May 14, 2023
There was too little time to stop and smell the roses today let alone take photos. Our journey was 125 kilometers with over 1,700 meters of climbing. The hidden worm in the apple was one particular climb of over 500 meters (1600 feet) with a long section of between 15 and 19 percent grade near the top. My bike has the lowest gearing that is available for it and over the past five years I have never had to walk up any section of any hill that I encountered. This covers rides on three continents and going up some pretty big hills. However, this particular hill was more than a match for me. About 800 meters from the top by body was protesting and I was moving forward on will power alone. My front wheel was wobbly and my pace not much more than a walk. Busses and cars were passing by close on the narrow roadway and there was little or no shoulder to allow for any errors on my part. My body was drained and my determination weakened by each passing vehicle and the need to try to watch both my mirror and the road. I dismounted and walked the last 800 meters. As compensation there was a very pretty waterfall on the downhill side.
Fortunately, from the summit it was downhill all the way to the lunch stop and my rubbery legs had time to regain some strength. Lunch was a refreshing and well need break before one last climb and the push to catch the 3:00 pm bus that would take me to our hotel in Busan. There would be another bus at 4:30 but I was hoping to make the 3:00 pm one in order to have more time to get a shower and maybe a beer before having to break my bike down and box it for the flight to Japan. While the remaining route was mostly downhill and flat, there was a head wind and plenty of bike and pedestrian traffic on the bike path as I neared Busan. I had to watch my speed and exercise caution while respecting the rights of other pathway users. I was just over 5 minutes late getting to and finding the bus but good fortune smiled and the bus was still there. I was the last person aboard and filled the last seat before a long but restful ride into Busan where a warm shower and a cold beer awaited me. Finish Line One achieved and now on to Japan.
