The Taroko National Park on Taiwan’s east coast is beautiful and inspiring. As we headed west on Highway 8, we started through the Taroko Gorge. With the benefit of hindsight, I probably should have paid attention to dangerousroads.org warning; “Only the suicidal, the insane, or the paid-to-do-this should ever drive down.”. On this day, with sun, scattered clouds and blue skies, it seemed idyllic.
When we stopped at a roadside café, an innocent child-like question was asked; “how far is it to our destination?”
“Do you see the tallest peak in the distance?”
“Yes. It is really high.”
“We are going higher than that before we start down the other side.”
I had no idea. The switchbacks became more and more intense. The sense of warmth, gentle breezes and blue skies quickly became a distant memory. All of my senses quickly sharpen. Everything was on high alert, focused on the road ahead. As we passed through five thousand feet, I thought we were almost there! The road continued, continued, and continued some more.
Blue skies gave way to grey and then to being in the clouds. Warm went to cool and then to cold! The sun disappeared, replace first by dull skies, the by thick, wet, clouds. Well before we reached the peak we had left the tree line behind us. The pass at 10,250 feet included howling winds, thick mist that was essentially rain, and clouds limiting visibility to less than 30 feet.
The ride down sapped every bit of energy I had left. I was cold, struggling to see, and trying to ride. For about 3 minutes it was fun. Then it got old and older! I kept telling myself it would end soon but it did not. Soon I was lamenting, knowing nobody could hear me and even if they did, they were likely in the same condition; “There’s nothing left of me – a withered weed, swept clean from the path.” (Psalm 102.11)
Now, the morning after, I was asked, “How was the ride?”
“Epic, in all the best ways!”
