soothing autumn

Have not been able to cycle for the last three weeks so that hemorrhoidal symptoms could become worse over time. The prolonged friction between the saddle and the anal region while cycling is likely to have irritated and worsen the hemorrhoidal symptoms. Not riding a cycling could help relieve the pain much, and hemorrhoid toilet seat and medication effectively soothe it. 

With the deepening of autumn, took a walk around Dalseong marsh 달성 습지 instead of riding a bicycle, which offers a more relaxed atmosphere. 

coastline & fields

With the autumn progressing, got around the coastline, mountain area and rural countryside in Yeongdeok 영덕 region in the east. Almost one year since the last visit. Got up early in the morning to avoid the traffic jam and arrived at the parking lot of Namjeong 남정 township office near the sea and got started. It was partly sunny then mostly cloudy skies, while the temperature was likely to dip below 20°C.

The trail for cyclists and hikers along the seashore or highway is well managed and being maintained partly. The coastal views on the way to Ganggu 강구 was beautiful enough to attract a passer-by, so should often stop to take photos. The coastal road was less busy in the morning.

Many sea food restaurants along Ganggu fishing harbor are open in the morning. It used to be a plain and small fishing village but now is famous nationwide for snow crabs and sea food, and lots of visitors are crowded every weekend. By way of that harbor, headed up north along the coastal road, turned on the left at some fishing village en route, went uphill to cross a mountain pass to get Yeongdeok on the other side. 

Cycled downtown Yeongdeok and kept going west, crossing rivers, rice fields and apple orchards. Finally, reached at the road to Okgye 옥계. The way to Maeti mountain pass 매티재, the last one to cross before heading Namjeong, diverges to the left. It has steep uphill stretches as experienced in the last year, so Jaeho was supposed to challenge it once again. Fortunately this time, it wasn't as hard as last time when he was pushing up the hill. About half an hour later, Jaeho was rewarded with a long downhill section after struggling to cycle non-stop to the top of the hill. Safety is the first, rode down excitedly but safely. The autumn rural scenery was very peaceful and beautiful. 

typical autumn

The paddy fields are turning greenish-yellow. It was such a typical autumn weather and perfect day for a leisurely bicycle ride. The cool breeze takes away sweat and evaporates it quickly. The route started in the parking lot of Iseo 이서 township office, passing through the rural area outside the south Daegu, navigating around the winding roads in the countryside. In antient times, a tribal country, whose name was Iseo guk 이서국, was located around Iseo and Cheongdo 청도 area.

Cheongdo eupseong 청도 읍성 fortress. Eupseong refers to a walled town surrounded with a fortress wall. Local government offices, governor's residence and commoner's houses were inside. That was built in 1590 in order to defend itself from a Japanese invasion and has been recenty restored after having been abandoned for ages. 

View of reservoir from the crest of Seonggok 성곡 dam near Punggak 풍각. In the north Cheongdo, a Buddhist temple, Deok 덕, is nestled in the middle of hill, overlooking the railway bridges on the way between Busan & Seoul. Historically, a castle used to be located around the hill range surrounding the site of the temple. In those days, Silla 신라, another tribal country in Gyeongju 경주 area sit to the east and the two had struggled to seize regional hegemony, resulting in military tension and continuous battles. Finally, the last battle between Silla and Iseo armies was fought here. After fierce fighting, Silla army captured the castle in 297 A.D. and then the tribal country, Iseo, was collapsed.