On the way to Uiheung, turned left for Gaum, headed up north, and crossed a pass down to Gaum with towering mountains in the background. Gaum has already been visited several times. Last year, cycled up to an ancient Buddhist temple perched halfway up the nearby mountain in summer and fall. From Gaum, part of the route overlapped.
Less traffic and cleaner air with a beautiful natural landscape! The traffic roads were avoided if possible when deciding which route to take. Paths on or along river and stream banks are preferable, with occasional detours taken to avoid traffic-heavy roads.
Noguijae 노귀재 on the cycling route used to be an important pass, together with Samjahyun 삼자현, which must be crossed to access the south side of Cheongsong county 청송군 from the southern areas. Since the Noguijae tunnel was built about 10 years ago, the scenes of the service area on the pass of Noguijae have changed a lot.
The memories of the dirt road back in those years still linger. Much later, after paving the road, dropped by the service area on the way to Juwang mountain national park 주왕산 국립공원 in Cheongsong for a work picnic in autumn 14 years ago, it was crowded with hikers and picnickers.
These days, nearly no traffic. This long and winding road above the tunnel is dull and quiet; sometimes, the elderly who have been here leisurely; however, Noguijae becomes a much-loved path for cyclists, as time changes everything.
To get to Noguijae, a cyclist had to traverse two passes northwards and eastwards of the valley. After taking a rest for a few minutes at Noguijae, zigzagged down the road on the other side towards a three-way intersection. Turned right there, they had to cross another pass and cycle back down west towards Gunwi Dam.
