Day #7 - 10: Mungyeong past Chungju

 

The forecast called for rain so we bunkered down in a little motel. I had some homework to do as well. 

This is one of those pics you see on social media that make you look twice. Who's feeding the Bean, Holly or the Red Dragon?

Like I've mentioned before, Korea has this sauce or glaze they put on everything to make it sweet. After a while it ruins everything and all the foods taste the same. Well, in true Korean fashion, they did it with this sad burger. Look how thin that patty is. I wanted to like this meal but I couldn't.

Joaquim gets into a calm state before bed and will just stare up at you. It's one of life's joys.

She's the sweetest.

If only I had my camera out for all the quirky little things like this that we'd see along our route.

I was surprised not to see more Buddhist temples and related structures.

In Japan, we loved seeing the Michinoeki 道の駅 signs. They were our safe havens. These Certification Centers were starting to give us that same excitement.

This telephone booth was at the top of our first real climb of the whole journey, in between rivers 2 and 3 (Remember we're biking the 4 Rivers Trail). "I don't see how it's possible for the river to go un and over those mountains."

I wished they'd place phone holders in front of these picture spots so I wouldn't need to wear my Depends on someone to take the pic for us. 

We like to give her her favorite snack when she behaves.

We're riding through very nice countryside today. I love it!

That little white church in the foreground reminds me of Iceland where each town had the neat chapel and red roof. 

Are you getting tired of all the telephone booths yet? I'm not! I love when we find them. Soon we'll be filthy rich and you'll remain poor AF.

Look at that rich suspension bridge. Right after I took this pic I crashed because this old bag was in front of us and little known fact about Koreans: they don't listen to the bike bells. So I was intending to swerve around her. But I had my telephone in hand and only used my front brakes. Combined with the wet plywood boards, my wheels slipped out and I fell hard on my left wrist and banged my right shin against the frame of the bike. Somehow the kids stayed asleep in the trailer the whole time.

These houses are all rich.

"The children love me Smee!"

We arrived in Chungju and spent a few hours at the Kids Cafe. A dream place where kids can play with any toy and have the most fun.

I think they're upgrading their telephone booths.

After Sabbath Day Worship Service we feasted with the members. Thankfully, none of the Sweet Korean Glaze was found on this food. So it was all good.

I was worried we were going to miss this one since we veered off the path to go into Chungju. 

One of the prettiest days we've had so far! This neat little rest area was a boat.

I love this sign. did someone just ride off into the river one too many times where they decided enough was enough? And there were a dozen others of this same signs. How many times did people go flying off into the water in all their Glory with their middle fingers in the air?

I've been wanting to sleep in one of these wooden gazebos for days now. They have a ton of them along the trail and in little towns. Finally we did it.

And it was more fortuitous that we did because it was so foggy and dewy the next morning, but our tent remained dry.