[pe2-image src=”//lh4.ggpht.com/-JVaSQ1_1jfY/Uu8AGKCo0VI/AAAAAAAARiU/_C1cmPxrVKU/s144-c-o/IMAG2331.jpg” href=”https://picasaweb.google.com/110249026098208712655/DongshanPeakRide02#5975995336318570834″ caption=”Carrots” type=”image” alt=”IMAG2331.jpg” ]
Same ol’ story. Kids went to their aunty and uncle’s house so I went out for a ride. As I was dealing with an ample amount of time I decided against a flatland cruise and opted for the pristine beauty of the hills of Dongshan.
[pe2-image src=”//lh5.ggpht.com/-yE-2pvrrPvE/Uu8B__ySzgI/AAAAAAAARik/BqEilS9xnFY/s144-c-o/IMAG2332.jpg” href=”https://picasaweb.google.com/110249026098208712655/DongshanPeakRide02#5975997429509705218″ caption=”Farm Road” type=”image” alt=”IMAG2332.jpg” ]
I set off at about 10:30 after a short chat with the neighbors kids who are here for the holidays. They were telling me that the other kid was there because her mother had stayed up all night playing majhong so was too tired to take of her and had just left her there while she went to sleep. Hmm, kids are so damn honest, not a soul would mention the illegal gambling there, despite how blatantly obvious it is.
Gambling aside, I headed off in the wonderfully warm weather that has been dished out this lunar new year.
[pe2-image src=”//lh6.ggpht.com/-JUAnqBsoU5c/Uu8F5tHMruI/AAAAAAAARi0/xnxXWqLhssw/s144-c-o/IMAG2333.jpg” href=”https://picasaweb.google.com/110249026098208712655/DongshanPeakRide02#5976001719464406754″ caption=”Baked Sweet Potato” type=”image” alt=”IMAG2333.jpg” ]
After a long stretch I passed the familiar sweet potato guy. I really don’t know how much business he gets there, but he’s there almost everytime I pass by.
[pe2-image src=”//lh4.ggpht.com/-vzt8rdDU3HQ/Uu8Kih4iMTI/AAAAAAAARjE/D7inxkKwfsU/s144-c-o/IMAG2334.jpg” href=”https://picasaweb.google.com/110249026098208712655/DongshanPeakRide02#5976006818871259442″ caption=”Betelnut Stand” type=”image” alt=”IMAG2334.jpg” ]
In Liujia I took a slightly different route which bypassed some of the more crowded parts of the town.
[pe2-image src=”//lh5.ggpht.com/-Cx4QtlFC1ZU/Uu8K69FqjpI/AAAAAAAARjQ/DRE0a8NNtO0/s144-c-o/IMAG2335.jpg” href=”https://picasaweb.google.com/110249026098208712655/DongshanPeakRide02#5976007238490951314″ caption=”Liujia Sports Center” type=”image” alt=”IMAG2335.jpg” ]
The sports center was quite empty as the sun was out. Oh, the wonders of have the opposite thinking about sunny skies.
[pe2-image src=”//lh5.ggpht.com/-s4ZGcEopXUY/Uu8PBEtBgoI/AAAAAAAARjg/hIMp2P3Far8/s144-c-o/IMAG2336.jpg” href=”https://picasaweb.google.com/110249026098208712655/DongshanPeakRide02#5976011741660807810″ caption=”Into the Hills” type=”image” alt=”IMAG2336.jpg” ]
Shortly after I hit the foothills. The picture above was for no reason other than “here are hills”.
[pe2-image src=”//lh4.ggpht.com/-qtmMNwr5w2s/Uu8QyHz03QI/AAAAAAAARjw/z08O9Hn2h6k/s144-c-o/IMAG2337.jpg” href=”https://picasaweb.google.com/110249026098208712655/DongshanPeakRide02#5976013683819863298″ caption=”More into the Hills” type=”image” alt=”IMAG2337.jpg” ]
I took a short break to remove my shirt as I was getting quite warm and wanted to bathe in the sunshine.
[pe2-image src=”//lh6.ggpht.com/-bKiPaurDMrE/Uu8Ro-xXIqI/AAAAAAAARj8/7mNzT2yTNlM/s144-c-o/IMAG2338.jpg” href=”https://picasaweb.google.com/110249026098208712655/DongshanPeakRide02#5976014626286412450″ caption=”174 Signpost” type=”image” alt=”IMAG2338.jpg” ]
[pe2-image src=”//lh6.ggpht.com/-ecSxErZbFnw/Uu8S7KcWOTI/AAAAAAAARkM/c8DjM1IDIdw/s144-c-o/IMAG2339.jpg” href=”https://picasaweb.google.com/110249026098208712655/DongshanPeakRide02#5976016038168770866″ caption=”Cliff” type=”image” alt=”IMAG2339.jpg” ]
[pe2-image src=”//lh6.ggpht.com/-QP0EBsbuMmA/Uu8YOqUIddI/AAAAAAAARkg/hl-lmezTDn0/s144-c-o/IMAG2340.jpg” href=”https://picasaweb.google.com/110249026098208712655/DongshanPeakRide02#5976021870699902418″ caption=”Rest Stop” type=”image” alt=”IMAG2340.jpg” ]
I was hot enough at the rest stop to need to fill up with Super Supau. The motorbikes in the view decided that trying to slip in before the convoy of cars would be a good idea, then changed their minds and just sat in the middle of one lane waiting to get hit. Never mind that behind the convoy was completely clear, they still wanted to squeeze in. Quality of driving… sigh.
