Yeongdeok to Uljin

Yeongdeok, South Korea | 2024

Yeongdeok to Uljin

Korean adventure Day 7 (25km, 400m)

<sigh> If this is being sold as an easy/short day, I am in trouble.
I have come to really learn, like really, truly, will never forget it learn, that biking by a river shore and biking by the ocean shore are two VASTLY different experiences.

South Korea | 2024

There are so many hills. Big hills. With very steep grades. And just when you descend one, if shoots you right into the next one. We did 400 meters in 20 km. It sucked. I can’t even tell you what we passed. All I saw was: a) the back of the tire on the bike in front of me or b) my bike frame as I pushed my bike up the second half of each and every hill.

But…the people I am riding with are amazing. We cheered each other on, we encouraged and we met at the top of the hills like a team. That was amazing.

Yeongdeok, South Korea | 2024

Before the hills, we rode through Yeongdeok which is apparently a crab town. Crabs are everywhere! The crab we are posed in front of is one of the sculptures we picked to put on our team jerseys. At least, we thought it was. We came across a few of them on our journey. Yep, they were everywhere.

South Korea | 2024

At one of our stops, we met a Japanese gentleman (and I got to practice my Japanese!!!) who is going to bike around the world. I thought my bike was heavy—he had so much gear on his bike, you could barely see him!! He was 10 days into his 4 year journey. I got his YouTube channel.

South Korea | 2024

At lunch, the executive decision was made to taxi our paniers the rest of the 35 km to our hotel. Janet and I selflessly fell on our swords and made sure they made it there safely. We’re givers. And OMG—fitting us in the cab was hilarious. 20 paniers, 2 bikes and 3 people. The toughest game of Tetris yet!

Uljin, South Korea | 2024

The drive into the next town shaved off about three hours of cycling for us. This gave us the time to settle into our rooms, shower, relax and then we still had time to casually walk into town (guess what—more hills!! ). If I’m being honest, the real purpose of the walk was to find some wine and snacks. We were successful! I also got to finally see rice paddies before they were harvested!! And a really big spider. A really, really big spider in a web that could cover a mountain that housed many more of those spiders. Blech.

South Korea | 2024

Uljin, South Korea | 2024

We met the rest of the crew back at the hotel and had an amazing Korean BBQ on the patio listening to the waves crash into us. That’s a wrap for the day and we can’t wait to start again in the morning, well fed and well rested.. Hopefully

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