海峽)

I don’t know what Taiwanese think during the family holidays of a lonesome bike rider. The Chinese New Year holidays are traditionally a big family occasion in both Taiwan and China. Already before the Chinese New Year there is are big excitements, houses are cleaned, new clothes are bought and food prepared. All children visit their parents and friends; they eat, have fun and play together. 

From my wife’s family I’ve learned that these are celebrations only for a very closed circle in which not everyone is welcomed to join and treated equally…

For example while I was talking to a wife beside the road to take some photos of the coast the husband would not join the conversation but told her to finish the conversation from a distance only to hurry away in a time of peace and celebrations. Between Taiwanese he would patiently join because his manners would be considered as rude.

To be continued…