Cycled through the countryside of the three districts-Gyeongju 경주, Cheongdo 청도, and Yeongcheon 영천-passing through fields and mountains. It has been almost a year since Jaeho was last here to ride.
It was a typical sunny autumn day. As the morning sunlight emerged, the fog over the mountains gradually lifted, but the distant view remained unclear. From the district of Ahwa 아화, approached the uphill segment in order to cross Suk-jae 숙재 pass(485 m).
Had to cross a dip in the ridge of the mountain to the south along the route. The uphill climb to the Suk-jae pass is about 4 km long and has 9 hairpin bends. The photo on the right dipicts the final bend. The downhill segment, heading south from the pass, spans about 17 km and has little traffic, offering a peaceful landscape. Since the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic, camping has also been booming in Korea. Camping and auto-camping sites are often found along valleys.
After reaching the main road connecting Gyeongju and Cheongdo, turned right and rode for about 5 km, then turned right off the main road and pedaled uphill, heading north to cross Oh-jae 오재(380 m) pass. The two passes of Suk-jae and Oh-jae share the same ridge. Took a break at the pass. A memorial stone for an independence fighter stands here at the rest area. On the way back, passed through the town of Geoncheon 건천, the starting place. As autumn deepens, the harvest in the paddy fields is starting.
