Day 04

Fulong to Jhu-An.

What a delight! A happy bunch of boys to join Neil on his travels today. We are happy to see Ross, French Chris, Non-French-Kiwi Chris, Steve, John and Spencer at Fulong’s miniature train station bright and early in the morning. Most of the lads play for Taipei City FC and this has been dubbed the Taipei City run. As they are all ‘athletes’ they shouldn’t encounter any problems. The pace is quick today, covering the first 10km in just an hour. All that gossiping must be upping the tempo. My bike is so overloaded with rucksacks and daypacks that as I alight to take a photograph the wind knocks it over.The brake handle is damaged and comes loose, but as brakes have never been a necessity to driving in Taiwan, (they are optional, I believe), I don’t feel it’s too much of an issue.

I race on to 20km so I can stop and relax with a coffee and a crossword before they arrive. We are in Daxi now, a tiny coastal town with a buzzing fish market, harbour and pleasant beach. Don’t tut at my Englishness, but I must refer to the weather again. It’s beautiful! Finally, sunshine and blue skies. Farewell raincoats, farewell plastic macs. Happiness! Each of the cemeteries that line this part of the coastal route are alive (bad choice of words?) with firecrackers and families celebrating (?) Tombsweeping Day, when Taiwanese people clean and tend to the graves of the deceased.

The boys arrive at Daxi (minus Ross, who has run on ahead in order to “kill this thing.” I’m not sure if he was referring to the marathon or a monster of sorts he’d been chasing. We are expecting Alex and Steve later. Their epic cross country mountain highway journey may warrant a blog of its own). The runners are in high spirits, a little red, and all topless like foreigners abroad should be. Spencer notes that the photographs he’s taking of the muscle-bound crew will receive a lot of hits from the girls when he puts them on facebook.com. Everyone makes the most of Super Supao and Snickers bars. They have picked a fine day to run, the road thus far having clung to the coast providing a breeze and an endless view of the sea. I welcome an addition to my blog and some great words are added to my notes. I shall share them with you:

We stopped at Daxi and the sun is shining brightly. We are so happy (now, that is). Maybe later we will be tired. I haven’t seen any ducks yet but I’ll keep my eyes open.”

Non-French Kiwi Chris ( Edit: Spencer wrote this, not I )

“Beauty is a balance between order and chaos.” [French Chris]

There are small ships… and there are big ships… but the best ships… are friendships!!” [Some cutesy b*gger named Steve]

10km on is a non-descript village on the edge of a long grey beach. I count only one shop and I’m dumbstruck when I realise I haven’t seen a 7eleven since Fulong. The lads are tiring but determined to finish and after consuming 14 bananas they are a little energised. Passing through Jhu-An I mark out the finish line with Ross (who went the wrong way and had to reconvene with me by taxi) next to a house full of wonderfully helpful people. All of the guys are victorious and race to the finish line with a cheer and a collapse. Aside from Non-French Kiwi Chris, that is. His unique take on finishing his first marathon was to quote for us some inspirational words. “Nothing in the world can take the place of persistence…,” he began, and continued, “I’m going to puke!” Several minutes of vomiting ensued. We looked on concernedly. “Pizza,” he mumbled.

Heading up to Jiaoshi Hot Springs we did not see any ducks. But the springs were fabulous and provided well-earned relaxation for everyone. Bathing in scented, bubbling hot springs and steaming in lemon, lavender and Chinese medicine saunas is highly recommended by all marathon runners and all the non-runners too. Some of the group stayed at the hotel in Jiaoshi, where merriment was made and continued as Tim, Wes and Maggie arrived. Riding two people to several rickety old bicycles through the night markets and streets of Jiaoshi was a highly humorous way to end the day.