05/09/14 – 14/09/14: Seoul, Korea to Busan, Korea

Our first sighting of Korea and the Islands off the West of Incheon. Excited to get back to my old home. The Yellow Sea.
The start of the Three Rivers Cycleway, a cycle path going from Incheon/Seoul right the way to the south of the country. The Koreans are mad about their bikes, the gear riding around here puts Richmond Park to shame. The contrast with China is ridiculous. We’re definitely back in the developed world. Seoul, South Korea.
Camping off the side of the cycle path heading out of Seoul. It’s so still and peaceful, just the occasional whirr of disc wheels gliding by. Near Hanam, South Korea.
I lived in Korea for a year and am ashamed to say I never realised the country was this beautiful. Near Yeoju, South Korea
So many hydro-electric dams along the Han River. They all have these epic bike paths over them. It’s how you’d imagine a cycling heaven to be. Heading for Chungju, South Korea.
The lush Korean countryside is proving a great environment for the bugs. Spiders everywhere! Need to be careful which bush you pick…
Keep going on about this bike path, but it is just ridiculous. Just look at the infrastructure the Koreans have built just for bikes! A whole bike centre and olympic quality bike surfaces. It puts anything we’ve seen in Europe to shame. It’s so nice to be back in a developed country where there are coffee shops and good food everywhere. Heading for Chungju, South Korea.
Hitting the hills. Massive climb up a stunning road to the top of the pass over Mt Huiyangsan.
Practicing the Korean photo pose. This girl’s husband was cycling a Pinarello Dogma with a trailer carrying their stuff and they had an intercom between them – just amazing – that’s the proper way to do bike touring.
Windy descents through the mist. Heading for Mungyeong, South Korea.
Quietly carving through the valley. Mungyeong, South Korea.
Who’s this guy? He looks seriously speedy! Mungyeong, South Korea.
The river near Sangju. We climbed the 20 degree hill up to the pagoda on the right. It was barely walkable. Near Sangju, South Korea.
Love some of the Korean looking houses scattered about the countryside. Near Gumi, South Korea.
Near Gumi, South Korea.
We hit Korea during Chuseok (harvest festival), gift packs of Spam are obviously a top choice for giving to the people you “really like”. Near Chilgok, South Korea.
We spent a lovely lovely night in a Korean Love Motel. You even get a washbag when you check-in with everything you could possibly need for a super-romo night… Weird. Daegu, South Korea.
Bulguksa Temple, Gyeongju, South Korea.
Absolutely stunning sunrise on our own beach on the east coast of Korea. Up the coast from Dong-gu, Ulsan, South Korea.
Back at the office. The HHI Offshore Construction yard where they’re building the Clair Ridge and Quad204 projects that I worked on until April of this year. Everything obviously started moving once I left… amazing progress. HHI Offshore Yard, Dong-gu, Ulsan, Korea.
The old dinner crew with some new additions. It’s the most incredible feeling to have cycled back to my old home and to see friends again. It all feels very surreal. [Antony, Will, Steve, me, Mohamed, Alan, Jack, Sara, Yusef, Zaina]
Back in Downtown Ulsan with a big night of Korean BBQ and Soju ahead. [back: Darren, “Korean girl”, Brian, Nick, Ben, Neil, David, Alan, Neil, Steve, Ian, front: Antony, Ben, Will, me, Mark, Phil, Kameron, Stacey]
This is what happens when you get your bike fixed by the largest offshore Oil & Gas construction yard in the world. Engineered for the 100,000 year wave… Great job.
Amazing turnout for the “Tour de Ulsan”, our own Peloton to escort us down to Busan. HHI Offshore Yard, Ulsan, South Korea.
What a turnout! 15 of us for the ride down to Jinha beach and Busan. For some people, the furthest they’ve ever cycled – what an amazing effort. [Simon, me, Muhamed, Alan, Steve, Dave, Mick, Danny, Ben, Colin, Mark, Joy, Nick, Will, Antony] Cycle path along the river out of Ulsan, South Korea.
Back at the old beach hangout. Jinha Beach, South Korea.
Farewells at the marina in Busan. Sad times. Can’t believe we’re off already. So much thanks to everyone for giving us the most unforgettable few days back in Ulsan. [Steve, Will, Simon, Nick, Jacob, Daniel, me, Antony, Alan] Busan, South Korea.
Sailing out of Busan, bound for Japan. This country has surpassed both our expectations and been possibly the best of the trip to date. If only it were bigger we would have taken longer to get through it. Bye bye South Korea, bring on Japan. Busan, South Korea.