I’m quite pleased with this morning’s ride. As much as I hate going out in the cold, I’m getting the layering down to a point where it’s bearable. And it’s always nice when you come away with a feeling of success. Tired legs, sure, but overall, just better off. I really believe this is why my wife puts up with my disappearing for several hours on a Saturday morning. It’s good for me.
Today was a no-route ride — nothing in mind when we set out, but we did have our stamp books for the SamNamGil (trail), and I knew where all of the stamps were in the area all the way to the Gyeonggi province border, so we could loosely base a ride on that route. From Jinwi Confucian School just north of us, all the way to the spot where the trail leaves the province, there were four notable stops at which we could stamp our books — the school, Admiral Wonkyun’s tomb, a Josun dynasty well, and a scholar’s stone. Along the way we just wandered down country roads and shortcuts, taking our time (it was only Albert and me today). Stamp rides, tree rides, historical rides — they’re all so much fun to do because there’s that extra bit of adventure in them.
There’s nothing left to do now with SamNamGil but to head north. The last stamp is on a ride up a pass just before you enter Seoul, There are 15 total stamps, and we have 9 left, so there’s plenty for us to do. I look forward to it early next season, if not sooner.
