Our minimal bags shrunk further to fit on our bikes and we handed the reins over to the girls on an unstructured 400+ mile biking adventure across South Korea.
As parents we have converted to “app mode” with only safety notifications being turned on in order to give the girls a chance be the main operating system. By allowing them to “do” instead of “follow” we hope they know they are so much more than a blue dot making their way to the red dot on the map. They are instead a person, along a river, next to a sign and another human who they can ask for help. We all struggle to figure out how our new augmented realities are shaping our every interaction. We both embrace the technology that enables us to do this trip, supported by FaceBook biking groups, Booking.Com and google translate not to mention work conference on the bike path and long talks with friends. But also struggle how that takes us away from the now and the “happy accidents” that make up so many great adventures.
So here is to the adventure; to the unknown, to patience to follow and the strength to lead. Here is the open road and the purpose found in movement where we have continued to find a well of joy.
Here they are at the start, hoping the smiles are just as big at the end of our adventure.
The girls making their way on the subway to start the adventure.
Trying to be as small as we can on the subway but still feeling awfully big.
Fitting in
Making our way to the start
Along the whole route are these great stamp booth, each with their own unique stamp you place in a biking passport. After we finally found the start, we got to mark off the first passport stamp.
Showing off her book with the trails of South Korea in the background.
Just follow the blue line for 633 KM to Busan, no problem.
And off they go!
Bike only paths.
One could do a whole book of the bike art in South Korea. It made the ridding so much more fun.
Snack time.
It is hard to describe how crazy awesome the path is, especially around Seoul. Between the mountain, the river and the road, they have left space for the person on a bike.
Getting getting ready for stamp 2.
Making her mark as we progress.