I bought a bike a few weeks ago, but due to rehearsals and other busyness I have had no time to ride it… until now: We’ve scored a three day break after the opening weekend of our show and so I was able to take it out for a proper ride yesterday. I decided to see if I could get down to the riverside and cycle along the Han river for a while. Fortunately there was an entrance to the park not too far from our apartment and after dodging buses, manic taxi drivers and the occaisional scooter-riding delivery man I found myself cycling along a calm cycle track next to the river.
Yesterday was particularly smoggy, so the views weren’t excellent, but it was fantastic to feel the wind rush against me as I sped down the path at a good 20km per hour. I cycled from Banpo bridge, west past Yeoido to Sungsan Bridge, then made my way back east and kept going till I reached Seoul forest (which is less like a wood and more like a series of fences and gates, with an occaisional tree and a huge enviromentally friendly power plant).
35 kilometres all told, it was a tiring but enjoyable ride, the cycle paths weren’t too busy and there was an abundance of fauna. I saw at least two herons (possibly three, they all look the same damn it!), a small bird of prey hovering above some bushes, innumerable pigeons, seagulls, sparrows and magpies and a whole host of butterflies. It’s nice to know that there still is some wildlife left in Seoul.
I might go back down to the river again today, I hope my legs forgive me.