[pe2-image src=”//lh4.ggpht.com/-VC-nWmsk76U/Uu8ZAGwk9AI/AAAAAAAARks/0aa-_RpKVoM/s144-c-o/IMAG2341.jpg” href=”https://picasaweb.google.com/110249026098208712655/DongshanPeakRide02#5976022720148993026″ caption=”River” type=”image” alt=”IMAG2341.jpg” ]
The rolling hills came and went. As I ride this area more and become familiar with the hills, so the easier they become. Perhaps it is for this same reason that I ride the flats so much. They are so familiar, there are no surprises, I know how long it will take to get home, I know when the next tough climb is and when I can get some water. I also know exactly what is good about the ride, similar to watching a favorite movie again and again.
[pe2-image src=”//lh3.ggpht.com/-BS-poHqU2zQ/Uu8cCrpFXyI/AAAAAAAARk8/tY8CsWHMwRw/s144-c-o/IMAG2342.jpg” href=”https://picasaweb.google.com/110249026098208712655/DongshanPeakRide02#5976026062944296738″ caption=”Sunny, Hot and Quiet” type=”image” alt=”IMAG2342.jpg” ]
[pe2-image src=”//lh5.ggpht.com/-DshcCOg3IP0/Uu8dD2nu4_I/AAAAAAAARlI/ddkaajEvbfI/s144-c-o/IMAG2343.jpg” href=”https://picasaweb.google.com/110249026098208712655/DongshanPeakRide02#5976027182582916082″ caption=”Turnoff to main climb” type=”image” alt=”IMAG2343.jpg” ]
The turnoff to the temple signals the start of the main climbing portion of the ride. It heads up fairly steeply, but the road has been paved recently and is quite easy to zip up. The main portion to the temple took me around 20 minutes, but could be done in much less.
[pe2-image src=”//lh5.ggpht.com/-7hwafOeJryo/Uu8e3p__7CI/AAAAAAAARlY/_ogAalSh_CU/s144-c-o/IMAG2344.jpg” href=”https://picasaweb.google.com/110249026098208712655/DongshanPeakRide02#5976029172059860002″ caption=”Enjoying the sun” type=”image” alt=”IMAG2344.jpg” ]
[pe2-image src=”//lh6.ggpht.com/-AgGWk7V2oso/Uu8gK_-DwXI/AAAAAAAARlo/_5GtwiRDjtk/s144-c-o/IMAG2345.jpg” href=”https://picasaweb.google.com/110249026098208712655/DongshanPeakRide02#5976030603886444914″ caption=”Stairs for walkers” type=”image” alt=”IMAG2345.jpg” ]
[pe2-image src=”//lh4.ggpht.com/-beIcXMPfr7M/Uu8jMnhyKII/AAAAAAAARl4/lvH-tT2ckd0/s144-c-o/IMAG2346.jpg” href=”https://picasaweb.google.com/110249026098208712655/DongshanPeakRide02#5976033930220021890″ caption=”Almost to the temple” type=”image” alt=”IMAG2346.jpg” ]
The temple is when the real fun begins because there are almost no cars or people up there. Although the road to the trailhead is rough, it’s still driveable. It’s a bit of cranking in very low gears on the bike. The short burst to the flatter top section is brief.
[pe2-image src=”//lh5.ggpht.com/-hiV6bvssUTg/Uu8nBKxlPGI/AAAAAAAARmI/iZiLXXhA3hg/s144-c-o/IMAG2347.jpg” href=”https://picasaweb.google.com/110249026098208712655/DongshanPeakRide02#5976038131569605730″ caption=”Hiking Trail Map (I took the small loop just north of the You Are Here)” type=”image” alt=”IMAG2347.jpg” ]
There is trail system around here which I have never explored so today would be a good time to start. An MTB with slicks is not the most sensible choice, but is quite doable. Only the rockiest of trails are too tough to ride and those tend to be short sections.
