What a way to finish my Tamsui-Kavalan Trails adventure! I have completed the whole journey by using public transport, partly to show that it’s possible, but also because the nature of the trail means it makes more sense to use trains and buses to get around. 1/7

The minibuses that travel to some of the more rural trail heads are infrequent, but with planning it has all worked out perfectly well up until now. 2/7

When I have had to walk along sections of road, I have invariably received offers of assistance from drivers who fear that I’m lost or straying too far from the beaten path. I’ve always thanked them, let them know that I’m fine, and carried on. 3/7

But today the bus never came. I was there for two hours. It never made the final stop. I guess the driver assumed that the middle-of-nowhere bus stop on a side road was unlikely to have any passengers this late on a Monday and so he took a shortcut on his journey home. 4/7

The very first car I’d seen in all that time waiting slowed as it approached me. Rear and driver’s windows both rolling down simultaneously and the concerned occupants asked if I was waiting for a bus. They said there definitely wouldn’t be anymore buses that day. 5/7

And without a second thought they asked if I wanted a lift back to Shuangxi or Taipei. This is the ninth time I’ve been offered a lift whilst hiking these trails, and the only time I’ve accepted it. 6/7

After watching them feed their cats and geese. I got dropped back off at Nangang Station with a bag of biscuits and a heart full of gratitude. It’s annoying that the bus driver didn’t do his job, but I was so very lucky to meet kind hearted people right when I needed them. 7/7