Saturday, December 13, 2008

Taipei County's 2008 International Volunteer Day

Activities/Actions:
Biked from Nangang to join the ride from Banciao to Xindian and then back to Nangang!

Stat:

Course condition:
Nice weather; sunny and clear sky.

to Banciao

Date: 12/13/2008
Start Time: 05:34:00
End Time: 06:44:00
Time Taken: 01:10:00
Route: Sinica 2 Banciao Station
Total Distance: 16.62 mi.
Burned: 758 (kcal)
Laps: 1
Pace: 04:13 (avg)
Speed: 14.25 (mi/hr) (avg)


to Xindian

Date: 12/13/2008
Start Time: 09:03:00
End Time: 10:49:00
Time Taken: 01:46:00
Route: Banciao-BikeRent 2 Sindian
Total Distance: 10.08 mi.
Burned: 459 (kcal)
Laps: 1
Pace: 10:31 (avg)
Speed: 5.71 (mi/hr) (avg)

Back from Xindian

Date: 12/13/2008
Start Time: 12:28:00
End Time: 14:02:00
Time Taken: 01:34:00
Route: SinDian 2 home
Total Distance: 12.43 mi.
Burned: 407 (kcal)
Laps: 1
Pace: 07:34 (avg)
Speed: 7.93 (mi/hr) (avg)




Note and reflections:

Waking up around 4a to go to lab to finish some work, I could not finish it by the time I have to leave for Banciao at around 5:15a. I pedaled due West in a breezing morning in the less-crowded streets of Taipei City. Many bikers, runners and walkers were enjoying their morning activities along the bike trails and parks, as well as the shop owners and vegetable whole-sellers at Wanhua Market were busy with their business. I arrived at Banciao Station around 6:45a and Wayne's mom fed me up by a big breakfast and even gave me some friuts and snacks to take home.

After I was full Wayne and I left home around 7:15 to meet his friends--Xiao Hao, Lu Dan, and LD's husband. Lu Dan was one of the organizers for this activities. There were many volunteer groups who started their biking journey to promote the importance of volunteers. Bikers were given flags to put on our bike, a yellow vest to wear (each group had different color vest), two types of removable tattoos (one for cheak and the other for hand). By the time we got ready and biked out, it was around 9a. Actually, the most of the member has left before us (we were the last).

Just less than a mile, however, I fell off the bike because I suddenly hit the break to avoid hitting the girls who was making a sudden stop in front of me. I was alright. Thanks to the gloves my left balm and right wrist were only a bit pain. We biked along the left bank of the river, where I would complete the full length of the section between Xin Dain and Banciao.

Wayne and I arrived at the activity venue around 10:30a. The sites had been alrady crowded by people of various ages and the stage had performances by (generally older) volunteers. They were very cute. We enjoyed the activity, got lunchbox and NT$50 from the organizers. I did not know that we would get paid. Around 12:30, Wayne and I biked home but Xiao Hao, Lu Dan and her husband took MRT back because they got rental bikes, which were returned here.

The sun was strong in a generally-cloudless sky. I had been feeling sleepy since I got to XinDian. So, I decided to bike home, buying Xian-Yu-Xian near Kunyang with my NT$50 reward. Took a good nap in the afternoon before going back to lab to finish my work.

PS. I forgot to call Ya-Wen that I would not stop by as earlier planned. :(
PS2. I saw the countdown board to ING Marathon at the city hall, but it said "10 Days"! Only 8 Days left, actually!

Photos:

Guangfu Bridge at dawn break.


Wayne and the tattoos!


Removable tattoos...


The event flag on our bikes with my red Timbuk2


A fellow volunteer biker curving near Yongfu Bridge


The flag flying on my bike.


Almost there! A little girl with her cute bike; Wayne was on the way back.


Arrived finally!


Falling down?


Fellow volunteers in front of check-in booth.


Performances


Performances


Our group chanting the team's slogan.


A little monkey performer.

No comments:

Post a Comment