[pe2-image src=”//lh3.ggpht.com/-P2Q3aZb7iZk/UX93zvNFM7I/AAAAAAAALC4/eWjGQtsI8i4/s144-c-o/IMAG1586.jpg” href=”https://picasaweb.google.com/110249026098208712655/ChristopherSFirst100kmRide#5872544169842783154″ caption=”Mr. Navigator” type=”image” alt=”IMAG1586.jpg” ]
Taking the kids riding is a thrill.
I really love riding, and being able to get my youngsters to join me on a ride is a real treat. For myself, I get to go a ride, and for us together, we get to have some real personal time, because when we’re on the bike, it’s just us.
One of the limitations of riding with kids is the distances they are able to cover.
On one hand, you can do short trips that are within their range. For a young rider who has only just learned to ride, this is very limited. Before they learn to ride, trips on the kids bike seat are usually the best choice.
My daughter has outgrown the kid seat that goes on the rear rack. The length of her legs means that there is precious little distance between my heels and her. We end up bashing into each other the whole time.
The kid seat over the top tube is okay, but inhibits leg movement, making it unsuitable for long distance.
However, my daughter was away, and my son is still young (small) enough that he can go on the back and I still have room for my legs to go round and round without bashing him.
A friend of mine had showed me a culture village right near the Chiayi high-speed rail station, approximately 50km from my door. I figured 5 hours or less on the bike in total, and knowing how cooperative and happy my son is on my bike, decided to push our limits a bit and make the rather long trip north together.
The plotted route would be the most direct route I could find, retracing some of the route I’ve used to get to Taichung before. Quiet enough, but with enough life and people that places to eat and rest are not an issue, and at any time we could bail to somewhere safe and call for a pickup home if needed.
So after a long night contemplating we set off at around ten in the morning for our long haul.
From the word go, Christopher was Mr. Talkative. The journey started with requests for “The Pirate Song” and he insisted that I sing it with him. Well, singing whole-heartedly and keeping a pace don’t go that well together, so every line of the song included a long heave so I could get my breath for the next one. My son thought this highly unprofessional and muttered that I was singing it wrong. Nevertheless, I think my general enthusiasm, combined with his, eventually turned attention away from my lack of singing skill and allowed us to just enjoy singing.
The road was as I expected and the progress we were making was pretty decent. I was confident that we could make it to our destination with time to spare and get back before evening. As usual we had headed off a little later than I had planned, so I did have it in mind to turn back early or change our destination if the going was tough for either of us.
A little over an hour into our ride, we stopped at our first 7-11 where he grabbed some yucky bread, while I got my bag of dried mangoes to fuel me for the next small bit.
[pe2-image src=”//lh6.ggpht.com/-VKilMt32N5w/UX938ZnJfRI/AAAAAAAALDA/UgZ6l074NsA/s144-c-o/IMAG1587.jpg” href=”https://picasaweb.google.com/110249026098208712655/ChristopherSFirst100kmRide#5872544318665358610″ caption=”Sunflowers” type=”image” alt=”IMAG1587.jpg” ]
Enjoying everything we saw and being able to take in all the details of our trip was something which I tend to miss on my own rides. I enjoy the riding to the point that I become immersed in the actual riding, rather than enjoying the details of the surroundings. We passed by a field of sunflowers and just had a look-see.
[pe2-image src=”//lh5.ggpht.com/-pWhBA5jebio/UX93-z6Or7I/AAAAAAAALDI/T-zquHtLj6Y/s144-c-o/IMAG1588.jpg” href=”https://picasaweb.google.com/110249026098208712655/ChristopherSFirst100kmRide#5872544360084451250″ caption=”Cows” type=”image” alt=”IMAG1588.jpg” ]
Later on, we saw cows.
Pushing on we made decent time, passing through small towns and riding on relatively quiet roads after passing the main road to Xinying.
The riding is pleasant, the sun was out and we were passing by large rice fields. The site of large areas of green are nice to see.
[pe2-image src=”//lh6.ggpht.com/-PnGv3Wi7G_I/UX94EwVDPXI/AAAAAAAALDY/y0fWrfN5vrc/s144-c-o/IMAG1590.jpg” href=”https://picasaweb.google.com/110249026098208712655/ChristopherSFirst100kmRide#5872544462202420594″ caption=”Chiayi Purple Route and Rice Fields” type=”image” alt=”IMAG1590.jpg” ]
After two hours and a bit on the bike we reached the high-speed rail station. We were ahead of time and pretty close to our destination.
