the Sunday/Monday walk

I left for Yangpyeong rather late Sunday night, arriving at Yangpyeong Station and starting my 33K, 55K-step walk to Yeoju at 9:45 p.m. The night was quiet and cool, but I still ended up sweating a lot: summer is here. I also, worryingly, had a tight chest for 15K until I sat down near Ipo Dam and took my meds, which immediately improved my situation. This stretch is one of my favorite segments, and it's not too far away from Seoul. I fiddled with the "pro" settings on my phone camera to try to get some better shots than the usual slop I have on offer. I can adjust ISO and shutter speed, but not the aperture. Eventually, I need to bring out the new Canon, but I'm still learning its basics, so it might be a while before I show off any shots from it. (I'll probably start with food shots.)

The walk was the usual mix of nice scenery and long stretches that can try one's patience. 33K is a decent distance for a tiring walk; I'll try my 60K "crazy walk" in the fall (and/or the even longer walk commenter Paul suggested), when things are cooler again.

Let's begin this photo essay with my arrival at Yangpyeong Station.

I adjusted ISO and shutter speed to get a better nighttime shot of the station's sign.

a rare look at a local creek (Yanggeun-cheon) from the Yanggeun Bridge

10X digital zoom of a local, garbage-scavenging cat, which predictably ran away when it saw me photographing

pic of the crescent moon, also adjusted

unadjusted pic with diffuse glow

another unadjusted pic (albeit blurry), riverside, with Jersey barriers

Remember that I can't adjust the f-stop (aperture width)—only ISO and shutter speed.

Because of construction, the usual bike path is blocked off.

A better look at construction. They're raising the path's surface. This will inevitably mean more and taller railings.

the Yangpyeong Bridge, which I once crossed years ago, but which isn't relevant to my route

adjusted photo of Galsan Park's entrance

the nearby Riverside Church

moon and rabbit, with the poorly placed graffiti eyes (deliberate, I imagine)

rose bushes, more visible thanks to lens adjustments

spectating at the basketball court

apartment building (doesn't look cheap), lit up at night

the bridge over to the apartments

formal name: River Park Eoban ("Urban"?), Cloud Bridge

The "smiley face" is less smiley and has a third eye.

one of many Coreopsis lanceolata (tickseed) to line my route all the way to Yeoju

I kept expecting the lights to go out along that portion of the walk, but they never did. Summer hours? Normally, the lights along the route all go out at about 11 p.m.

Hyeondeok-gyo, that Buddhist-sounding bridge (현덕/hyeondeok = present virtue...?)

The bridge's lights weren't on.

distant lights

There's always lots of light, even when all the trail's lights are out. Looking left in this pic.

crossing

more distant lights

approaching this path's one big hill: this is the bottom

I walked with deliberate slowness the entire way, but for this hill in particular, I took things very slowly, stopping frequently. The above photo shows the hill's beginning.

an interestingly vague uphill shot

I used my phone camera's "night shot" setting to take in more light for this one.

struggling my way up

nearing the top

at the top after stopping every few steps

While I did do my usual switchbacking, I also tried a hill-climbing technique I saw on YouTube from a British (I assume he's British) gentleman (watch his video here): don't swing your legs out beyond your shoulders, thus ensuring short steps that require much less effort. This made the climb a bit more like mounting a gentle set of steps and less like a gasp-inducing effort. I'll be doing this from now on.

at the top

about to start downhill

There are certain sequences that I photograph over and over and over, like the topping of this hill and the subsequent descent. I did something a bit different this time, though, and calculated the hill's length from the bottom (photo with the parking lot) to the top (two photos up). Using Naver Map and calculating back to Yangpyeong Station, I saw that the hill's bottom was at the 7.5K mark. The hill's top was at the 8.6K mark. That means the hill itself is 1.1 km long—much longer than I'd thought it was (only a few hundred meters). It's also significantly steeper than, say, the 5K-long hill up to Ihwaryeong on the Saejae portion of the trail. I'll try not to let my knowledge of this hill's length psych me out.

la descente, Ipo Dam's lights in the distance

a digitally zoomed look at Ipo Dam, a few km away

In some Korean suburbs, it's Christmas all year.

