And so it begins...
Day One (and zero) on the Korean Cross-Country Cycle Trail
After a late evening flight arrival, we arranged a Jumbo taxi and then got creative getting 2 large bike boxes and luggage in, all whilst us with zero Korean language skills and taxi driver no english.
Arriving at our guesthouse we had a code to get into the building but no idea of a room number and no sign of anyone. It's now 10pm.... At least we are inside! Eventually the owner arrives and he is very helpful, using a translation app. In bed around 11pm.
After a short 5 hours sleep, Alex is awake and wanting coffee! Luckily our guesthouse is complete with a kitchen providing this and also noodles and eggs for breakfast.
By 7am Alex was putting bikes together on the veranda. No breakages or missing parts. 😀
After a supermarket visit (only opens at 10am) we set off on our fully loaded bikes trying to remember - cycle on the right, look over our left shoulder etc. I found it disconcerting having cars so close on my left!
We cycled on only a few roads mainly sticking to the great network of cycling paths.
We crossed an enormous new cycle bridge over the waterway (name lost to jet lag, but it was impressive), and just on the other side, near a penny-farthing sculpture stopped for lunch. We were treated to the rather startling sight of several small convoys of army tanks rumbling past.
On arriving at the Ara West Sea Lock, we purchased Bike Passports, and took the lift up to the 23rd floor of the Ara Observation Tower for sweeping views back across the lock and out to sea. It was then off to the start gate of the Cross Country Cycle Route and our first stamp in the passport! Smiles all round - we got here - now to ride the 633kms + extra all the way to Busan.
We only ride 2 of those kms today as we are staying in Incheon tonight. Dinner was beside the lock with many Korean cyclists.
Early night, hopefully more than 5 hrs sleep and more kilometres and stamps tomorrow.
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