Taiwan - Epilogue

We did it! 

Taiwan ✅

What a great two weeks it's been! Now this is living. If I can replicate a similar schedule annually or bi-annually of biking trips then I'd be content for the foreseeable future.

This trip was different from previous trips primarily because we had the bean. At nine months old we think she did very well and was much easier than expected! My favorite is when we slept she would crawl over and snuggle to one of us during the night/early morning😍. She was an excellent rider in her trailer and mainly played with her toys, slept, or looked out the window. She cried maybe 1% of the time total. It would only be at the end of the riding day when it was night and close to her feeding time. Which brings us to our first question:

What was your daily schedule like?

We'd wake up around 6:30AM and try to be on the road between 7 - 8AM. We would then ride for an hour or so before stopping at a convenience store to eat breakfast and feed/change Lily Rose at 9AM. Continue for another 3 hours and stop for lunch and feed/change Lily Rose at 12PM. Repeat again around 3PM for snacks and feed/change Lily Rose. We'd try to find a park to lay out the tarp so she could get out and stretch whiling crawling around. Sunset was around 5:30PM and by then we were pulling into town to eat something at a local restaurant and then head to our designated sleeping space. Sometimes we biked a bit later if need be. Sleep around 9 or 10PM.

Where did you sleep?

We had three Warmshowers hosts, three hotels (not including the ones in Taipei upon finishing the trip), and the rest of the nights were camping in either campsites, open fields, or a church property next to a super busy road (worst night's sleep ever). Meatsticks slept outside for half the trip then shared a tent with us after he mailed his own gear back to lighten his load.

What kind of bikes did you use?

We rented bikes from MathewBike. They were great! However, the wheels were in poor condition as we broke dozens of spokes and had to get them repaired multiple times even eventually replacing a wheel. MathewBike reimbursed us, though. I've always had spoke troubles in every trip I've done (except Iceland) and I don't know how to mitigate it except by traveling lighter.

How many flats did you have?

One.

How many miles did you ride each day?

Around 50 miles/80 kilometers. Total distance was 1,048 km (651 miles)

What was the hardest part of the trip?

The spokes. That just brings stress because you don't know if your wheel will carry you to the next town. And you don't know if the next town has a bike shop or someone that could help. So you try to gingerly ride the bike until it gets fixed. Kinda like after you pass a cop and you know you've been speeding, that feeling you have until you're in "the clear" is how it is.

What was the best part of the trip?

Spending it with Holly, Lily Rose, and Meatsticks and sharing those memories. And seeing the neat sights along the east coast of Taiwan.

What food did you eat?

Usually oatmeal for breakfast and convenience store food for lunch and snacks then a local diner/street food for dinner.

How much did everything cost?

Flights: $646

Bike Rental: $623 (I paid for Sticks' rental also since he flew all the way out here for this and he's a poor farmer.)

Cash for currency exchange: $760

Other credit card purchases: ~$600

What's your next biking trip?

One of the SEA countries.

And the most asked question: Why didn't you invite me?

I invited those that expressed interest, I know would have come, and would have finished the journey. To quote the great Robert California: "Life is long. Opinions change. Winners prove me right. Losers prove me wrong."