Where Are You Go? - Independent Film Trailer - Cycle Africa

Jeju Island of South Korea, Vaca - Spring 2009

Took a break from teaching ESL-English as a Second Language and we visited Jeju-do, an island in the Pacific which is part of South Korea. A variety of photos are enclosed for the visual blog update, enjoy the visit & thank you for visiting!!!

Cycling Bits - Matthew's 1st - Ride!

We went out for a spin, about 1km. Not much of a training spin, but great fun for Matthew whose now 14 months old. Weather looks good again today, after rains all over South Korea (including Jeju Island). Speaking of the island, off there next week for the first holiday in 22 months!!! Last vacation like occured on Jeju Island in 2007. We won't smolder like Lava Rock (Hallabong Man!) since we planned this trip for Spring weather. Jeju Island, Korea experiences the hottest (smoking hot, melting weather) seasonal weather in July/August. Cycling updates: off to Chunju, Chuncheonbukdo to ride around a large lake this weekend with Murray (South Africa). June 6th is the Sokcho Beach Apocalypse Beach Party [update], I suppose the beach will be filled with tents, teachers, hippies with bongos, djembes, congas and I'll be there on my bike, riding from Gangneung North/South for the 120Km ride too!!! ^^.

WT: Letter to Murray

Murray,

I experienced life time setbacks from 2003-2006, venturing into the States for Medicine... Here in Korea, it's entirely different (including air quality, unfortunately), but we can take what we need and leave the rest, sometimes the job stress builds up for me, but there's still a job, I just need something to come back to (hence, sending the confirmation to the university tomorrow) when WT Camp is finished. I think once you push off, off the grid, great things will happen, even if the speed is slow [ like Shuutak's 100,000Km Challenge: http://shuutak.com ], this sort of Zen Motion allows yourself time, something I don't normally afford myself in the daily race for life. Cycling so hard last year and damaging my lungs in the Korean/Chinese air pollution (Yellow Dust) to the point of severe bronchitis last season and coughing hard enough to burst a cluster of blood vessels in 1, made me think about how hard I am riding, and for what purpose it will ultimately serve in my life? Cycling seems to give me new life, since the wheel is always turning, every Km is new and this seems to be an opportunity that knocks, if your listening, and I'm listening now. Korea is the training ground for a brute force, powerful enough to push into the strongest headwinds on the tallest peaks (even if this means pushing the bike on foot). I want to put this training to good use and explore Arctic1 in 2012. Let's see what happens next!!!

