It’s 2025, and that can only mean…

…the planning has begun.

About 6 years ago, a friend with whom I rode on occasion told me about a tree — a monster of a Gingko up toward Wonju (north central Korea). In 2020, I put together a ride that would take four of us there (Chris, Joon, Eric, and me), and, if we were lucky, maybe give us a look something truly impressive.

It turns out, though that November 14th…at least that year…was a bit too late.

Remember COVID? This was November 2020, so we were still overly cautious, but were out so late we had to take the train from Yeoju back to Icheon where we started. Hunted a few other trees that day. The Beast is marked by the star.

Not to worry. Maybe in 2021.

That year I had no takers, so went it alone. If November 14th was far too late, then October 30th sounded about right.

But it wasn’t. I got there too early.

You can see my bike in the foreground. It’s a big tree.

On my own this year. Started in Icheon again and hunted a few other trees along the way.

2022. November 5th. That’s gotta be right…

Nope. Although the sun came up right after I got there.

On my own again. Found a closer place to start in Yeoju…which got me to the tree quicker. That was a beautiful ride for sure, although my phone battery nearly died less than halfway through and I had to navigate by bus stop map.

Maybe in 2023, October 28th. This time I had friends again — Joon, Albert, and Cody.

But it turns out, October 28th was a little early that year…

In 2024, I kind of cracked the code. I found a traffic camera on a nearby highway and a small part of the tree was visible from that camera. I was able to get a bit of a look (I checked daily), although the coloring wasn’t the best. Still, 2024 was the most successful year in which I rode. This time I was with Joon, Albert, and Jonni B.

I’d call it a success…except for those pesky shades of green.

And now, 2025. I’ve gone to the Wonju beast every year of this decade, and while I was considering counting 2024 as the final — that it couldn’t get much better, so I may as well retire the ride — I just can’t give it up. And it turns out I’d already accidentally planned the route as part of my WEB initiative and was going to do it last weekend until unforeseen circumstances prevented us from getting out that way.

So Saturday, November 9th, 2025. Mark that day on your calendar and keep an eye out for what I’m sure will be a perfect tree. Unless it’s not…we’ll be checking that traffic camera.

Here’s a little secret for you. I have seen the tree in near perfect color. When October 30th was too green, I went for a drive with my wife eight days later on November 7th. It was absolutely beautiful that day…

Also, I’m sure I’ve written about this tree before, and if you did a search on “Wonju” on this blog, you’d find it. But it’s time to start fresh, and here we are…