I took Friday off. I was supposed to anyway. I was supposed to be winging my way to the United States to meet my grandson for the first time. To visit family. To take a break.
Except COVID sucked the air right out of those plans. I’m not entirely down about it. I can be patient…for a while. I’d much rather be safe than take chances I don’t have to and worry about it all through a “vacation.”
But I took Friday off anyway.
And of course I had to get out. And we did — Joon and I. And we did 52 miles. Up north on one of my favorite pieces of road — the one that winds its way up the west side of Ch’ilbo-san. The east side has the bustle. The west is a peaceful, green country lane.
We slept in. 5 o’clock start. Aiming for 50, and we got it.
But Friday isn’t the weekend. Can’t do a Saturday 70 on a Friday. But you can’t do one after a Friday 50 either. Fortunately, both days of the weekend start with an “s,” so the “Sunday 70” will do just as well.
Or 73.
And since a good portion of Seoul is open, a trip further north than the one we did Friday was a possibility. Except for one thing — Gangnam-gu is still closed, and the trail north cuts across the river into Gangnam about 3 miles short of the Han. Not to worry though. I’d done a route that came south past Lotte Tower back in May. I could reverse it, turn west when I hit the Han, then stay on the opposite bank from Gangnam in a turn just past Olympic Stadium. Found a great road for that, and since we’d be in the area around 8, I knew it wouldn’t be too busy.
Sunday’s ride was with Joon and Lisa. Can’t be too impressed with Lisa anymore. She’s doing 70 more often than not! [joke] Still…
