單車。樂活

January 19, 2008

一個有著暖暖太陽的週末，老公跟老婆準備出門玩耍囉！今天的目的地是淡水。難得今天天氣好，不濕不冷，一整個春天來了的感覺呢！

It's such a nice Saturday good for an excursion! Michael and I planned to have a ride to Tamshui. The weather is indeed a rare occasion for Taipei in winter~ neither cold nor wet, with bright and warm sunshine~ It made me feel as if it was spring.




由於整個冬天，我的呼吸系統一直處於不穩定的狀態，老公擔心我不能負荷太遠的距離，因此今天的路線規劃是關渡淡水間的自行車道一趟往返。穿好排汗衣，另外帶一件防風的外套，裝滿水的水壺，把小橘和大紅搬上車，點好配件－－手套、頭巾、安全帽、口罩，上車出發囉！

Since I've been suffered from dyspnea during winter days, Michael thought that I might not be able to ride for a long distance. Therefore, the itinerary of bicycle riding today was planned between Guandu and Tamshui. With everything being prepared and packed on car, we leaved for the excursion~



我們把車停在關渡宮前的停車場，不知是時間尚早，還是大家都沒出門，停車場相當空曠。卸下自行車，穿戴好之後，我騎著小橘在前，老公騎大紅在後，沿著自行車專用道的標示，前進淡水！

We arrived Guandu Temple and parked there. After unloading the bicycles, we soon equipped ourselves with gloves and helmets. I rode first, Michael followed, along the lane marked reserved for bicycle, we moved toward Tamshui.




沒想到單車騎士這麼多～才上自行車專用道，迎面而來的一大隊人馬，叫人有種交通擁擠的感覺。途中經過一小段爬坡路，剛好前面的一小隊人馬有意外狀況停車，讓我不得不跟著停下來，這下子我就不可能騎上去啦～下車推行了五公尺，再上車繼續踩著鐵馬奮力前進！

I didn't expect there were so many bicycle riders on the way~it felt like rush hour traffic! On an uphill riding, a flock of riders in front of us met some troubles and made a temporary stop. Oh~no~I had to stop, too. I knew I was not strong and energized to ride uphills once I've made a stop halfway. I thus walked with my bicycle for 5 meters, rode again and kept moving ahead.




關渡至淡水的單車道單程約莫六公里，所以我們一下子就到了淡水捷運站外的廣場。找到一處樹蔭，車子停在樹下，先喝水，跟老公小小抱怨了一下路況，這才知道我們騎的原來是條熱門的單車路線。然後忍不住對老公自我炫燿了一番～看吧！就說我可以騎到淡水嘛！

The distance of bicycle lane from Guandu to Tamshui was about 6 km. We took a few minutes to get there -- the square outside the Tamshui MRT station. Parking our bicycles under the shade of a big old tree, we drank water and took a rest here. I told Michael I didn't like the crowded traffic on the way. Michael told me this line is a popular itinerary and always busy in traffic, next time we can try some other lines that's not so crowded but a little bit long in distance.




太陽很大，天空很藍，風很涼。我在樹與樹的陰影中遊走，用相機捕捉光與影的變化。出門前的豐盛早餐讓我過午餐時間了，卻還不覺得餓。不過老公已經餓了，商量後，決定啟程回關渡，順便到關渡宮附近吃些東西。好呀！我好想吃冰唷～

Blue sky, blazing sun, and cool air~ I walked around leafy places among trees to catch the changing moment of light and shadow. It was about two o'clock in the afternoon, we did not have lunch yet. I still felt full because of the rich breakfast, but Michael felt hungry. We decided to start the return riding to Guandu Temple and have some food there.

【後記】就這樣，我完成了十二公里的單車之旅。這是自大學畢業後，第一次騎自行車。突然好 懷念那段天天以單車代步的歲月～天呀！竟然已經是十七、八年的往事了！*_*　

It is a short riding of about 12-km in distance. For me, it's the first ride since I had graduated from college. I missed those days that I rode bicycle everyday to and fro in campus. Long long time ago~

新年新希望

二○○七。最後一夜
The last night in 2007

下午五點，我坐在高鐵上，再過幾分鐘就到台中了，我今天要在台中站下車。今夜，到處都是跨年的人潮，全世界都在準備迎接這一刻。老公和我也在此列。跨年的地點位於台中縣和平鄉的某個神秘農場，老公開車到烏日站接我，直接上了高速公路，往東勢的方向前進。

The moment 5:00 pm in the afternoon, I was on the train of THSR heading for Taichung. Tonight there are people around the world gathering for the new year greeting including Michael and me. We would celebrate in style for new year somewhere in the mountain area of Taichung County.




