Cycling the Nakdong river: Getting to Andong

It is Wednesday, the day before Chuseok (Korean Thanksgiving) and I’m busy dodging the crowds in Emart in search of some energy bars.  As a foreigner without historical and cultural ties to the Chuseok holiday, usually the few free days from work are used to relax, take a trip overseas or maybe see a bit of the country (if you can somehow deal with the migration traffic.)

For me the 5 day weekend and the warm but not humid summer weather only means one thing. The perfect chance for a long distance trip along the dedicated cycling paths created alongside the 4 biggest rivers in Korea.

And so with my friend Dong Jin, an avid cyclist and bike handyman we set off to Nopodong bus terminal in Busan, with our bikes and gear in the last subway car.  At the bus terminal we load our bikes into the luggage compartment at the bottom of the bus.  Within 3 hours we arrive in the city of Andong, known for it’s traditional village and the famous mask dance. But we have no time to explore and be tourists, the next morning we would be heading out at 7am on a 382km cycling trip, our destination, back to Busan, my home..