WT: 175Km Weekend Highlights - Shuutak takes on his World Tour

Shuutak takes on his Cycling World Tour WT cutting across South Korea (Busan to Gangneung to Incheon), then ferrying to China (cycling to northern parts I was told) and on to Europe and Africa as part of his WT by bicycle. He is 25 years old, already ridden across/around Australia in 2007, he was plodding away gracefully against a stiff head wind...towards Gangneung, Korea today. We met yesterday while I was heading South to Uljin and he was heading North to Gangneung. It was great to cross paths again, ride together, and snap some photos for his WT 2009-2011. Best of luck on tour, "we must be strong" were his last words when I saw him, better believe it on his bike around the world. He seemed to be doing fine on his own, cycling a steady 9 Kph against the hungry headwinds, he had his ZEN in order. ^^!!! Shuutak has an amazing blog to look at [if you can read Japanese Kanji] but I think he will find a tweak for Wordpress that allows International translations, a Widget or Code could help with that. I know Nicholi uses it when blogging in Danish [ http://www.worldtravellers.dk ] and I have really enjoyed following his progress from South America months ago. Shuutak and I both rode the rains on May 16th which opened up my start from Gangneung to Donghae on the night T/RAIN (cycling in the rain at night). I cycled for 3 hours, covering a wee 45km from 9pm-12am Saturday on long ascending grades and short/steep descents into Donghae. Sunday/Monday combined I cycled 130Km (not-much-there distancewise) but the terrain was 4/5 on difficulty, mountains & more mountains!!! I should be talking about "Wordpress" right now because it would be easier to write and add photos, I've been tweaking this site for an hour, losing photos, moving bits and pieces, but I still haven't situated everything right :( Shuutak gave me his card, link to his blog is order (keep track of this WT Rider, as his tour has just begun!), http://shuutak.com short & easy enough to remember. We played the name game today, and finally I had Shuutak spell it out for me...TAK for short...I can't read his name card, but I'm sure he'll contact me for corrections & I'll fix things up a bit. The photos speak more than words, cycling after a days rain, stunning...but we found ourselves in clouds of pine pollen (my favorite allergy), but Shuutak wasn't bothered. Cycling for this weekend is over, but I wish my WT friend a safe, adventurous, and memorable trip of a lifetime! Finally bits: Shuutak rides a Surly - Long Haul Trucker, he built it up from parts he bought through online auctions, Ortieb front panniers, Japanese hardware (Nitto Racks), Shimano XT/LX components, heavy-spoked wheels, array of bottle carriers, front trunk/map holder, mats, MSR stove, and everything you'll ever need around the world ^^! Looked like a great kit, much to haul, but places will come when he'll use every bit he's got going with him...Great job Shuutak! ~Please correct me if I have your name spelled incorrectly! ^^Cycling on, and on with endless POWER my friend, Cycling on to your 100,000km, 100 countries goal, that's a load of traveling my cycling man! Good luck on days ahead! ^^!

WT: Ride the Transamerican, w/ MA to complete.

Hi John,

This might create enough gap with Rubberside Down returning to an original route planned http://www.poweredbycommunity.org/cms/ [never been attempted in this direction Arctic-Vancouver-St.Johns-New York-Texas-Mexico-Central/South America]; link to the New York HTTP://WWW.GYGIG.ORG and continue the ride to Central and South America. From 2012 to completion. I have 24 months to complete my MA in Adult Education [online], train consistently [300Km weekends as I have been doing], and saving a heap for commitment to fully engage tour, charity drives, and [WT] World Tour by bike. In Korea, I've got one of the best training grounds in the world [though I have to cycle around it a few times to make the distance!]. Keep in touch, Greg or Vin are welcome to join!

[This is the updated route/departure time. 2012-20XX]

ONE. The route will begin at the Arctic Circle and traverse Canada from the Arctic Circle (Inuvit, Northwest Territories, Canada) south towards the Yukon and British Columbia (Victoria, Vancouver), cross over the Canadian Rockies towards Banff, Lake Louise, down to Calgary (Stampede) and across the Prairies (Saskatoon, Regina), Winnepeg, MB to settle into Ontario from Thunder Bay up to the St. Laurence River Valley and out to St. Johns, Canada. From there the course turns South to New York (210 mile ride joining up with 1000's of riders at GYGIG 2012), Southwest towards Texas and into Mexico and Central & South America (generalization, fill in the places between) I will be supporting the Crohns and Colitis Foundation that's searching for ways to help the community living with IBD (intestinal bowel disease) which there is treatment available, but still no cure. It affects millions of people globally and they need our support to raise awareness & fund research or events leading to a cure! Anyone wishing to join this ride can do so, even supporting another charity! We can share the ride supporting different causes that need change. Therefore, anyone healthy enough to ride 100km/day whom is interested in joining "day/week segments" of this bicycle expedition for fun, adventure and a load of cycling on the road are welcome! No barriers or attitudes, it's all about moving life in a new direction. Bored with life, need a new drug, try WT touring!

