A Motorcycle Ride with a Difference
We have this plan to ride our motorcycles down the length of the Korean peninsula, from the north of the DPRK (Democratic People’s Republic of Korea) to the southern tip of the ROK (Republic of Korea). The reason is to show that if some insignificant,…
Ciao Korea
And so another piece of our global motorcycle jigsaw puzzle is in place, the bikes are surrendered and we leave tomorrow. This 3,500 km trip has been fun and we take away very fond memories of the ROK and its people. What are the main…
Trying to Penetrate the DMZ
We’ve spent two days now riding along the razor wired southern boundary of the DMZ from the east coast back toward Seoul. Past the rest of the tunnels bored by the North Koreans and past the shot out Labour Party Headquarters where hundreds were tortured…
A day left to ride
The roads we have experienced here have been just great. Lots of tight curves and us wishing the footpegs didn’t drag quite so easily. Some wonderful views and the other extreme that we have seen in the last few days, serious smog, obliterating all but…
808 Steps in 45 Minutes
That’s how the climb up Ulsanbawi, the most famous rock outcrop in Seoraksan the most famous National Park in South Korea is billed. Can’t say we were looking forward to the challenge but if this biking and hiking tour of the ROK is to be…
Nuclear Test Divides Opinion
What a weird feeling walking through a Korean town and having a meal. Today’s nuclear test by the DPRK has sent shockwaves through South Korea and in the reaction within small provincial town of Inje where we are – not far south of the DMZ…
Smog or Nuclear Fallout?
As we head back to the northweast corner of South Korea today, a highlight of our journey looms – the visit to Soraksan National Park and the last of our hiking torture. But two things make me suspicious; (a) The autumn colours seem to far more…
The Suanbo bathhouse
Suanbo is a resort town with hot springs and ski slopes, set in the central hills. We managed to get a good deal on a couple of tired rooms in a tired hotel with an “oncheon” (Bath house) in the basement. The segregated pools were…
Chusok
It’s the annual homecoming festive season of “Chosuk” when Koreans head back to the small family communities that are their roots. From home and abroad they converge on the little villages and farms that are where they originate from. There are the burial mounds of…
Another ‘Bike and Hike’ Day
Dave you don’t know what you’re missing, we’re getting disgustingly fit, mixing mountain hikes with a motorcycle ride. They certainly make for an exhausted team at the end of the day but by abandoning the bikes and taking to the slopes we get another perspective…
