"No time for lunch today" Joe warns...

Well our first full day- call it day 2 of the journey - was jammed packed, and as Joe warned us "No time for lunch today". Starting in Taipei with a refreshed outlook after some sleep, we walked to coffee amongst the scooters and taxi's. A 45 minute visit to a park and memorial for your hero from the political history I can't quote, and to see stunningly bright red columned buildings and marble shrines was truly breathtaking. Taiwan is clean, friendly and beautiful, you had me at Ne Hao!

NOTE TO OUR SPONSORS...

Dear GoTaiwan.com and Tourism Bureau - so kind to sponsor and organize and pay for this trip. If I may make an assumption, your mission could translate likely to something like: "Expose media of adventure travel and cycling industries to the beauty opportunities in Taiwan, so they have a great time and tell everybody they know and every media outlet they have- so to get exponentially more tourists to our Fermosa (beautiful) island."... (*asterik - then we can take back China and be in power and prove the "David and Goliath" story to be poetic justice).

Just going out on a limb - if you want to show your best side, and sure you don't want to overspend your budget - I still don't suggest putting your evangelists in the back two isolated rows on the plane, directly... DIRECTLY in front of the prisoner in shackles and handcuffs.

A 7-11 stop for Pringles and mystery juice is not going to hold me over for another plane trip (50 min hop to South East Taitung), bus ride for over an hour to the "raft" river float, then bus back to check in at the hotel after 6. Just another dually noted piece of advice... feed your media.

After the brief view of Taipei, then the unusual flight experience, we directly were bussed North of Taitung to board likely native traditional rafts. A couple fun tragedies that included swimming and losing my beloved Specialized Endo Pink Cycling glasses *sigh* and Wireless Mark's phone AND sunglasses, were balanced out with the most excellent attitude of the group and kindness of our guide.

Joe, Canadian "Neeve", and Cola Mark.

Bev and Kate - while Wireless Mark has last moments with his gear before sliding into the river exposing circuits to water. Hrmph!

After seriously combing the shallow rocky bottom - crawling around like a crab, I resume to Cap't Morgan's way of searching for one's lost sunglasses.

Driftwood is everywhere. Some made into clever and beautiful sculptures. HUGE piles of gigantic post Typhoon debri so large, that I need to figure out a way to photograph the stacks and stacks of wood.

At a lookout along the highway that had stragglers finishing a 250km bike ride - was this beach and tree. Look closely at the tree, and you'll see spiders the size of my hand. No fibbing.

FRUIT OF THE DAY - can you name it?!

First Impressions

What do you get when a total of 5 people, 2 have met before, go into an airport bar?

I already have nick-names started. Seeing as the 2 guys on the trip are both MARKS. Niamh from Canada - a travel specialists if you will - with an adorable Canadian accent mixed with Irish tones and beauty - was in the window seat next to me. Her fear of not being a cyclist at all brings out the "Coach Bevco" in me, and I look forward to seeing her enjoy some of the riding! Instantly we were sharing stories like we were sisters, dropping inappropriate comments, and mutually shocked at the rudeness of our flight attendant. In the 3ft space in which we had to share for 15 hours, it's a good thing we are sisters that get along great! Kate is energetic and beautiful and fit with an "Oh I decided I wanted to do a triathlon, so I did an Ironman" innocently intimidating adventurous attitude. Rooms, or houses or places to call home are scattered about the world, and I want to do more with, and ride her coat tails as she lives life fully! The Marks! Mark Blacknell I'm calling "Wireless Mark", as this DC blogging cyclist lawyer by day seems wicked smart. I repeat questions to him in disbelief, as even though he knows that there really isn't any freeWiFi - I question it constantly - in hopes his answer will change. He has that "I could be an actor" look, calm confidence and sweet traveling companion attitude. Last to join our group at the airport bar was "Cola Mark", or Bike Hugger Mark, or "@originalmarkv" for you Twitter followers. First impression, total bike messenger cliche japan-ation character turned human. Adorable, energetic, constantly wired on Coke, straight Coca Cola- or with Jack to add some spice. Whispy hair jutting out from what looks like a russian military hat with flaps folded up to look like a guinea pigs ears. Dropping gear head specs like "changed by bike to a 34 yada yada with a 22 yida yappa". Yes, brought his own bike, and I get the feeling we all get to learn some bike skills from this agile wired, world traveling character. This, my friends, is going to be a fun trip!

See how this Taiwan Airport picture almost makes you feel like you are on a moving sidewalk going backwards? Well maybe it's just how I feel when I see it, as after being curled up in a middle seat made for 'umpa lumpas' for 15 hours, not hydrating or eating enough, no sleep in last 24hrs, my vanishing point started moving. My first impression of Taiwan was SHINY! How could they keep these floors so reflective?!

WORD OF THE DAY: HOWARD

We were kindly bussed over by our tour guide "Joe" - to the HOTEL HOWARD. My word of the day is HOWARD, as it's my brother's name, and made me feel at home here in my sleep deprived if not what felt like I'd been drugged space I was in. The best part about the Howard... was this morning as I looked out and came back to life, the view of Taipei with all its' densely packed buildings that I could see through... are you ready?... a window that OPENS!

FRUIT OF THE DAY: Apple, Pear, and green looking orange.

Thank goodness for this at the hotel room, or I think I'd be found in a sugarless coma today.

Taiwan Cycling Festival Tour Plan

Arriving October 14th in Taipei.

We'll be transported to Taitung for 3 different nights to see 3 different hotels and some "short" rides of 60km and 80km (yikes for me!) and hopefully river rafting!

Then bussed up to Hualien for a 40k and then 26k ride, 2 nights in 2 different lovely accommodations before heading to Taipei. This includes the International Cycling Team visit and press conference in Taipei.

We'll bus back to Hualien for a 50k ride, then Hualien City tour before day 10's 100km road race. I'm sure I won't be doing that - so I hope I get lots of great pictures watching it! Last day has us on a 30km mountain ride. Not sure what any of these rides look like, but I hope my leg and freshly starting to be active body can participate in all these challenges!

Leave either for home on the 25th, or I'll extend it to try and go to Taichung by myself - and visit a bicycle factory.