Su'ao-Hualian Road Closures

[Super Hans]

Seriously? That is exactly my idea of a great trip.

Well, it's great if it is a trip for a trip's sake, but when you're racing the dawn to Taidong from Taipei then it is a bit of a hassle. I've done it on several occasions through the night and the novelty wears off after a while. You do see a crate load of animals though.

[Mucha Man]

Seriously? That is exactly my idea of a great trip.

Well, it's great if it is a trip for a trip's sake, but when you're racing the dawn to Taidong from Taipei then it is a bit of a hassle. I've done it on several occasions through the night and the novelty wears off after a while. You do see a crate load of animals though.

Yeah and there's always that crap part going through Yilan trying to get on-off the 5 onto the 7.

[dulan drift]

Is that a definite 24-May re-open, or a "24-May but it could be any time"?

It could possibly be open earlier (or later). To find out, you need to call this no.

Su Hwa Highway Info: 039 982 161

Another interesting thing about the no. 3 highway, were those barren, dirt hills that kind of add to the surrealness of the landscape (around nantou?). The first time I saw them i thought they were landslide scars, but there is something about the soil that prevents anything from growing in it. (info anyone? I don't think i even know how to google that) There are some in Taidong as well - but supposedly that's the only two locations in Taiwan.

You do see a crate load of animals though.

I've seen a crate load of animals in the back of a few blue trucks. But I'm assuming you meant that like 'a lot of'. What kinds are you seeing?

[Mucha Man]

Yeah, the badlands or moonworld. Google Moonworld, Yanshui mud volcano and so on. A few articles out there. Richard Saunders has written about them.

The soil is very alkaline so only a tenacious bamboo grows. Very cool areas especially the mud volcanoes.

[Super Hans]

Yeah and there's always that crap part going through Yilan trying to get on-off the 5 onto the 7.

Yeah - that bit from Loudong up through to CiLan is a drag, but after that it gets more interesting.

I've seen a crate load of animals in the back of a few blue trucks. But I'm assuming you meant that like 'a lot of'. What kinds are you seeing?

Ha - yeah - 'a lot of.'
I'm seeing a lot of deer at the moment. I've already seen a fantastic array of snakes on those roads this year, civet cats and badgers, owls, flying foxes, boar - you name it, I've probably seen it or at least caught a glimpse of it's hind legs as it vanishes into the undergrowth. The only thing I haven't seen this year, oddly enough, is a pangolin. I've usually seen 4 or 5 by now.
Perhaps I'll witness a nice, plump, but rather unlucky chicken next time I am down near Taidong?

[dulan drift]

Perhaps I'll witness a nice, plump, but rather unlucky chicken next time I am down near Taidong?

Anytime - let me know and I'll start fattening one up!

That's an impressive array of animals that you are seeing - great to hear some kinds of deer are making a comeback.

[dulan drift]

Yeah, the badlands or moonworld. Google Moonworld, Yanshui mud volcano and so on. A few articles out there. Richard Saunders has written about them.

The soil is very alkaline so only a tenacious bamboo grows. Very cool areas especially the mud volcanoes.

Not surprsingly, i suppose, when i googled those words you suggested, i came up with your post. It was top of the pops.

A guy I know down here has got a site up that we're using, amongst other things, as a place to document nature observations, with a particular emphasis on weather. This is a famously boring pursuit and not suitable for polite company, I am aware of that, but it does afflict a small percentage of the population, and for them, there's now this site in Taiwan: http://formosahut.com/

In particular, there is a wiki diary to record any nature observations that you may have made in your neck of the woods.

[finley]

The soil is very alkaline so only a tenacious bamboo grows. Very cool areas especially the mud volcanoes.

I noticed those on Google Earth a while ago. I wondered what they were - I originally thought it must have been caused by clearcutting. I'd love to try growing something on them just to see if it can be done.

[dulan drift]

Just drove back along the Su Hwa Highway (June 10-11) and got through fine, though i did notice the flashing lights were on at the gates. My only complaint from the trip was that 7-11's these days seemed to be way understocked. Try buying a loaf of bread at midnight. I stopped at four stores - how is that a convenience store when you have to stop four times? I abused a clerk at the last place, but naturally he just thought I was some kind of late night foreign nutter. Eventually found some non-sweet bread at Family Mart - but it defies explanation how long they have peristed with that inedible hotdog they produce there.
Back on the road, if those massive downpours that happened in central and southern Taiwan yesterday and today (600+ ml and counting) make their way up the east coast then there's a high likelihood that it will be closed, so would be good to check before leaving home - the gatekeepers seem to be on their marks this time.

[tsukinodeynatsu]

it defies explanation how long they have peristed with that inedible hotdog they produce there.

Buy one of the German sausages together with a hot dog bun. Costs only slightly more and is actually pretty good.