April 5, 2017

We arrived at the train station about 9:15 and bought our tickets. We passed through the gates heading towards the platform when security stopped us. Bikes are not allowed on trains during the week, only on the week-end! We asked how to get off the island (with the bikes). We told the security that we had asked yesterday if we could take the train with the bikes and we were told that we could take the bikes. Ralf was very calm and asked what time we could take the bikes on, if it were possible to day. The security went of to get permission, he came back and said we could take the bikes on the train in one hour 10:30. We waited on the platform for an hour watching three trains come in and leave, some of them were busy others were not. We were told to get on the train at the very front or the very back. We opted for the front as I figured the train would stop close to the end of the platform. There were three designated doors for bicycles.

It was cloudy and threatening rain and a little chilly – going from 34 to 9 degrees (real feel 40 degrees to 4 degrees) was a shock to the system. I had my leggings on and my heavier cycle jacket and socks. While we were waiting at the train station Ralf switched from his cycle shorts to his long leggings. I have no idea how he did it without flashing the CCTV cameras, or maybe he did!

At 10:30 we were on the train to Gansom, 17 minutes later we were off the train and trying to work out which way to go to the waterway.

The plan had been to cycle to the very start of the route at Ara Waterway lock which entailed cycling away from Seoul and then back-tracking along the same route towards Seoul. We found the waterway and headed in the wrong/right direction. Wrong direction for the start – right direction for Seoul.

It had been cold then it started to rain and continued for the rest of the day, getting heavier as we entered the outskirts of Seoul, we cycled into a headwind. Not a great start for the first day.  At one point when we thought we had to be across the river there was a bridge that had elevators to take us to the bridge level and then across the river.

After crossing the bridge we discovered that we were heading towards Seoul and not towards the start of the waterway.

However, the bike path is amazing. Away from traffic and along the river/canal. There are rest stops and toilets and even bike maintenance stations. 

At one point the designers of the bike path created a waterfall.

After following the Ara Waterway to the connection with the Hangang River route. We continued into Seoul.

Seoul is a huge city with approximately 10.9 million within the city limits, 24 million in Greater Seoul area.  Where do you house all those people.  In large apartment blocks!

We had booked a hotel in the Gangnam area of Seoul, it was the easiest part of the path to get away from and find a hotel. Plus I thought it would be kinda of cool to stay in Gangnam – Gangnam style. We missed the road by one street and had to ask for directions. The hill up to the guesthouse was really steep and we both had to push the bikes. The guesthouse is almost like a hostel, except with private rooms and bathrooms. When we got to the hostel I asked to see the room. I knew it was going to be small! We upgraded from a miniscule room to a tiny room. In the miniscule room you could not swing a cat, in the tiny room we had enough rooms to put the bags and move around a little. The Polaris guesthouse was very nice and clean it has a common room with a food and coffee. Breakfast was included and we could help ourselves to noodles and drinks. The bikes were stored in a storage area

After we had sourced our dinner (7Eleven) we spent a couple of hours chatting to the receptionist (Audrey) she is from Kuala Lumpar but wants to travel with her boyfriend when she has finished her studies next year.