With yesterday’s ride from Buyeo to Gunsan, then back along the Geum River, we’ve completed the combo Ocheon-Geumgamg trail that runs from the Incheon-Busan trail (mid-Korea) to the West coast at Gunsan. Not all at once, mind you. The entire trip entailed seven different rides over the past two or three years. Lots of memories out there for sure.
Now, these trails are included in the county-wide stamp book, and I’ve passed a lot of booths for it, but I’ve never bothered. I’ve passed a lot of the booths on the Han River portion of the Incheon-Busan ride too. Maybe before I get much further, I should get a book. But…not that important. Maybe the stamp books signify a structure I’m just not willing to follow. I’m a huge target rider — I love finding something to ride to. But I’m not a manufactured target rider really. I mean, I didn’t even realize I’d finished this segment of Korea’s trails until I was almost done with yesterday’s ride. I like finding a landmark, or a tree, or something interesting; and then going for it. This way I don’t have to stick to anyone’s path. I make my own. I could sit for hours looking at maps and plotting. It’s the way my imagination runs. As a matter of fact, I’ve plotted a route to Busan from where I live too. Some of it on trails…but a lot of it on back roads. That’s where the good stuff happens.
So I’ve done it. I’ve finished something, however unintentionally. I don’t need the stamps to prove it. I’ve got my maps. And if I finish anything else in the future, it’ll probably be the same: it’ll have happened along the way.