[pe2-image src=”//lh3.ggpht.com/-y48CbjXG7bk/UX94H3a4Z5I/AAAAAAAALDg/y-3ptagpGIY/s144-c-o/IMAG1591.jpg” href=”https://picasaweb.google.com/110249026098208712655/ChristopherSFirst100kmRide#5872544515645532050″ caption=”Farmer Figures near Chiayi High-Speed Rail Station” type=”image” alt=”IMAG1591.jpg” ]
The train station was a tempting destination. We could have enjoyed air-conditioning, starbucks and other treats, but I thought staying in the fresh outdoors was cool, so we moved on with only around 3km to go to our halfway mark.
Although my friend’s description of the place we were going was positive, I’m never too sure about how busy places get around here. Popular places are overrun by people on the weekends, so I was putting it up to chance whether we would run into hordes of people.
But on our way we passed by this train track.
We both hopped off to take a look around and explore a little bit. Just checking out the old train and walking around are simple, yet fun.
The dead rat turned out to be extremely interesting for Christopher. We saw it, walked around, and then he insisted on returning to the dead creature.
“Why is it dead?” was one question he had. “What are the flies and ants doing on it?” was another. I explained that they were basically eating it. In all his innocence when I told Christopher we should go he told me that he wanted to stay in order to see the flies and ants finish off the rat. I explained that would take a little longer than he was expecting, so we looked on for just a few more minutes.
[pe2-image src=”//lh3.ggpht.com/-IoBA6UvPXoc/UX94mI97Q6I/AAAAAAAALEA/vosygBH5s7s/s144-c-o/IMAG1595.jpg” href=”https://picasaweb.google.com/110249026098208712655/ChristopherSFirst100kmRide#5872545035751998370″ caption=”Small Train (excuse the finger in the pic)” type=”image” alt=”IMAG1595.jpg” ]
Then, the sound of a train. There in the distance, a small train was approaching and we move aside a little and waited for the train to pass by. It had come from the place we were going and was doing a short trip before heading straight back to where it had come from.
After getting our fill of dead rats and small trains, we moved on to our destination.
[pe2-image src=”//lh5.ggpht.com/-06lG6bG2l7I/UX94pOEBJ2I/AAAAAAAALEI/huLbJ609Hp8/s144-c-o/IMAG1596.jpg” href=”https://picasaweb.google.com/110249026098208712655/ChristopherSFirst100kmRide#5872545088659335010″ caption=”Taiwan Sugar Culture Center” type=”image” alt=”IMAG1596.jpg” ]
The center has a few places to eat and features the train station that serves the train that we saw on our way in. There is a big parking lot and then the major thing I noticed, lots of bikes for hire.
Seeing as we were on our own steed, there was no need for a rental. But I did have a look-see at the bikes that were on offer for hire. Lot’s of 3-wheeled options, some more traditional bikes and the 4-wheeled upright ones for families. However, as I noticed later on when heading onto the bike paths to the north, nothing but a normal (2-wheeled) bike would be able to get past the barriers at the entrance to the trails. You could hire a bigger bike for riding elsewhere I guess.
But the first thing was to find the trails.
[pe2-image src=”//lh6.ggpht.com/-PnGv3Wi7G_I/UX94EwVDPXI/AAAAAAAALDY/y0fWrfN5vrc/s144-c-o/IMAG1590.jpg” href=”https://picasaweb.google.com/110249026098208712655/ChristopherSFirst100kmRide#5872544462202420594″ caption=”Purple Biking Route” type=”image” alt=”IMAG1590.jpg” ]
The purple signs (and green ones that I don’t usually see) are dotted about in Chiayi, marking the longest trails that cover a fairly huge portion of the county. Apparently the full length of the trails would be over 200km, all on the flatlands, joining together many of the smaller places to see. The trail is often just a normal road with a sign on a signpost, but at some points they are dedicated bicycle trails, which after cruising around on Taiwan’s roads, are awesome.
Finding the start of the purple route from the culture center was not completely obvious, but we headed off in the direction I suspected we needed to go.
We climbed onto a long pedestrian/bicycle bridge that crosses the river.
