I guess I don't really care where I am sleeping, and how the scenery in the camp is. As we say in Germany when going onto motorcycle trips "Destination Road !!". But I do agree that a little socializing on the same camping grounds would be fun, and 45 minutes would be a fun spoiler.

I think the Taipei contingent needs to get together for a group ride down, and I know a good way to do so without having to deal with city traffic.

First, head out Roosevelt Road, past Gunggwan and heading into Xindian until you see the turnoff for Pitan. Turn right, go over the large bridge and follow the flow of traffic under the Second Freeway. You'll head into a very congested area after about one Km, but it doesn't last long. Stay on this road (highway 110) until it ends9(two lane country road), which will put you on provencial highway three just north of Sanshia. Turn left toward Sanshia.

Once you approach Sanshia, you'll see a left marked as Provencial highwy three heading toward Tashi...Take it, and follow this four lane road for about 9km until you get into Daxi proper. Once you get into Tashi, you'll see a large, very old traditional city gate entrance on your left (can't miss it). Turn left here, and stay straight on this road all the way to just in front of the main pay booth for the Shimen dam entrance. About 100meters in front of the pay gate, the road splits, with the right going over a bridge. We usually meet right there.

This route pretty much negates the entire Taipei county mess, and from the Bitan turn to the damn should take about an hour. Very nice ride by bike.

We also need to firm up a time of departure...

They should stop at Belgian Pie's and get an early morning order of subs and sanwhiches.

I know I will.


I say 8:30 at the entrance of the damn dam. Traffic along the route to get there will pick up after 9.

Hi

Sounds like a good trip can someone post the definitive details (meeting times, where to stay etc). sounds like this is going slightly off topic now

Cheers

Meeting time? I say 8am mingle with a 8.30am SHARP departure from the dam.

Hi StuartCa,

if you take a look back at a few pages, we are staying at the Wuling Farm. Everyone is making their own bookings, and it looks like most of us are going to be in Air Villas or pre-erected tents.

Meeting at Shimen Dam entrance, and 8am on the 13th May.

Good call, I was thinking the same thing just now. We can leave a post-it with a cell phone number behind for those who arrive after 8:30am

As I am driving all of this route and a little more this weekend as her indoors wants to go to QingJing Farm to watch sheep being sheared , will give a report - hopefully on monday - as to the current road conditions, closures etc.

Then if necessary you can adjust any plans for the route etc.

I'm quite familiar with this stretch, do people in Taipei want to meet somewhere first?

Yeah, well just keep your revs down going past my house. Some of us are trying to get some sleep, ya know!