The Challenge of Cheonan

Last weekend I took a ride to Suwon, and I told you how much I loved the city.

Well, today I went to a city south of me about 30 miles called Cheonan, and…well I want to like that city, but it’s so much harder.  They’re expanding rapidly like Suwon has in the past (and still is), but I think Cheonan is a bit of a mess in that expansion.  Its layout doesn’t make sense, and there are twists and turns to the city that just throw off its feng shui if you ask me. 

Perhaps it doesn’t help too that the last time I went (in early November of last year), the ride ended with my riding partner convulsing on the sidewalk and an ambulance being called (but thankfully not needed). Or today when, for the first time in all of my riding, I was convinced I was going to have…an accident (severe cramps, if you know what I mean). In the end I came out clean (saved by a residential 7-11, the foresight to carry wet-wipes, and the ability to ask directions to the nearest restroom), but I still suffered through the next 25 miles or so and didn’t really start to feel better until I was well out of range of Cheonan.

I didn’t even get any pictures of the city, or find any trees or places of interest.  I suppose we could chalk that up though to the fact that I was distracted. My eyes were forward and my mind was in prayer, and I certainly wasn’t looking forward to the ride home considering I was sweating like thirty big pigs and unable to drink much water without causing further cramps.

But I made it, and I’m glad I did – my July 100km ride is out of the way. And I’m not going to let this swear me off Cheonan either.  As a matter of fact, I see this as a challenge.  It’s always a good thing to have goals for rides, and at least one of them can be “find out more about Cheonan.”  Find some trees.  Find some history.  Learn about the city, and maybe I’ll grow to love it like Suwon.

The gauntlet has been thrown, Cheonan.  I accept the challenge.

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And now here are some of the few pictures I took today, because the sky was just too beautiful to not get a few shots and share them with you.