Seoul to Seoul (Re-mastered)

[Black Duck]

What's in the 2 containers in the corner of the sitting room?

Looks like escape harness. I guess for 2 guests but I can only remember 1 in most places I have stayed.

 

[Noel Mugavin]

Were all your hotels pre-booked?

Yep, apart from Namji. It is easy enough to just roll into a town and find a hotel, however I'm not that adventurous to take that complete leap of faith. Pre-booking also kept me on the bike and on track to get the ride done.

 

[Noel Mugavin]

What's in the 2 containers in the corner of the sitting room?

Descending safety line

 

[Noel Mugavin]

My bike setup

Lotte Tower in the Jamsil District

Hotel

Street scenes




Cherry blossoms at Seokchon Lake






Escaped the crowds at the lake and went to the Seoul Sky

 

[Noel Mugavin]

To the top and looking over the Olympic Stadium and back towards Namsan Tower



Lotte World


To the east and overlooking Olympic Park


After dinner, time for a stroll around the Olympic Park.
Sculptures along Olympic-ro leading to the park


Entrance to Olympic Park




Wandered for about an hour/hour and a half

 

[Noel Mugavin]

Late night stroll around the Jamsil area


Illuminated entrance to Seokchon Lake




Getting a bit cold, so back to the hotel

 

[Noel Mugavin]

Beautiful day for my first leg




Half hour or so and I was in to Hanam City


Foilage a bit lacking this time of year


Very pleasant scenery as the Han turns south






Hoped to catch up with my host from2023, however too early for her shop to be open


Back on the bike after a short rest


Bike theme continues along the path

 

[Noel Mugavin]

Gets a bit colourful around Paldang Tourist Site



Bit of a rest and de-robing at the Bukhangang Crossing






Sign you look for with the little colourful logo top left to re-assure you that you're on the right path

 

[Noel Mugavin]

On the road again





Yangpyeong Certification Booth. Much easier to find this time round.


Bit of work going on around the art museum

On I go

Walked up this one - gradient too tough for me

Even quite hairy going down

Stop for a convenience store lunch at Ipobo

Was then a flat and quick run to my hotel in Yeoju

 

[Noel Mugavin]

nSilleuksa Buddhist Tempe, over the river from the hotel


New bridge under construction

10 minute or so walk down to a memorial park
Bit of wildlife









Yeongweolru Pavillion

 

[Noel Mugavin]

View back to the hotel from the pavillion


And the view over Yeoju





Hotels on the stroll back to my digs

And a nice sunset to finish the day


Work for the day

 

[Noel Mugavin]

Around 3 degrees when I set off the next morning, sun was trying to get itself up and going

The back of the hotel

Over to the east side of the Han


Through Gangcheon Island, a popular camping area



Slowly warming up

Through some farmland

Diversion around a hill, then back next to the river

 

[Noel Mugavin]

Coffee break after about 40km at Binaeseom Certification Centre








Another 30km or so to Chungju Dam, easy to find the booth this time round
On the road to Suanbo, and as top at Sujupalbong Suspension Bridge

It's another popular camping spot

 

[Noel Mugavin]

Into Suanbo around 3 o'clock.
Suanbo Oncheon Hilling Hotel


With Olive Chicken attached

After a shower and way too much fried chicken, time to explore the town.
Lot of pheasant figurines around. Apparently a specialty of the town.

Some pig planters



A few foot spas around town




Back to the room for a rest, then another wander after the sun went down

 

[Noel Mugavin]

 

[Noel Mugavin]

Wednesday morning and climbing day. Unfortunately, weather predictions were correct and it was going to be a wet and windy ride.
There’s a taste of what’s to come with a climb out of Suanbo, walked it last year, stayed in the bike this time.
About 5km’s and into the first climb, 350m height with a 5 - 8% incline.
Rest stop about half way up where I took a breather for about 5 minutes.

 

[Noel Mugavin]

After reaching the top of the climb, due to the wet road and dodgey bike brakes, it was a very slow descent.
A short stop at Wongpung-ri Buddha rock carvings.
Apple letterbox is a stamp booth for another bike trail

 

[Noel Mugavin]

Wind picked up and the rain fell harder as I rolled into Yeonpung.
I rested here for about 10 minutes before starting my 562m climb.
Yeonpung has a stamp booth as it is also the start of the Ocheon, or 5 Streams Path

 

[Noel Mugavin]

The weather had certainly kept people inside, I hadn’t seen a soul some I headed off. That didn’t change as I made the 5km ascent.
Last year I was fortunate enough to be picked up by a friendly truck driver and driven up the hill. This year I was determined to do it under my own steam.
And I did. Fantastic feeling of satisfaction when I made it to the top. Not able to reward myself with a hot coffee though, cafe not open and rest stop completely deserted.

 

[Noel Mugavin]

2023 with warm, dry riding conditions I had an extremely enjoyable 6km descent into Mungyeong-si, getting up to 60kmh. This year the descent was terrifying, and I was lucky to break 6k’s an hour.
Made it to the outskirts of Mungyeong-si, and stopped at a fruit stand. Big Apple with a big price tag of just under $10. Was quite enjoyable until about halfway through when I realised I’d consumed half a bug of some sort.
From whence I cameRandom red phone boxes where you’re not expecting them throw a bit of doubt in your mind at times