The entrance to the Gaegun Leisure Sports Park, with a banner advertising the 29th yearly Gaegun Village Citizens' Day Memorial Celebration. Based on signs, the place is famous for its beef.

the saxophonist who always greets you

old Bessie, guarding her hangari

I rested at my usual shwimteo, snacked a bit, then continued on my way.

onward to Ipo Dam

I had to get this shot.

Ipo Dam

A bit before the dam, I sat at a shwimteo and took my meds. Instant relief from chest tightness, and the relief lasted for the rest of the walk. Next time, I should take my meds before heading out, or at least earlier than the 15K mark.

It was too dark to photograph most of the jangseung at this location.

using my flash ("Guarding the Nation")

"Guarding the Culture"

It occurs to me that I've never crossed over this dam.

stamped/molded concrete, but pretty design

Tickseeds are abundant and persistent.

the entrance to that campground that was closed during the pandemic

남한강대교/Namhan (South Han) River Bridge

It's a big bridge. Looking left.

Looking right.

the beginning of the long, long straightaway (a "night mode" shot)

I don't know how long this segment is, and the term "straightaway" isn't accurate. There are no swerves or major branches off this part of the bike path, true, but the road does bend a bit on occasion. Otherwise, what's "straight" is that you have no choice but to walk straight down the path. This segment is part of what connects the Ipo Dam to the Yeoju Dam, which will be coming up. At this time of night, before dawn (the sun rose as I got to the end of the segment), things are quiet. I passed one walker—per the stereotype, it was an old person who obviously couldn't sleep. Bikers have shown up before while it's been dark, but on this walk, I didn't see a single biker until after sunrise—around 5 a.m. Then they were out in force.

The sky lightens as I reach the end of the "straightaway."

This right-turn sign is my "official" indicator that (1) the terrain and scenery are about to become more interesting and (2) Yeoju Dam isn't that far off. You can hear the water's roar in the distance.

I go back and forth on whether the "straightaway" section is nice or boring. There are times when I've hiked this part and thought the segment was monotonous. But last night, I found the segment to be serene—just what I needed.

Also: as noted above, at Ipo Dam, I sat down and took my meds, which made my chest feel less constricted. That almost certainly contributed to my harmonious mood.

crossing the bridge

one of two or three modernistic shwimteo before the Yeoju Dam

first good glimpse of the second dam along this route

Each dam has its own structural idiosyncrasies.

The observation tower on the other side of the river: this dam must be crossed.

See what I mean by abundant and persistent? This is obviously a spring/summer flower.

I don't take enough pics of this wrinkled patch of earth.

a better view

Gasan Bridge

Gasan-gyo. Most Korean bridges have name plates. I imagine the same is true in other countries.

Looking right as I cross. I've never seen this stream not be energetic.

Then again, looking left...

Signs of human life. In a horror movie, I'd stare at the setup while the guy rose up slowly behind me.

one park before the dam (which is also a bridge)

I can't see the final syllable. And I can't understand the words' intent. "The Yeo River's blueness, like water..."? Help me out, Korean experts. What's it all mean, and what's the final syllable?

This walk has one big hill, but five or six little "ramps." Like this one approaching the dam.

a view before I step on

Those "cans" at the beginning of the dam/bridge are reproductions of ancient rain gauges.

"Gong-do-something"... Gongdo-gyo?

"Yeoju-bo/여주보"—Yeoju Dam

A lot of dams that also function as bridges will have a dam name and a bridge name. Sometimes, these names are similar; sometimes, they're different.

standing on the dam/bridge and looking down at a pretty path passing under the dam/bridge

pulling back to show you how far above the path I am

This really would be a great place to visit for a romantic picnic. Assuming the lady has similar romantic notions. Which she may not. Korean women aren't exactly known for their romanticism.

I should make a day of exploring this area. Lots of paths to walk, right here.

