The tour leader laid the marker down. “It’s not a competition; on previous trips not many people have made it up this hill (5.5km at 8% incl 800m at 15% with a 21% pitch).” We don’t live in the Welsh Valleys for nothing, challenge accepted.
Our final day cycling in South Korea was a microcosm of the whole trip. The first part rural and hilly, sparsely populated, green with lots of happy frog and cuckoo sounds. The second was flat, back on the 4 rivers path, entering denser urban area, sharing the path with many other users out exercising – toilets reappear as do multistories.
Busan has some 3,3 million residents. During the Korean War it became the capital for a while – the only major city not to fall to North Koreans. South Korea’s second-largest city and a major global port, it is a “vibrant coastal metropolis, known for its beaches, mountains, and fresh seafood. Located in the southeast, it offers a distinct, gritty, and authentic atmosphere compared to Seoul.
Tomorrow after bike packing, we’ll scratch a tiny bit and see.
In case you wondered: Veni, Vidi, Vici. More challenges to come so onwards with memories of inserting lungs back into correct cavity to keep us grounded. And always fine views.
Travelling reflections 