Ibike Korea People-to-People Program

   
 

   

Photo essay: Seoul to Sancheon

    (50mi, 80km)  Start with a flat trail along the Han River; there are hills later.
Points of Interest: Bongeunsa Temple, Olympic Sports Complex, Han River Valley, Paldang Dam
  Bicycling in Gangnam, Seoul Bicycling in Gangnam, SeoulCycling out of the concrete jungle.  Seoul generally has heavy traffic so it is unpleasant to cycle on the major arterials, but if you know your way on the back streets and some of the lesser arterials, a bicycle can be a practical mode of transportation.
  Bicycling on the Han Rive bike trail Hangang bike trail, Seoul, KoreaOne of the nicest features of Korea's bicycle infrastructure are paths along rivers.  In Seoul, along the Han River, and several of its tributaries have wide, flat, car-free bicycle and pedestrian facilities.  You certainly don't realize that you are in a greater metropolitan area of more than twenty million people.  Around the country, there are hundreds of miles of non-motorized facilities along rivers.  For more discussion of non-motorized facilities in Seoul and Korea see Korean: Non-motorized transportations.
  Han River and Seoul in the mist Han River bike trailLeaving the city in the distance mist, with Han River and Olympic Bridge.  Though is was overcast and grey in the morning, the clouds burned off and gave way to a sunny afternoon.

Up river the trail passes a series of "pill boxes" looking out over the trail and the river.  They appear to be deactivated.  Presumably they were built in the event of a North Korean invation.

  Pallang Bridge bikeway approach ramp. Pallang Bridge bikeway approach ramp.Through Seoul, from Incheon on the west to Pallang Bridge on the east, there is 70 km bike and pedestrian trail along the Han River. To facilitate access to the Pallang Bridge they have built a new approach ramp (on the left -- the most forward three pillars across the center of the picture.
  Pallang Dam, Hangang, Seoul, Korea The Pallang Dam was built in 1960, primarily for flood control.  But it also served to blocked river boat commerce.  This was a time when roads into the interior were poor or non-existent.  The dam caused a changed to the economies of the village economies along the river in the interior.  Many of the "ports" along the river were flood and others have virtually disappear from inactivity.
  Korea National Trail System, Han River Korea National Trail System, Han RiverThe Namhangang Rail Trail goes from Pallang Dam to Yangpyeong, mostly on an old railroad alignment.  Presumably to tell the story they have left some of the tracks in around an old station.  The engineers have also taken advantage of the old tunnels.

Beyond the initial section, the tracks have been salvaged and the path is a totally new faciclity.Korea National Trail System, Han River

At Yangpyeong there is no obvious route on the north bank, but there are bridges that cross the river.  On the south bank it is 16km (10 miles) as the crow flies until there is more evidence of shoreline trail facilities. [2011]

   
  Korean grave site Korea National Trail System, Han RiverGraves tend to be isolated or in small family groups.  Typically they sit on a cleared bench part way up a hillside.  The mound is the grave, which is usually accompanied by an engraved stele.  Wealthier people will also have a variety of statuary.
  Small town retail street, Yangsoo weekly market in YongsooMain retail street in Yangsoo (left).  Retail in Korea is almost exclusively small boutiques, so every shop in a small town has a different inventory and the street-scape is very diverse.  Window shopping is a delight.

The weekly market in Yongsoo (right).  Venders had produce, clothing, utensils and other manufactured goods.

  Scarecrow-type figures on the road side Fun figures on the road side.  They have some of the character of scarecrows but were in a cultivated field, so they must have been there to add fun to the road.
  Farm land, South Korea Greater Seoul is large, but it ends abruptly and the farm land begins.
  Gyeongchun River (a tributary of the Han River) Gyeongchun River (a tributary of the Han River)Most of the first days ride is flat or rolling, generally following river valleys.  Although at this point the road parallels the Gyeongcheon River (a tributary of the Han River), it climbs a hill "to get to the other side" -- the downhill was as good as the uphill.
  Tea time Met this group stopping for a break.  They offered us tea and cookies but wouldn't take anything in return.  This foreshadowed the rest of the trip where roasted corn, apples, pears, persimmons, sweets, coffee, pine nuts, and various other treats were offered, without accepting anything in return.
  Small rural grocery store, Korea Another rest stop at a small rural grocery store.  It is always a bit of a mystery why bicyclists sit down after they have been sitting down all day, but it is nice to fell a different contour under you buns for a few minutes.
   
 

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