scenic loop

Located in about 50 km west of Daegu 대구 along the expressway, a typical farming village surrounded with mountains, Gajo 가조 offers fascinating cycling routes around the valley. The calm and peaceful roads with less traffic could be highly recommended, but it should require a little more energy. The road leading to the northern side of the route continues up toward the mountain pass named Hoenamryeong 회남령, followed by a short sharp uphill section.

View of Gajo basin from the southern part of the valley. Headed south along the trail on the riverbank and paused for a while to take a photo of the northern view of the valley.

A winding road along the river flowing into Hapcheon 합천 dam. The cyclists on this section are rewarded along the way with scenic views making cycling a pleasure. 

On the way to Geochang, 거창 along the cycling trail with cherry blossoms in full blooms on the riverbank. Made it all the way back to the starting point and completed the loop back to Gajo via Geochang and Gabuk 가북.

amid fine dust advisory

Took a bike out to cycle clockwise around the Nakdong 낙동 riverside by oneself as usual with wearing a mask in the midst of fine dust advisory issued for Daegu region through weekend. 

                    

The messenger of spring, cherry blossoms and forsythias, finally start to bloom along the road and cycling trail on the bank of the Nakdong river. On the way back home, paused at a mountain pass where a terraced retaining wall reinforced with helical screw piles was built at the road cut slope exposed by road construction.

warm spring, not blooming yet

Cherry blossoms are yet to come but lots of people rushed outdoors to enjoy the warm weekend weather. Cycled 86 km which was the longest distance ever cycled this year. The upgraded drivetrain must have helped a cyclist go uphill easier on the two steep slopes. 

On the way to Seongju 성주 county, passed through a trail cutting through a rocky hill near Seonnam 선남 township in Goryeong 고령 district. After crossing a small river flowing through Seongju, took a photo of the hill pass in the far distance as seen looking to the south, where the road from Janghak 장학 village in Goryeong district runs through. Paused at the entrance of a farming village, Weolhang 월항 township, located around 5 km northeast of Seongju county. Tired, but rather fresh on the way back.

on a warm spring day

Once again, drove to Cheongtong 청통 for the first time this year, started cycling at Cheongtong township office on a sunny weekend and circled around Yeongcheon 영천 city in an anti-clockwise direction. In the rural area, farmers could be spotted working in the paddy fields and orchards as spring has come. The other day, the drivetrain system of a bicycle was upgraded to help go uphill easier, which worked well on the steep uphill slope this time. 

On the top, walking and cycling trail on the way to Yeongcheon. The down left image shows the trail for walking and cycling, and park golf course along the river flowing through Yeongcheon, while the down right one is a view of river bank from the trail.

spring has arrived

Went for a bicycle ride for the first time in over 2 months. A perfect day for cycling! felt slightly cold when starting, but got warmer with pedaling. Spring should be here. checked the bicycle and warmed up for the cycling season.

A cycling trail bridge along the shore of Nakdong river, a view from Gangjeong weir. The road for pedestrians and cyclists on Gangjeong 강정 weir across the Nakdong 낙동 river, which has not been open to traffic, yet. 

Samunjin 사문진 bridge across the Nakdong river on the way back home. A SOS telephone can be seen at the middle of the bridge. Every so often, suicide attempts have occurred here and drown dead bodies were found on the shore down the river.

starting in 2024

Cycled for the first time in almost a month. Nice to cycle again in winter as the hemorrhoid symptom has got gradually better. It was not such a freezing cold winter day. Had never cycled every winter before, which was meant to prevent accident on the slippery road, but it would be safe if you were ready enough to check road condition and temperature before setting off. It doesn't hurt to be cautious in winter, too.

Reached a junction in the Seonseo 성서 industrial complex on the way to Gangjeong Goryeong 강정 고령 weir across the Nakdong 낙동 river, which is located in the backdrop of Dasan 다산 township in the south. On the way back, crossed Samunjin 사문진 bridge over the Nakdong river. Hwanwon 화원 resort can be seen on the left.