Today, on the third day, we traveled 150km, the longest distance on the itinerary, and we were determined to reach the goal by sunset, so we picked up our cruising speed with a tailwind and headed for Tainan in one go. Even as we speed up, of course, we still need to eat well. We had done our homework on lunch and cafes along the way. With this greedy itinerary, will we be able to reach our lodgings before nightfall?

Kenta-san's Travel Bookmarks

7:00 Ride starts at 1952 Haimi, Lugang
9:15 Arrive at Xiluo Bridge (Yunlin County)
10:00 Arrive at Chan Chau Ku Happy Moo Ranch and take a rest
12:30 Arrive at Beigang (Yunlin County) area
12:45 Lunch at a restaurant, 誠食堂 (chéng shí táng).
16:45 Arrive at Qigu Salt Mountain (Tainan City) and rest
18:15 Arrive at Maison the Core (Tainan City) and stay overnight

DAY 3 is over!

Third day in Taiwan!

On the morning of the third day, before departure, we repaired the tire that had been punctured yesterday. In addition, the bike was carefully checked and ready to go.

The weather forecast for the day called for a 15mp/h northerly wind, and on the third day we planned to ride on the plains with a strong tailwind to gain 150km in distance. We packed up and started day 3, the longest route of the trip, feeling a little anxious about whether we would be able to reach the goal by sunset.

A short break with the red bridge in the background

Xiluo Bridge

Today's first spot is the striking red Xiluo Bridge. The bridge, which connected traffic between southern and northern Taiwan and contributed to industrial development, was opened in 1953, and immediately after its completion was the second longest bridge after the Golden Gate Bridge in the U.S. The bridge was built in the late 1960s, and was the first bridge in Taiwan to be built in this decade. It is painted the same red as the Golden Gate Bridge, perhaps this was done on purpose? (However, it seems to be the trend for tourist attractions in Taiwan to have large monuments with place names written in English.) We ate the resupply food we brought from Japan, and once again, we hurried onward with the wind.

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Stuck on a kitschy cow, we stopped by in a hurry.

Chan Chau Ku Happy Moo Ranch

Suddenly feeling a little hungry, Tsucchi proposed we stop by Chan Chau Ku Happy Moo Ranch , which he found on a street. The site has a small barn, a café, and a restaurant, and it looks like a local tourist facility.

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The most popular oversized cream puffs are filled with rich custard made from ranch milk. The dough around the cream puffs is crispy and hard, which is unexpectedly delicious. The premises are surprisingly spacious, and we spent an hour exploring.
At this point, it is already 11:00pm. We suddenly realized that we had 110km left to go and hurried on.

To make up for the delay at the ranch, we headed south on Route 19, which has few cars on it, with a tailwind at our backs and speeds over 30km/h.

Japanese-style pork cutlet served with Taiwanese-style somen noodles

誠食堂 (chéng shí táng)

The tour arrives at a town called "Beigang" in Yunlin County, central Taiwan, about 70km from the start. I was really missing Japanese food, so we stopped at "誠食堂 (chéng shí táng)" where Japanese-style set meals are served; original snacks are sold on the first floor; the restaurant is on the second floor.

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I ordered a Japanese-style pork cutlet set meal. The pork cutlet was thin and had the same crispy texture as the Japanese version, but it had a spicy aftertaste unique to Taiwan, perhaps due to the different spices used. I was offered a choice of rice or noodles, so I chose the "麻油麺線 máyóumiànxian".
It is similar to somen noodles, but dressed with seasoned sesame oil.

After lunch, we continued south on Route 19. Taking advantage of the tailwind, we continued driving at a cruising speed of 35km/h. As you can see in the photo, the road surface was clean and pleasant.

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Surrealistic Statue of Fish Kid

Milkfish Kid

After merging onto Route 17 and heading south, we stopped at the statue of "milkfish kid" that was recommended in the "Spot Call" section.
The "milkfish" is a popular saltwater fish in Taiwan, and it is eaten in a variety of different ways.
The statue of "Milkfish kid (Sabahi kid)" was created in reference to the fact that the southern part of Taiwan is famous for its fish farming.
You can also see the fish farms on your bike ride.

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At 4:00 p.m., with 35km to go to the hotel, we just kept driving south on Route 17 with the setting sun by our side. In the sea by the roadside is a milkfish farm. There are quite a few fish ponds in Tainan, and the scene is endless.

Resting against the backdrop of a salt mountain, not a snow mountain

Qigu Salt Mountain

About 15km from Milkfish kid, we took a break at "Qigu Salt Mountain" in the Cigu area. This used to be the largest saltworks in Taiwan, with salt fields spread all over the area. It is now a salt theme park and is crowded with tourists. There is a huge salt mountain that can be climbed, and the surrounding salt fields can be seen from the top.

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Encountered a traffic jam! Surprisingly comfortable

Tainan City

By the time we entered Tainan City, today's finish area, it was nighttime. It was also rush hour, and we were riding through traffic jams.
The bike lanes are shared with motorcycles and mopeds, so you have to be careful, but the drivers seemed more rider-friendly than in Japan, and I didn't get honked at once.

Finished and found out, 160km ride today!

We arrived safely at a guest house near the Tainan train station. The trip was 10km longer than originally planned, 160km, due to the selection of a road with less traffic and a tailwind. However, the distance felt like 100 to 120km. Once again, we realized the wonderful effect of the tailwind, and the unique feeling of riding a long distance with the wind was an interesting sensation that is not possible in Japan.

Small but great attention to detail

Maison the Core

Today's lodging,"Maison the Core,"is a four-story building with a café on the first floor, common areas on the second floor, and rooms on the third and fourth floors. Here, too, bicycles were allowed to be left inside the cafe on the first floor.
It is a cozy inn with a total of three rooms, and on this particular day, we were the only guests.
Each room was stylishly furnished and equipped with high-end Marshall speakers.
As a lover of good acoustics, I was impressed by the owner's attention to detail.

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Celebrating the longest distance!

Friendship Tavern

Tonight, after riding160km, the longest leg of the trip, I really wanted a large mug of beer! I ordered a draft beer at a nearby Japanese-style izakaya, Tomoyu Izakaya, to give me the energy I need for tomorrow.

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Places we stopped this time

Xiluo Bridge

Chan Chau Ku Happy Moo Ranch

誠食堂 (chéng shí táng)

Milkfish Kid

Qigu Salt Mountain

Pengyou Izakaya

Where we stayed

Maison the Core

View Ride Courses

ROUTE

1000km Round-trip of Taiwan DAY 3 route & recommended spots

After starting at the inn in Lugang, head south on Routes 19 and 17 to the goal in Tainan.

Here's what happened on the other days!