[pe2-image src=”//lh3.ggpht.com/-iY65iFlSkm8/UX94q7HE_yI/AAAAAAAALEQ/I4EHMnQ_qKA/s144-c-o/IMAG1597.jpg” href=”https://picasaweb.google.com/110249026098208712655/ChristopherSFirst100kmRide#5872545117931634466″ caption=”Christopher on the Pedestrian Bridge” type=”image” alt=”IMAG1597.jpg” ]
Christopher accepted the offer to move about on his own two feet, but was quickly deterred by the construction of the bridge that lets you see below. He climbed back on the bike for the protection of daddy.
Over the bridge, then down the other side and onto a 2km stretch of dedicated bike path (besides a local or two on scooters).
[pe2-image src=”//lh6.ggpht.com/-JtoAPB-incU/UX94wRkVZGI/AAAAAAAALEY/ZbelQfJZI5c/s144-c-o/IMAG1598.jpg” href=”https://picasaweb.google.com/110249026098208712655/ChristopherSFirst100kmRide#5872545209859269730″ caption=”Exclusive Pedestrian/Cyclist Trail” type=”image” alt=”IMAG1598.jpg” ]
Time was ticking by, and my turnaround time was approaching. Christopher stopped to play in a small playground right next to the trail.
I was getting slightly agitated as I wanted to see more of the trail and what it has to offer. But, alas, after a small break at a 7-11 for some sustenance I made the decision to turn around and go back the way we had come.
The alternative would have been to continue along the trail and see if we could track it all the way back to the coast. That would have been 30km extra on our journey, and it always takes much longer than expected when we’re searching for the trail or when we lose our way. Next time I’ll have to explore.
Homeward bound, just covering the distance we needed to, singing and chatting all along the way.
Sitting on the back seat has to be a bit challenging for kids. Both Christina and Christopher tend to doze off after a while. I prefer not to continue riding when this happens and unless we’re close to home, we’ll stop for a break. The usual giveaway is that their feet will start to drop off the footrests, so my heals knock their feet. A gentle “knock, knock” to tell me they’re napping.
This time was no exception and when Christopher fell asleep I found this nice big tree and he had a nap for about 30 minutes while I just chilled.
[pe2-image src=”//lh3.ggpht.com/-zHwRa5KwIwE/UX943fOaFRI/AAAAAAAALEo/3B-QC6HWbJc/s144-c-o/FB_IMG_13665291473679911.jpg” href=”https://picasaweb.google.com/110249026098208712655/ChristopherSFirst100kmRide#5872545333784483090″ caption=”Christopher Dozing in His Seat Under a Tree” type=”image” alt=”FB_IMG_13665291473679911.jpg” ]
As we again settled into plodding along, “lo and behold,” a trail appeared.
I saw it, passed by, and after 50 meters decided that I absolutely could not pass up this small attempt at trail exploration for the day.
[pe2-image src=”//lh6.ggpht.com/-CRfy9eLpBFM/UX948VM95cI/AAAAAAAALE4/vp4MOpSkO1U/s144-c-o/IMAG1601.jpg” href=”https://picasaweb.google.com/110249026098208712655/ChristopherSFirst100kmRide#5872545416993433026″ caption=”” type=”image” alt=”IMAG1601.jpg” ]
What I was treated to was a well-paved trail with a few cyclists and walkers. Although the stretch wasn’t particularly long, it was still very pleasant.
My greatest complaint is that I haven’t been able to find GPS on all the routes. With the ubiquitous use of GPS devices in vehicles and by athletes it seems rather remiss to make people rely on maps drawn by artists and not just get someone to trace the route so that people can enjoy these sometimes disjoint routes and still be sure they get where they’re going.
After a final stop at a 7-11 we hopped back on the bike for the final hour or so.
The whole day was a raging success. Christopher had a blast, he was in high spirits both on the ride and after we had arrived home. I enjoyed myself because I got to get time with my son and share that time with him doing something I absolutely love doing. Can’t wait until we get out for a big ride together again.
[pe2-image src=”//lh4.ggpht.com/-3Mo-ziGmIdQ/UX94-JKoxwI/AAAAAAAALFA/UdQ1TrRlXc4/s144-c-o/IMAG1604.jpg” href=”https://picasaweb.google.com/110249026098208712655/ChristopherSFirst100kmRide#5872545448122173186″ caption=”Mr Happy Camper” type=”image” alt=”IMAG1604.jpg” ]
So from Mr Happy Camper and myself. Over and out.