國際無車日新店八里快速道路騎車記

Since our major blog writer and photographer Mr. Eric Cheng had to attend his wife's company activity, he was not able to join 9/19 program. Dick and I had to share the responsibility of him. 9/19 was so called Internation No Car day and the city government of Taipei County decided to combine it with the grand opening of 新店八里快速道路(臺64）. They invited bikers to ride on this freeway from Banciao to Bali (19KM) for a one time ceremony. They clearly overlooked the population of bikers and there were a total of more than 50K bikes crowded onto this new freeway and made 國際無車日became牽車日。

Dick, Benson and Stephen joined this program. We again gathered at Hua-Zhong bridge and acrossed DanShui river to reach the meeting point which is at the freeway entrance of 大漢橋. Please refer to the photo to get a feeling of how many bikes were there. We had to walk for about an hour on the freeway (also a once in a life experence) until we reached the starting point and could start to get a real biking. Frankly speaking, it was pleasant to bike on a freeway, very flat and comfortable. The weather was cloudy so not too hot to ride. Benson has improved a lot of his body power that we only too a short break after 9Km ride.

As usual, after approaching 八里 we went to a 7-11 store to get our water pot refilled and at one of the riverside shop we enjoyed 黑砂糖挫冰。In the ice store, we met a couple who also just started to ride earlier this year and had enjoyed weekend riding in different routes just like us.

The three brave men decided that we shall ride across 關渡大橋 and follow the riverside bike track back home rather than go on to freeway again. Dick took the lead with Stephen as the tail rider. Benson got 抽筋 while climbing the bridge. Unlike the past, he recovered again after a rest and was able continue the ride with us. Dick was so fast that he only noticed we were not following after 10 monutes.

Again we enjoyed lunch at 關渡宮 and realize this was the first time for Benson to have lunch in here since last time (June) he was not able to ride back with us. Dick and Stephen bought some 咸鴨蛋home to prove that we had reached here.m Dick was nice to agree that he would ride with us to 華中橋 instead of leaving us at 臺北橋頭. Benson also showed his potential that we only had a short break in the midway. It was very clear to see big improvements on Benson today. We believe that after couple weeks of rides, Benson will be able to take the lead.

Although benson got 抽筋again just before 永福橋 but after a bottle of 黑松沙士and rest we safely ride back to 新店together. Stephen forgot to bring his GPS so no track record can be shown this time. However, I estimate the total ride today is about 70+KM.