Eat.Ride.Trip: Taiwan Riding experience Part 2 (8th April)

map of the sights and points of interests

With renewed vigor and looking forward to the next riding trip, I had a day's rest before embarking on my "smell" the flowers riding trip again. This time, I explored further down the northern main river of Tamsui, along the Guan Du 關渡 Jetty, the Temple as well as more cafes along the way. Starting from the cycle path again next to Hong Shu Lin MRT station, the first place we reached was the Guan Du Jetty, a landmark which offers the same beautiful and peaceful river view every day. This time I had the great fortune to ride with a new found friend, known more fondly as Big Brother, (大哥) David. He had rode the more challenging routes around Taiwan but has changed gears to lowest to bring me along the cycling tracks along the riverbank.


With Big Bro at the Guan Du Jetty

Most notably overlooking is the iconic "red bridge" or Guan Du Bridge that I had posed a day ago. It was a scorching early "summer" weather at 30+ deg C on that day. We continued forward and it was not long that we reached the Guan Du Temple in celebration of the worship of the Goddess of the sea, Mazu.

Along this area, it was a bustling of worshipers, daily commuters on bicycles as well as even "make shift" bicycle shops selling spares, gloves , helmets and windbreakers. It was a sight of rustic chaos with peace at the same time.

huge "urns" for the worshippers

buying "tributes" for the Goddess of the Sea

I guess these small vessels really need the blessings of Mazu out into the sea

"makeshift" bicycle shop serving the daily riders

I like this backdrop

Pressing on in this heat, it did not take us long to reach our first pit stop, a small container based cafe place, known as "I'm here ", and here we had already turned right from Tamsui into the "Kee lung" river. Some girl blogger put up another interesting "eats" account of her Kee lung river ride here, in case you are interested.