Braking Boundaries

Gyeongju tonight? Ah why not go all the way to Busan.

I awoke early morning on Chilpo (칠포) beach to a peaceful and absolutely beautiful morning. It’s been just over 4 days since my last real English conversation (except with myself) and I am starting to get used to the solitude of solo biking. Admittedly at first I felt lonely, but I am starting to realize that this has it benefits. There is nothing like being on your on schedule. No one to wait for, tell you you’re going to slow/fast, stop for breaks, or question your change in route. It was just me and my bike going at my own pace, doing whatever I please. All I had to worry about was me. (and not getting run over by the millions of dump trucks in this country)

Today’s goal was Gyeongju (경주), only 30-40km away. Gyeongju City is a famous historical city in Korea. For about 1000 years Gyeongju was the capital of the Shilla dynasty and has these fantastic tombs of past royalty that I really wanted to see., so it was pedal time again (only 7am) with another tailwind.

2 hours later I had my first flat tire of the trip and I used this compulsory stop to take breather wondering whether or not I should possible cycle further than originally planned. Around 11am and I saw a sign for Gyeongju and Busan (부산). Only 10km to Gyeongju and 100km to Busan. Take a guess at what was going through my mind. Yep that’s right, the goal posts are forever moving in my life.

I stopped for a few hours in Gyeongju to have lunch and visit Tumulus Park (대능원) where there were lots of royal tombs to wonder around and then it was off again. I was determined to make Busan before dark and complete my Seoul to Busan trip in 5 days. Back on HWY 7 now and I was thundering along at a great pace with all the determination in the world. The traffic was a lot heavier and it seemed as every truck in Korea was going forcing me to concentrate that much more to not get knocked off. As I got closer to Busan the traffic increased and the shoulder was either small or didn’t exist, but I was on target.

Then there it was, “Welcome to Busan.” I had made it, well at least to the city border. It would be another hour before I had crossed to entire city to make it to my destination of Haeundae beach (해운대).

3km out now and my face was all smiles. Part of me couldn’t believe that I had actually done it, and way ahead of schedule. It was only a few days ago I was slogging my guts out in the mountains wondering if I’d even make to the east coast, yet here I was rolling up to the beautiful Haeundae beach.

5.30pm. Done done and done.