today's walk

Good walk this morning, and I decided finally to show you the changes I've seen since I began these walks back in late January. The following photos are mostly from the part of the walk out to the Han River, with only a few photos at the very end showing some sights from after I'd made my U-turn and started back home.

We'll start with a "nature's drama" or "circle of life" photo:

mouse carcass in subzero (Celsius) cold

There's a stretch early in this walk where a bunch of feral cats will appear. They're skittish, as cats normally are, and if you try to take photos of them from too close, they'll run away before you can get a good shot. So even though I used a digital zoom for the following two pics, I was much farther away than it seems. (And no, these photos don't show off anything new that I've learned from my self-education. We'll get to that soon.)

distant kitty, even with a 3X zoom

closer kitty, but still with a 3X zoom

the winterscape doesn't look at that wintry

the ramp down to the bike path

some concrete sewer pipes that are going to end up somewhere

old people's exercise equipment, cast aside

more sewer-pipe segments

The piles of plant material are always changing in composition.

This spot became something like a construction site or dumping-off point.

frozen pond by the confluence of the Yangjae Creek and the Tan Creek

looking along the Yangjae Creek toward Daechi-dong (where I used to work)

up ahead, this is about the way it's looked for, oh, two years

the scaffolded stairs are a new development since my heart attack last August

This site has been screened in since forever.

peeking through a rip in the fence; Port-a-Johns on the far right

the off-ramp they've been constructing for nearly two years

another scaffolded stairway leading up to the top of the off-ramp

As I've mentioned before, I think this off-ramp is an attempt to bleed off some traffic from a main road, and as traffic density increases every year, by the time this thing is completed, the problem will be at the same level it was two years ago. The same thing happens in the States because these road projects always take so long. If only a Musk-level genius could come along and make durable, high-quality road-construction material that could be laid down in a quarter of the time. Whoever does that could make a killing.

a fuller view of the off-ramp, which looks more complete than it had looked last year

I have no idea whether this represents new parking spaces or an access road or what.

They have to leave this part open because, to my left, there are drains that need to empty into the creek.

Instead of closing this off, they could end up building a bridge to connect the two fingers of artificial land.

coming up on where the off-ramp is supposed to offload its traffic

I thought this was a nifty view.

This part of the off-ramp hasn't moved forward in over a year.

But there's a new pylon for when the off-ramp is completed.

I assume these buoys are detritus-catchers.

mallards

I'd assumed these other small-billed birds were Korean loons, but they might not be. Anyone with any ideas?

The light glinting off the beak makes it hard for me to know which bird this is. But it's big.

I caught it in flight against the water.

first glimpse of the major construction going on near the end of the Tan Creek

one of many vehicles that passed me along the path during construction hours

vehicle receding

the big, blue crane and more artificial land disturbing creek flow

I can't even imagine what this is all about.

Not to worry: despite this view, the creek isn't blocked.

"No entry" sign and "watch for falling objects" sign.

movin' dirt while under the bridge

Are they making more vehicle-access paths to cross the creek?

Seems like it.

Spew! Spew like the wind!

As we approach the Han River: more building materials in what used to be a parking lot.

This is traditionally where I cross the Tan Creek and turn left for the Han.

Instead of turning immediately after the bridge, though, I walk farther and turn left past the construction.

Lots of equipment parked on this side of the creek (east side; I'm walking north).

straight on to the river; construction on the left, with jersey barriers coming up on the right

These are all winter-related vehicles parked here and ready to deploy—snowplows and such.

hoppers for distributing salt or sand

plows

Up ahead is where I pick up the bike trail again. They've created a spanking-new trail as a detour.

And here's the spanking-new trail that leads to the Han River, taking you east to Hanam City.

"Slarp" sounds like an Oyrishman saying he's just taken a big slarp of his Slarpee. (If they have those in Oyreland.)

the new path, running straight to the river

the frame for one of the old drive-in-theater movie screens

We're getting close to where I turn around.

Up ahead is the confluence of the Tan Creek and the Han River.

I'm guessing the nests in the tree are ggachi (magpie) nests.

Past the two bridges. Those orange traffic dinguses are where I turn around and go back.

dinguses up close

The Han River is just a few yards/meters away, in case you're wondering.

I've turned around now. Here's a map of the detour routes.

"Construction: please detour."

You can kind of see the fenced-off right turn referred to in the sign in the previous pic.

heading back across the creek now

This is the bridge where I now have to cross; the usual bridge has been blocked off.

neverending burd convention

wider shot

across the bridge we go

The red sign says, roughly, "End of the road." Note the black-and-yellow arrows beneath it: go left or right.

heading back along the Tan

the footbridge leading to my neighborhood

the final ramp, with my building in the distance

The sign to the left of the ramp is one of those often-ignored ones: it suggests getting off your bike first before using the ramp. Most bikers carelessly bike right by the sign.

We had snow just the other day, but by afternoon, it was above freezing and therefore raining, so there was little to no accumulation. Today's high is 5ºC (41ºF), but I walked early enough to miss the above-freezing temps. I knew today would be a good, safe day to walk, and since February is basically winter's last gasp, it's all going to melt soon enough, and I won't have to bundle up for future walks. I hope you enjoyed this look at some of the ambitious changes occurring along this part of the Tan Creek. Next, I should walk toward Bundang/Seongnam City to see what other construction is going on along that part of the Tan. Stay tuned.