Bike Trip from Xindian (新店) to Hsinchu (新竹) , Part 4

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

2018/02/17-18, Part 4 

The Zhuwei Fishing Harbor (竹圍漁港) is made of two parts:

- the Zuwei Fishing Port (竹圍碼頭) with the actual fishing boats and the fish market with restaurants

- the Zuwei Fishing Harbor (竹圍漁港) which serves as a repair dock for Taiwan fishing vessels and ships.

   Beside this 2nd part is the Zhuwei Fishing Playground for Children or 竹圍漁港公共兒童遊戲場  located in a park with a big parking lot right in front of it. The park was lined, as everyone can imagine, with bustling stalls for the Chinese New Year. I rode between the many families and found a sport where I could take a picture of a ship sitting on a dock to be repaired (or dismantled?).  

   Leaving the park I’ve discovered a one-man coffee stall. As a coffee lover I could not resist and bought hand brewed coffee for NT$40.00 (US$1.40). As mentioned in my first block I carried two water bottles on my bike: one made of plastic and one stainless steel thermos bottle. Now this bottle came in very handy. I gave the brewer my empty bottle which he filled with 'American black Coffee'. In this way I could keep the coffee hot, could ride & drink whenever there was an interesting place and enjoy. And I've saved one paper cup with plastic lid...

  The Coffee Brewer

After hitting the main road and rode for a while it came to my mind that I could leave the road and ride a little closer beside the coast. I followed a narrow path and came to an interesting and somehow strangely neglected road. The way led me to three signs saying, 
- “Warning, keep out of water”
- “No littering”
- “The road is served as the emergency flood barrier road. For flood protection, emergency access and maintenance use only. You are responsible for your own safety for trespassing”, which should make me very suspicious... 

“The road is served as the emergency flood barrier road."

   I did not give many thoughts to these warnings and continued. Soon the road became a track with big cobble-like stones but somehow I did not want to turn around. To save my road bike with its narrow 25mm tires and the heavy equipment I got off the bike and partly walked and slipped with my clip-less road shoes over the small rocks. The ‘road’ became very solitaire, a lot of garbage with many plastic bags lined the road. I could see much waste from factories like shoe parts but also old tires etc.

Road for the lost

   Now I ran into some strange low constructions hidden half in sand. By further inspection I found that the rear had some stairs leading in these round buildings with an embrasure in the front. But why were they here? I suppose they are relics of the 'cold war' between China and Taiwan, their purpose could be watching and guarding the Taiwan coastal line and fighting off the enemy in case of an attack. I think they are too small be called bunkers...

Taiwan defense?

   I walked so for several minutes which turned into nearly one hour with no end in sight. So I thought I will leave this rocky road and crossed some sandy hill to find an alternative way out. It was in vain so I had to continue. Some time later I discovered civilization in the form of a truck which was obviously parked there for the Chinese New Year holidays. Not far away from it I could finally ride on a country road again. The fisher beside a river could not imagine how relieved I was to see him after this 1 1/2 hours long odyssey. But I booked it as an important part of my 'adventure experience' of this ride.

Fisher waiting for the 'bit bite' 

(to be continued)