天色在不知不覺中，完全黑了。我們跟著來帶路的車左轉右轉沿著路走，看不到任何路邊景物的狀態下，轉過最後一個髮夾彎，終於到了！我們是最後一組抵達的人馬了，只見營火熊熊地燃燒著，空氣中瀰漫著食物的暖香～

The sky turned to be dark silently~ Michael drove behind the guiding car, turned left turned right went along the road, and I saw nothing outside the window except dark. Passing the last hairpin turn, we finally arrived! The campfire was ablaze to say welcome and the air was full of delicious and warm smells~


真令人難以相信！氣象報告說今晚強烈大陸冷氣團發威，中部以北將出現接近攝氏十度以下的低溫～山上應該更冷吧？！不知道跟地形障蔽有沒有關係，這會兒，大家一致同意這兒比山下暖和些！

It seemed incredible that the weather forecast said tonight would be very cold because of the attack of a strong cold air mass. However, everybody felt that it's not so cold this moment in this farm compared to the downtown area this afternoon! Guessed it maybe the terrain here form a natural barrier and keep this farm from the cold air mass~




終於邁入今年的最後一分鐘，馬上就是全新的一年！大家圍著營火，點燃了天燈，開始許願～老公大聲地說希望今年可以生寶寶，我則祈求爸爸身體健康～十九八七六五四三二一～新年快樂！天燈在大家的注視中，緩緩的飛向天際．．．

The last minute of year 2007! We stood around the campfire, light up the sky-lantern, and began to make wishes for the coming new year~ Michael prayed so loudly for a baby *^_^* I prayed to GOD that Papa will make a good recovery from illness. The countdown to greet the new year started~ 10-9-8-7-6-5-4-3-2-1~ A gleeful shout of "Happy New Year" burst out! The sky-lantern floated slowly and gracefully toward the sky. Hope it will bring all the wishes for us to GOD~




不記得怎麼睡著的，或者根本就沒睡著。雖然帳棚很暖和，可是為了防寒而不透氣的設計，卻讓我吃足了苦頭，因為帳棚內溼度太高，我就一直喘個不停，又是吃藥又是吸劑的用，好不容易暫時不喘了，卻又因為心悸難以入眠。

Just didn't remember whether I fell asleep or not. It's warm inside the tent; however, it was designed to keep out the cold and thus was poor ventilation. I could not breathe smoothly inside it because of high moisture. Having some medicine and inhaler, I finally had a release from asthma; yet I still could not sleep well because the side effect of those drugs followed -- heart palpitations~ poor me ~>_<~


二○○八。元旦
The first sunrise in 2008

不知道是幾點，感覺天應該快亮了，隱約聽到雨水打在帳棚上的滴答聲，迷糊中伸手把放在帳棚外的兩雙鞋撈進來，翻個身，繼續賴床的行為。沒多久，帳棚真的被天光照亮了，聽到大家互道早安的聲音，探出頭去，吸了一大口新鮮冷冽的空氣，真的醒了！

It seemed raining in the early morning~ I heard the raindrops ticking against the tent. Shoes were taken inside the tent by myself although I was in a daze and fell asleep again. Later on the tent was lightened by sunshine through the skylight and surrounded by sounds of good morning! I craned my neck out of the tent to get fresh air. Wow! What a freezing cold breathe!! The early-morning mist of my brain was soon cleared~




早開的山櫻意味著什麼？莫非春天的腳步近了？這兒真的比山下暖和，聽農場的阿姨說這個小山坳朝南，冷空氣灌不進來。這就是了，昨晚大家的猜測是正確的！

Here I met the first cherry blossom of this year. Did it mean that spring be coming soon? This place indeed was warm. I heard from the host of the farm, they said this place is a depression of a mountain and thus cold air is kept away. That's it, we everybody guessed right!!




這兒果真氣候宜人！到處走走才發現，這裡的植物似乎不分季節一直在開花～野地上的日日春在大樹的庇蔭下，熱鬧的盛開；農場的阿姨隨手栽種的幾株玫瑰，不甘示弱地在寒風中巍巍站立；這兒還砌了一爿小水塘，水塘裡的睡蓮竟然也開花了！

It was benign of climate here. Walking around the farm, I saw plants here blossoming. Under the shade of tree, Catharanthus roseus lively decorated the field; roses were blossoming outrageously in the cold air for not to be outdone. In addition, there was a small pond built by the farm hosts, and now it was crowded because of water lilies!




早餐後，農場的阿姨請我們吃這個農場最負盛名的產物－甜柿。真的好好吃喔～第一次吃到連皮都不用削的甜柿，又甜又脆，多汁的程度可以跟水梨媲美！好可惜，已經過了盛產季，現場看到的吃完，就沒了～當場趕快吃之外，不忘跟農場的阿姨預約，今年十月的時候，一定要賣我兩大箱，請山下的親朋好友嚐鮮！

After breakfast, we were hosted with persimmons -- the most famous and popular product of this farm. How sweet and juicy they were! I've eaten a lot of persimmons before; however, the persimmons here were the best in taste~ Pity that we've missed the most abundant season of this fruit in a year. We were now eating the last lot of persimmons... I told the farm host surely I'll come back again in October for persimmons!




二○○八年就這樣開始了，始於晨曦中的早餐與美味的甜柿。飽餐一頓之後，被晨雨打濕的帳棚也曬乾了，大家七手八腳俐落地收拾好場地，依依不捨地跟農場主人說再見，在燦爛的陽光中跟農場揮手說拜拜。回市區的途中，一路好景相伴～瞧！聖誕紅讓天空變的好熱鬧啊！

My year of 2008 was started with delicious breakfast and sweet persimmons. Having been satisfied with lots of food, we then packed up the tents and cleaned the field together. Under the bright and brilliant sunshine, we waved goodbye to the farm and its nice hosts~ Beautiful scenery accompanied us on the way to downtown area~Have you ever seen poinsettia exploded in the sky? Here they did!