Wallowing in the Wet

South Korea Stage 7 – Sun 8th Nov 2015 – Andong Hahoe to Sangju (53 Km)

Weather: 11⁰C min – 17⁰C max, continuous rain!!!
Route photos Andong Hahoe to Sangju *** No photos – too wet ***
Photos of Sangju *** No photos – too wet ***

Bike MuseumOSM MapTrip MapsGarminSangju
 

”Bicycles may change, but cycling is timeless“ ~ Zapata Espinoza

One of the reasons I chose South Korea to ride at this time of year was that autumn is the dry season; it never rains and skies are always blue. Alas, today there was steady soaking rain for the entire 53 Km from Hahoe Folk Village to Sangju, too wet to get the camera out of the pannier bag except when I arrived at the Sangju Bicycle Museum about 10 Km before you get to Sangju. What a collection of bicycles … all types and sizes, from all around the world!

I would have liked to visit the famous Hahoe Mask Museum on my way out of the Andong Hahoe Village, but it had started to rain and I didn’t want to hang around for half an hour for the museum to open. The museum not only displays masks used in mask dances, but also other traditional masks from all over the world. Hahoe mask dance drama has been performed for centuries as a village ritual. In 1928, the shaman rituals were performed at intervals of every three, five or sometimes ten years. This all depended on the revelation of the local goddess or local circumstances.

It was one of those days when I just had to put my head down and plough on through the wet. Rather than ride on the Nakdonggang Bicycle Path I chose tertiary roads that were more direct, because there was very little traffic and all I was interested in was getting to my destination as quickly as possible. By the time I arrived, my bike, panniers and I got covered in grit and I had lost all feeling in my hands and feet. Not to worry, the hot shower was all the more enjoyable!

Whilst I enjoyed the experience of staying in hanoks for the last three nights, it is good to be staying in a hotel where I am able to sit in a chair that has a back, sleep in a soft bed, and walk through doorways without having to remember to duck. My poor head has taken a battering, with about five band-aids holding it together.

Sangju seems a nice enough town, with plenty of modern shops and, importantly for a bike rider, several coffee shops where one can get good lattes and cappuccinos.

The weather app on my iPod Touch gives me some cause for optimism tomorrow, as there is a smiley sun with just a few tears of rain. Let’s keep our fingers crossed!