Distance: 73.71km
Average: 18.6km/hr
Actual Cycle Time: 3:56
Weather: Rainy / Windy
Issues: Jared had 3 flats and a blown tube
We woke early in Bundang, eager and ready to hit the road. After packing and chatting, checking the route, updating emails, and changing Facebook profiles, the morning had disappeared. A quick stop for some bread at the bakery, and finally we departed at around 11:00. Exited, we left the main roads behind and headed out in the direction plotted from Google Earth. It was a pretty route, but the best part was finding a newly constructed and deserted highway that we were able to shortcut through. Highways were unavoidable though, and we decided to take them when necessary. Just as we were beginning to think about lunch, Jared realized he had the first puncture of the trip. It was decided that we would find a restaurant, while he repaired the tube. David, Katie and myself went into the first place we found, while Jared set to work. After several years in Korea, we thought we knew most of the food available to us, but the names were unfamiliar.
A friendly Korean man at the next table spoke some broken English and saw our confusion. He recommended a meat soup which he swore was delicious. We followed the advice, but should have been warned by the large plate of raw liver that he was devouring. 10 minutes later we were presented with a steaming dish of stomach insides, and plenty of veggies. Katie and I stared, not sure how to react, but David, was able to call the bewildered matron back to the table and convey the fact that we were probably not able to eat the bowl of intestines, and other unidentifiables. Confused, she removed the offending broth and returned with something a little-less strange. Lunch conversation was mostly about how we would need to learn to toughen up should we wish to do this through Asia. In any case, our stomachs were full, and the tire was repaired and once again we set off. After about 5 minutes, the Jared’s tire blew again. And so we stopped once more, strangely, just outside a really nice looking meat restaurant. Jared set to work, and just as he finished changing the tube, we heard a burst, and it deflated again. Certain emotions were expressed, and we sympathetically watched as once more, the tube was replaced. After another 15 minutes, we set off again. Jared was fortunate enough not to experience another flat for about an hour. The rest of the day ran smoothly, although there was a little concern when it began to get dark and we couldn’t find accommodation. In the end, we found a stunning little hotel with a very nice meat restaurant and we went to bed happy, satisfied and not as tired as we would have liked.