Lots of paths.

Yeoju Dam distinguishes itself with its "Klan hood" structure.

looking left

Joro spiders (무당거미, mudang geomi) aren't out until close to fall; here's a common orb weaver.

break on thru to the other side; a few bikers and joggers along the way

the Namhan's water flows north toward Seoul

churning, churning

I can't leave this dam without the obligatory Hunminjeongeum shot.

Great King Sejong, who radically altered Korea's history through the democratization of writing, thus spreading education far and wide, is buried in Yeoju, hence the city's long and close association with him. This is why his initial alphabet is on display here.

wider shot

old writing and modern observation tower

same image on the other side of the building

I look back at the roaring water, having crossed to the other side where the admin building is.

There used to be a convenience store, open from early to late, inside the admin building. But it's been shuttered for years. I still irrationally think of the Yeoju Dam as an oasis, but practically speaking, if I'm going to rest and have a snack and a drink, I need to bring my refreshments with me. And since sodas tend to explode when they've been shaken in your backpack for hours, I can't bring carbonated drinks, diet or otherwise. That leaves water, tea, and various juices (diet or otherwise). This time around, I brought three bottles of water along. I calculated the distance back to Yangpyeong Station from this point and got 28K. Hm. I then calculated the remaining walking distance to the Yeoju Bus Terminal: about 5.8K, which would make the total walk closer to 34K than to 33K. I shrugged upon discovering this: keeping it 33K is good for discipline, and besides, right around the leisure-sports park, I normally take a 500-meter shortcut, anyway.

the one and only selfie you'll be getting on this trip

Yes, my left eye is a bit droopy, perhaps because it was inspired by Forrest Whitaker. Been like that for years. Anyway, I was exhausted, but I knew I had about 6K to go. So I dragged my fat carcass up and kept on a-walking.

now with the river on my left

the Yeoju Dam certification center, which I used exactly once in 2017

Construction up ahead has been ongoing for a couple years.

"Danger! Falling hazard." (lit. "Watch out for falls.")

Looks lovely. I wonder what it's going to be.

The Korean way to say "authorized personnel only" is "Outside of related people, no exit or entry." This is why Korean isn't easy to learn: the thinking pattern is so damn foreign. I know: kvetch, kvetch, kvetch.

a couple hundred meters of this

Caution signs... I wonder if it's going to be a big, riverside swimming pool.

What's the UK term for a "Jersey barrier"?

Google is saying this is a Ranunculus, but I'm not so sure. Maybe it is.

wider shot

simple tap (cairns, little pagodas) on bigger rocks

and what's this?

cute little flowers

Physocarpus opulifolius, or common ninebark—sort of fractal: a flower made of flowers

Is this ninebark bloom further along?

the famed Ibam Rock of Yeoju, with its own set of tap(s)

Is that a huge tap on top (I did not mean for that to be a pun)?

graven Chinese

Read all about it. (Click to enlarge, then right-click and "open image in new tab.")

more little blooms

Trifolium pratense, red clover

I've seen these all over, too.

Vicia villosa, a.k.a. hairy vetch, fodder vetch, or winter vetch

a frustratingly slow approach to that bridge, which is angled away from me

a small bridge over a tributary

a glance uphill to paths unexplored

Ibam Rock to the left (back whence I came); Sejong's "forest bathing" park to the right and ahead

I've explained forest bathing elsewhere, but see here for a refresher.

coming up on the steps leading up to the forest-bathing park

closer, ever closer

steps up to mystery

right to forest bathing; left to Yeoju City Hall

onward to the border

up another "ramp"

the river and the city beyond

This footbridge marks the 30K point from Yangpyeong Station.

We have to cross over.

the Hari Footbridge—here called a bodo-gyo instead of a yuk-gyo

across we go

We pass over a dried-up creek.

not enough water for the fish ladder (eodo/어도, lit. "fish way")

crossing

Naver took me on a different route to the bus station this time, on the other side of the creek I usually walk along during the final approach.

If this counts as a shwimteo, it's the first metal-mesh one I've seen.

