Today the weather was amazing. After work my co-worker was kind enough to invite me out to dinner and then treat me at a porridge shop, and after that I took advantage of the warmer weather to go bike riding. I hadn't been downtown yet since my return, so I rode downtown and then kept going. It was just so beautiful outside and riding my bike was so enjoyable I didn't want to come back yet. I rode and rode and then the air began to feel moist and I could smell water. It actually smelled sweet and reminded me of Saint-Louis in Senegal. I rode across the train tracks (where do they come from? Where do they go? Still a mystery to me...one of these days I'll have to follow them) and a bridge.
I was thoroughly enjoying not knowing where I was, riding through the sweet scent of water, basking in the warm spring breeze, when suddenly I came upon an intersection that I recognized, one I ride through on my way to the church where I can dance. (The church is about forty minutes from my place by bike, so I knew I was far, but not as far as I'd imagined.) I'll admit I was quite disappointed when I suddenly knew exactly how I could get back. So I didn't come back right away, but rode around some more, then finally came back.
All in all it was a pleasant trip and really satisfied my craving for adventure on my bike. I rode for about an hour and a half to an hour and forty-five minutes and it was thoroughly enjoyable. Ah, how I missed my trusty bicycle...
One of the nice things about Gunsan is that I really don't have many qualms about going out exploring. I've ridden around so much by now that I never really get too lost. I may be unable to find a particular place, or I may not know where I am for a while, but ultimately all roads take me somewhere that I'll recognize eventually. So I cycle with abandon, all day and all night, because I know I'll always end up right where I belong: here, at home, in Gunsan, South Korea.
