Yangmingshan, Jinshan, north coast:


Statistics for today
Distance 121.40 kms 75.19 miles
Ride time (hours) 6.87 -
Avg speed 17.6 kph -
Statistics for trip to date
Distance 880.00 kms 546.81 miles
Ride time (hours) 24.14 -
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Saturday, October 1st, 2016

Despite the arrival of October, the heat is full-on. Maybe a little less humid but the baking sun makes up for it. I was poking around the web the other day and discovered some descriptions of riding over Yangmingshan Mountain to the north of Taipei. I've been over those mountains a few times on my way to Wanlin but these involved following more heavily-travelled roads that come out on the north coast farther to the east. I decide to give it a try.

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Taipei Basin from Yangmingshan National Park.
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One of the high valleys in the park.
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Fumaroles on Qixing Mountain, a dormant volcano.
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Can barely make out Taipei from here.
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Looking north at the coast from the top of the pass.
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The city of Jinshan in the middle.
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Once I arrive at the beach I can either head east to Keelung then back up the Keelung River to Taipei or head west to Tamsui. I've already done the Keelung ride a bunch of times and I'm not thrilled at the prospect, but it's the wind that makes the final decision. I head west with a stiff breeze at my back, cruising at 35-40kph without much effort. I'm riding counter-clockwise around the north coast which will take me to Tamsui. From there I can get on the river bike paths which lead into Taipei.

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Back down at sea level. To the east, Keelung Island and the Yehliu Geopark that I visited last week.
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Collecting some kind of shellfish.
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A series of coves to the west.
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Radar station.
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The coast is quite nice here. A bikepath/boardwalk follows it for a good stretch.
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"North Coast Bikeway"
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Later afternoon urban death ride in Tamsui.
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There is some kind of festival going on in Tamsui, people everywhere, parades like this one. No idea what it's about.
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Tamsui sunset.
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Back into Taipei along the river, dark enough for bridge pictures.
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Taipei bridge at dusk.