Day 2 - Korean Cross Country Cycle Route
Good morning from Incheon Bay!
This morning we did what slow cyclists do… meandered to 7-Eleven for brekkie, then sat lockside looking out over the water eating it like we owned the place.
Today's ride started by following the Ara Canal, it was green, shady, and generally beautiful cycling. We passed a Dutch windmill (very Korean 😆), some great artwork/sculptures, and at one point took a lift to cross the canal which required a bit of juggling to fit both bikes and us.
Next stop was Ara Falls, but it was the wrong time of day to see falls running so we climbed the many steps (as if we need more exercise) to the top for the view. Onward to Gyeyong Bridge with a huge fish sculpture and more great art, then a flower field where local Koreans were deep in a photoshoot with themselves as the subject. Naturally, we joined in.
At Ara Gimpo Terminal we tried to use a lift to duck under the river, discovered our bikes didn't fit, and had to backtrack and go the long way over the bridge instead, collecting our next stamp in our bike passports!
We enjoyed a leisurely lunch from a floating convenience store seated on wooden platforms overlooking the river. Life's good! Continuing on we cycled past beautiful rose gardens.
Next up, we learnt a bit about Korean motels (in Seoul anyway)…most only allow check in at 5pm or later! We had wanted to visit Seonyu Island which was foot traffic only. As we were far too early for check-in, we just kept pedalling. Disappointed we continued to the next stamp booth where our spirits were revived by a lovely Korean female cyclist who handed us a Pepsi and some biscuits completely unprompted. Trail magic!
We cycled through Yeouido Hangang Park and its waterlight square — art installations everywhere, impressive stuff. Following the Han River today we passed several colourful bridges, including the Green Railroad bridges, one of which was Korea's first bridge over the river, built in 1900. Cycled past more art installations…So much art today.
Decided to stay near Banpo Grand Fountain Bridge and found a hotel about 2km from the river. And now for the comedy segment: getting the bikes into the hotel lift required Alex to take the front wheels off, remove the panniers, and stand the bikes upright in there with himself, all barely fitting. Right now there are two front-wheel-less bikes propped in our hotel hallway looking very sorry for themselves.
After showers we wandered back down to the Banpo Bridge, grabbed a bento box for dinner, and sat by the river as the fountain bridge light show kicked off. Fifteen minutes of "so glad we stayed here."
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