This final part of the walk is a bit too trafficky. But it can't be helped: the bus terminal is en centre-ville.

the Rotary Club greets you (it's always either Rotary or Lions)

Note the Chinese (초아의 봉사, I think).

funky boardwalk

Just follow the crick.

down I go

down and under... Down Under?

It's never too early to harvest. Google suggests these are strawberry plants. What do you think?

the beat-up shipping-container office

These make me think of Charlie Brown's Christmas tree.

Yeoju Central Methodist Church

more plants

a profusion of junk by a dilapidated building

more junk

Well past dawn, everyone is out and about.

endless squalor around that building

a "no parking at lot entrance" sign that caught my eye

At last—the bus terminal.

Yeoju Bus Terminal. How best to naturally translate jonghap? "Integrated"? But "Yeoju Integrated Bus Terminal" sounds weird and alien. "Central"? The Korean word for that is joongang. I'm open to suggestions.

The bar/resto evokes Greek mythology (Adonis), but the statues evoke... what, exactly?

It's like the sculptural equivalent of the first Korean hamburgers: a weird misinterpretation of something Western.

Not quite Jack Sparrow, savvy?

about to enter and discover all the morning buses are full

I finished at around 8:20 a.m. and took an 11:40 a.m. bus back to Seoul when I discovered the early-morning buses were all already full. The cab ride from Express Bus Terminal to Daecheong Tower was more expensive than the bus ride from Yeoju to Seoul. I was pooped, too, sleeping during the bus ride and barely awake during the cab ride. Got back around 1 p.m. An hour after I got home (about 2 p.m.), I had prepped myself to take a shower and have a long nap when the building's fire-alarm bells and sirens began wailing. I've already written about that and how it pissed me off. I got back into my place, showered, did some other errands and chores because I was in that no-man's-land where you're tired but can't get to sleep, then finally dropped off for two hours. I woke up and apologized to ChatGPT for being so late, and I rescheduled us to start Lesson 1 on Wednesday, still keeping to the original MWF schedule. Good thing ChatGPT doesn't get exasperated. I'd made a poor first impression.

Overall, it had been a good walk. 33K was definitely doable, mainly because it's still early summer, and I walked the distance mostly at night. It didn't hurt that the morning in Yeoju was also cloudy and cool. Surprisingly, it was raining a bit in Seoul when I got back: the forecast hadn't shown any rain when I'd checked it Sunday afternoon, but forecasts tend to be unreliable in mountainous areas. As for the walk itself, I had taped my feet up and brought along both meds and pain pills (ibuprofen), plus drinks and victuals. The meds definitely helped, as did the tape. I'm going to sleep long and early tonight, do some more self-study, chores, and errands tomorrow, then get cracking on CSS and Javascript on Wednesday. We'll see whether Kevin can fulfill Hillary's commandment to learn to code. I also need to get myself a Squarespace blog, for which I probably won't need CSS/Javascript skills. I want those skills all the same, though, for whenever I decide to build certain widgets to add to the site.

My readers who hate the politiblogging will jump for joy at the news that, when I migrate over to Squarespace, I'll be tucking politics into a locked-away corner and making my rants and insights available only via subscription, which I expect none of my readers to opt for. The Squarespace blog will be devoted to more creative pursuits, the selling of self-published books (i.e., hard copies; ebooks will be available on Amazon), the teaching of English (especially grammar and more formal writing), and maybe some other courses. I've been thinking, lately, that preserving the old spirit of the academy will involve making education—as a curriculum—available online for the masses. I realize that that's not an original thought, and I'm still pondering how I'd make this "academy" unique, and whom I might tap to flesh out the parts of the curriculum that I can't help with (e.g., history, music, higher math, etc.). I'm also pondering who, exactly, my audience is. Going "diffuse" and targeting all students from elementary through college would be broad but not deep; going too narrow would make my project too esoteric and unprofitable. Lots to think about.

Meanwhile, I hope you enjoyed this photo essay of my latest walk. More to come, I hope.