Thursday, January 31, 2019

Yuli: Exploring the East Rift Valley

John's bike went to the bike shop.  All we have to work with is a small single speed and a 6-speed.  We decided to have a ride in the valley up to Ruisui, through rice fields that are in various states of being planted.  The valley was hillier than we had hoped for.  John and I took turns riding the single speed.  Though small, it rolled along really smoothly, which I loved, the only problem was I couldn't get up any kind of slope.

Since going to back Yuli from Ruisui is even more uphill, we decided to take the train home, after touring around the back roads of Ruisui.  For Taiwan Rail, you can roll the bike directly onto a designated car of any local train, after buying a tickets for the bike at 50% of a regular ticket.  This is our first time time trying it out -- very cool, too convenient! 

When we got home the other 6-speed was back from the bike shop, which meant the next day, we hiked the much touted Walami trail, up the mountain towards to center of the island.  First thing in the morning, we rode our bikes 12km from 115 to 300 m.a.s.l.  That's the best we could do with the 6 speeds.  We parked our bikes, walked the last 3km on the road to the trailhead at 460 m.a.s.l.  We then walked the first 7km of the trail up to 800 m.a.s.l., before turning around.

The fame and popularity of the trail was immediately evident.  It has historical provenance: an ancient tribal path that was superseded as a military road during Japanese occupation.  It is super well maintained, not particularly steep, suspension bridges, waterfalls... -- it had everything.  This is the first place we noticed large number of fir trees.  In spite of being midday, we could always hear birds chattering.  On this particularly day, mist was coming and going. it's like like being in an enchanted fairyland.

To Ruisui: Up early and cycling by 7:30. First we head over to the YuFu Bike Way and make our way over the clashing techtonic plates to Rt 9, the main East Rift Valley highway, and head North.
We Cycle from Yuli to Ruisui on Route 193

We Cycle from Yuli to Ruisui on Route 193

The local farmers are preparing the fields and planting rice non-stop from dawn till dusk.
We Cycle from Yuli to Ruisui on Route 193

We Cycle from Yuli to Ruisui on Route 193

Here are rows of rice seedlings that will be rolled up (like sod), transported to rice planting tractors, unrolled, and mechanically planted.
We Cycle from Yuli to Ruisui on Route 193

Taking a break on the Rt 9 bridge into Ruisui.
We Cycle from Yuli to Ruisui on Route 193

The area in front of Ruisui Train Station is decked out in red lanterns for the upcoming Chinese New Year.
We Cycle from Yuli to Ruisui on Route 193

Ruisui has it's own 10km bike way that heads out to the hot springs and back through fruit and vegetable fields.
We Cycle from Yuli to Ruisui on Route 193

We Cycle from Yuli to Ruisui on Route 193

The hot springs spa monstrosities. Disney-esque, yes?
We Cycle from Yuli to Ruisui on Route 193

Jack Fruit tree.
Jack Fruit - We Cycle from Yuli to Ruisui on Route 193

Chinese pumpkins.
We Cycle from Yuli to Ruisui on Route 193

Heading back to Ruisui we enjoyed this 2km section of downhill below a levee although it's not aesthetically pleasing.
We Cycle from Yuli to Ruisui on Route 193

After working hard on our 6-speed and 1-speed we drool for a moment over this electric-assist bike for rent at Ruisui Station's bike rental shop.
We Cycle from Yuli to Ruisui on Route 193

Here's the GPS track.
Yuli, Taiwan

The next day we pedaled out to the Walami Trail in Yushan National Park. Had to stop and take a pic of this pod hotel we saw on the way.
Pod Hotel -  Near the Walami Trail - Yushan National Park - near Yuli, Taiwan

The Walami Trail recently opened after being closed due to a landslide. Below is Sun-Ling waving on the old Shanfeng Suspension Bridge. A new bridge is under construction to its side.
Walami Trail - Yushan National Park - near Yuli, Taiwan

Walami Trail - Yushan National Park - near Yuli, Taiwan

Walami Trail - Yushan National Park - near Yuli, Taiwan

The uh wobble in the middle of the bridge.
Walami Trail - Yushan National Park - near Yuli, Taiwan

Whew. Made it. Maximum Customers: 5 People.
Walami Trail - Yushan National Park - near Yuli, Taiwan

The 2nd suspension bridge offers great views plus a waterfall. I lost my head over it.
Walami Trail - Yushan National Park - near Yuli, Taiwan

Then a beautiful section with overhanging ferns, dripping water, soggy railings, and mesmerizing views.
Walami Trail - Yushan National Park - near Yuli, Taiwan

Walami Trail - Yushan National Park - near Yuli, Taiwan

Walami Trail - Yushan National Park - near Yuli, Taiwan

Walami Trail - Yushan National Park - near Yuli, Taiwan

Walami Trail - Yushan National Park - near Yuli, Taiwan

Walami Trail - Yushan National Park - near Yuli, Taiwan

We somehow found ourselves in the middle of a large group of Taiwanese hikers as we traversed the new section of trail through the landslide zone.
Walami Trail - Yushan National Park - near Yuli, Taiwan

After 5kms the trail is less traveled, a permit is needed, and it's more lush, more quiet, and IMO less recently logged.
Walami Trail - Yushan National Park - near Yuli, Taiwan

Walami Trail - Yushan National Park - near Yuli, Taiwan

Rock that looks like a whale's head?
Walami Trail - Yushan National Park - near Yuli, Taiwan

Walami Trail - Yushan National Park - near Yuli, Taiwan

Tons of air plants like the ones above my head.
Walami Trail - Yushan National Park - near Yuli, Taiwan

Walami Trail - Yushan National Park - near Yuli, Taiwan

Walami Trail - Yushan National Park - near Yuli, Taiwan

Walami Trail - Yushan National Park - near Yuli, Taiwan

On the mostly downhill ride back we stopped at the lower Visitor Center to check out the rice fields.
Near the Walami Trail - Yushan National Park - near Yuli, Taiwan

Once in town we pulled in to our fav bakery to buy tomorrow's breakfast.
Fav Bakery - Yuli, Taiwan

GPS track of the bike + hike + bike. Long day out, almost 10 hrs.
Yuli, Taiwan

2 comments:

Crash Eddy said...

I get exhausted Just reading/viewing your hike, let alone doing it myself. I hope you didn't pick up any leeches or tumble off any cliff. And the wobble in the suspension bridge is not something I'd want to experience being on the bridge when it occurred.

john said...

@ Crash - no leeches ;-0. and it takes more total effort to walk a slippery trail IMO but on the other hand you don't wear yourself out my going too fast.

Just a wild guess that the wobble came from trying to "tighten" the bridge cables after a landslide or earthquake or old age caused some obvious damage. It's a long old bridge, built by the Japanese in the 1920s.

Most Recent Post

Sri Lanka: Trincomalee

Trincomalee, on the east coast of the island, is the least touristed city of our Sri Lankan tour. There are beach resorts a few kilometers t...

Most Popular Posts of Last 30 Days