[pe2-image src=”//lh6.ggpht.com/-eVoRQ37T5NU/Uu8pBLhWq8I/AAAAAAAARmY/mZvwBL9G1Nw/s144-c-o/IMAG2348.jpg” href=”https://picasaweb.google.com/110249026098208712655/DongshanPeakRide02#5976040330793233346″ caption=”Tiny Paved Road” type=”image” alt=”IMAG2348.jpg” ]
The path up looked quite steep but started off with quite a promising cemented section. Usually this means that someone at some time has needed to get a car up there. That also means that it will be rideable, even with only slicks. Actually a road bike should be fine too, except for the lack of low gearing (ie. you just need stronger legs).
[pe2-image src=”//lh5.ggpht.com/-64ZNwNrgqfA/Uu8rV3NKCLI/AAAAAAAARmo/psDGI6qXOKo/s144-c-o/IMAG2349.jpg” href=”https://picasaweb.google.com/110249026098208712655/DongshanPeakRide02#5976042885140318386″ caption=”Hiking Trail” type=”image” alt=”IMAG2349.jpg” ]
After passing a small house the cemented sections disappeared. But the trails that were left were wonderful. Having little gusto left in my legs I did have dismount for some rockier sections and take breaks after hard pushes. Sometimes the going is so steep that walking makes more sense and probably uses less energy overall.
An aside:
This has started me thinking how rideable these trails are for a regular (front suspension, knobbly tires) mountain bike. There are further trails to explore and it turns out that I’d picked the short “tourist hike” which has a stairway straight up from the temple below. Something for another day.
[pe2-image src=”//lh4.ggpht.com/-jzwwLRgaT2A/Uu8tgRmLFLI/AAAAAAAARm4/eWGRTJ19Fgw/s144-c-o/IMAG2352.jpg” href=”https://picasaweb.google.com/110249026098208712655/DongshanPeakRide02#5976045263046513842″ caption=”Trail Map” type=”image” alt=”IMAG2352.jpg” ]
The scale is so large that the orange loop on the map above is, by my calculations, barely a square kilometer.
[pe2-image src=”//lh6.ggpht.com/-7gWC13N8ERY/Uu8uStgsXiI/AAAAAAAARnE/-KJF4_rS28I/s144-c-o/IMAG2353.jpg” href=”https://picasaweb.google.com/110249026098208712655/DongshanPeakRide02#5976046129533181474″ caption=”Panorama from the peak” type=”image” alt=”IMAG2353.jpg” ]
From the top it’s a bird’s eye view of the hills. The clouds had come over and blocked the view somewhat, but it was good. I had a long chat with some folks at the top, and the most talkative guy suggested I should start an English school in his town and he’d invest financially. Who knows?
[pe2-image src=”//lh6.ggpht.com/-CU8F8jsKoNg/Uu86FGBe3WI/AAAAAAAARnY/oLHHaWRl-F8/s144-c-o/IMAG2356.jpg” href=”https://picasaweb.google.com/110249026098208712655/DongshanPeakRide02#5976059089734524258″ caption=”Big temple” type=”image” alt=”IMAG2356.jpg” ]
I made the dash home as I was feeling tired, the main temple came and went.
[pe2-image src=”//lh4.ggpht.com/-NXKoA2Y4BdM/Uu89_A8ouQI/AAAAAAAARno/O6UtXbf9kn8/s144-c-o/IMAG2357.jpg” href=”https://picasaweb.google.com/110249026098208712655/DongshanPeakRide02#5976063383339317506″ caption=”Not so big temple” type=”image” alt=”IMAG2357.jpg” ]
I stopped in briefly at the other, smaller temple (is there a theme developing).
[pe2-image src=”//lh4.ggpht.com/-iXSTbb4sjbE/Uu9NxK0ASJI/AAAAAAAARn8/1u0stKcQ8y4/s144-c-o/IMAG2358.jpg” href=”https://picasaweb.google.com/110249026098208712655/DongshanPeakRide02#5976080737655343250″ caption=”Resting on the road” type=”image” alt=”IMAG2358.jpg” ]
I just took in the miles, taking a rest by the road as I headed past Liujia.
I stopped at the sweet potato guy and ate two of those while on the road home, which provided some relief for my hungry tummy, although it didn’t relieve my headache. The headache was most likely from all the sun on my pale skin. Now that spring has sprung it’s time to get some rays.
[pe2-image src=”//lh5.ggpht.com/-l-S4VPCHuHQ/Uu9YHMSx1sI/AAAAAAAARoQ/ETaVprO0zj4/s144-c-o/IMAG2359.jpg” href=”https://picasaweb.google.com/110249026098208712655/DongshanPeakRide02#5976092111126255298″ caption=”Farmlands near home” type=”image” alt=”IMAG2359.jpg” ]
And, as all my rides conclude I went through the farmlands. More and more I’m avoiding the towns and cities, I was shattered by this point, but still chose the tiny, unkept roads.
Next time around I’ll aim for the much longer trail to the south of the trailhead. It appears to be about 4km and lands up by the smaller temple above, even it becomes unrideable I can still push my bike. Preparing some appropriate footwear for walking, or just going barefoot, would be in order if I were to try that.