CYCLING THROUGH KOREA

The Final Thought:

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Ride Days: rough estimated mileage and where we stopped:

• 5/22 Chongnea Int'l. City - Seoul (Gwangjin-Gu) ~55 km Michael Scott BNB

• 5/23 Seoul (Gwangin-Gu) - Yeoju ~82km Camped

• 5/24 Yeoju - Just outside Suanbo ~102km Camped

• 5/25 Suanbo - Chang-Dong ~ 41km Motel Unknown

• 5/26 Chang-Dong - Gumibo ~78km Camped

• 5/27 Gumibo - Daegu ~94km Cello Motel

• 5/28 Daegu - Namji-Ri ~93km Theme Motel

• 5/19 Namji-Ri - Mulgeum-Eup ~55km Glamped at pay site

• 5/20 Mulgeum-Eup - Nakdong-gang Finish 35km + several km to Busan Station Motel to break down bikes

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Rough Estimated Cost:

USD $905.55 Plane Ticket + $77.84 Insurance + $500 Cash + $430 Credit Card Purchases = $1913.40 Total. Remember that lodging is for 3 people as is the food, so per person total would be much lower.

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• USD 905.55 Plane Ticket Round Trip LAX-ICN

• USD 77.84 Travel Insurance

• USD 400 cash exchanged to 415,640

• 31,000 per person Michael Scott BNB in Seoul

• 27,000 Dinner for 3 Korean Traditional, 1st night

• 45,000 Dinner for 3 Korean BBQ, 2nd night

• 27,000 Lunch for 3 Chinese

• 5,000 Hot Spring

• 25,000 Gloves and Face Mask

• 28,000 Lunch for 3 Beef Soup with rice

• 21,000 Breakfast for 3 Beef Innard Soup

• 80,000 Motel Unknown for 3

• 50,000 Cello Motel for 3

• 6,000 per person buffet

• 33,000 Dinner for 3 Korean BBQ Pork

• 7,000 Whole Fried Chicken for 3

• 59,800 KTX ticket back to Seoul

• 80,000 Motel in Busan

• USD 160 cash exchanged to 169,300

• 21,660 per person K's Guest House in Unseo

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If you have any concerns just shoot me a message and I will try to answer it as best as I can.

 

• First piece of advice is don't wait...if you're seriously considering an adventure just do it. Listen to yourself.

• Train and get fit physically for the trip...you will probably ignore this and that's fine. Who cares.

• A test run would help you eliminate excess "stuff" you probably don't need. For this trip I never used my pocket stove and pot because sustenance was readily available.

• Check bicycle/luggage allowances with the airlines before buying your tickets...Singapore counts a bicycle as check in with no additional "oversize" fee.

• Don't obsess over detailed route planning, but if you do want to collect the stamps then know where the booths are located (at least on what side of the river).

• Sun block is crucial, wear gloves, long sleeves and buy one of those silly face mask things...unless you don't mind getting burnt.

• Laundry is now done at motels where I stay...use a bag or trash basket, fill it with water, shampoo, give it a good swirl and wringing, rinse, squeeze and then hang to dry. I used to use coin laundry machines, oh David how you've grown.

• Inspect your bike thoroughly before the trip. Also, learn to maintain and tune  your bicycle for the trip. Learn your bike inside and out. Become one with your machine.

• End of May was perfect timing to catch the super green and colorful flowers...but if you're allergic then bring some meds.

• Food in Korea is cheap and it's good...we ate out the whole trip minus a few days where we skipped a meal for snacks. I wouldn't bother with the whole preparing your own meal thing unless you're into it.

• Riding in the rain sucks, but sometimes it's unavoidable...always check the forecast few days out and plan ahead.

• Use this chance to meet new people, stay at hostels and guest houses. Sometimes, when you're dead tired from cycling you just want to rest and be left alone...I've been there. Other times you just want to talk to anyone who will listen!

• Reservations are like commitments, leave that stuff back home and wing it. We never had a problem finding a place to stay close to the route...motels are abundant.