Contact Info: Brian @ tesol2000@gmail.com
Office: Seoul, South Korea
Tour Location: North/Central/South America
Date: 2012 - 20XX.
Web: http://korean-world.blogspot.com

WT: Community Cycling, Ansan, South Korea

It's special when my cycling (and long-lasting chatter about it!) can encourage more great people to ride. Here's fellow English teacher/friends Todd Redding (USA!) and the Kindergarten-Magic now turned ESL Pro ~Charmaine M.W. (South Africa!) riding with me south of Ansan, South Korea. We did a community spin for the first time locally, what joy it was to be with other riders. I'm pumped to take-on another 300km spin of the eastern coast & I hope these riders will join me before the last twilight of summer glows on distant horizons. Next weekend could be BIG, that's always what I am looking forward to! ^^. Oh, & today I met with cyclist Murray D. (South Africa!) on a stroll into Seoul for the Hi Festival...great times, book exchange @ the English Foxhound in Itaewon (Sunday afternoons, bring books & dropoff & pickup new ones to read).

WT: Cycling with RYU - Gyeongju to Busan

Gyeongju to Busan, Sunshine, a New friend made it ^^.

On the last weekend 313km hammer I met a really enthusiastic rider worth mentioning in this blog. His name is Geun Mo Ryu or RYU for short. Now working as a ROK Riot Police officer serving Korea on his 2.2 year military service. We caught up with each other in Gyeongju, where RYU was on his R/T trip from Busan, South Korea (where else since I've been writing/cycling here since 2006!).

WT: Letter to Jenny

Dear Jenny, {RE: KDTS Missionary Experience for Koreans in Hawaii}

Blessings on the journey there! I [have already] donated in the collections last winter with NAS ^^. It's an expensive venture for you (Hawaii,USA?)...I recommend wrapping it up and finding another charity that will support you (food,shelter,flights) on real missionary work out there...But nonetheless, enjoy the experience & start planning your life AFTER this KDTS program is completed.

I have worked long hours for 32 months (cycling on weekends & civic holidays only!) to support the family, secure an apartment to live, feed everyone, [payoff school loans] and a lot of the work wasn't bad...just difficult people and situations to live through, wouldn't turn back to do it again. I'm also starting a Masters program, I will be busy with that. In two years (2012) I will take time off, self-supported and ride from the Arctic to Argentina, a life-long dream supporting a Charity or Non-Profit, all the money I collect will be donated to them, I will cycle and camp and live cheap off the land...You could do that too, use your energy and prayers to collect donations to charities as you complete your own mission work. Bicycling is only one example.

I've got plenty do and little time to do it. Good luck & hope to see you move on to your next challenge in life!!!

Brian Perich

313kms, 2.5 days, Weekend Training Camp, My Pain/Joy in Cycling

313kms, 2.5 days, Mountainous terrain & fresh pavement
Nowhere to sleep, so park-camping with clothes on back

Got a few winks of sleep tonight, can't complain about it.

Rob,

Great to hear from you finally! Your training schedule must be tremendous preparing for those two peaks www.nogutsknowglory.com, both well beyond my imagination as a cyclist...I climbed Mt. Rundle in Banff National Park years ago, a great recreational hike to reach some peaks above the tree line, but no risks or dangers you must prepare for, so that must be incredible to accomplish! I've spoken with John C. Scott recently and he suggested I develop a concrete plan/goal to accomplish to present to potential sponsors or charities like CCFC or CCFA.

I'm interested in the Arctic to Argentina Pan-American route to raise awareness...with John Scott's recent work with Rubberside Down with Vin and Greg http://www.rubbersidedown.org

he's been extremely busy and the movie has been a success for the charity. Speaking to John earlier, I thought he suggested that I visit all the local chapters across Canada to complete my ride. Essentially, at that point my ride shifted from Artic to NFLD, Canada to accomodate the chapter charity fund-raising activities. However, the plan was in flux and I changed the route per John's suggestions.

There was a lag for several months, finally, I emailed John again...and he is extremely busy with the Rubberside Down promotion and work back at Chrysler. He did respond that my route across Canada wouldn't stir much attention since Greg and Vin did the same route (from Victoria, BC) to St. John's. He did suggest that my original route to Argentina would be more unique, and CCFC would take at least a slight interest in it. I was confused because the Crohns and Colitis Foundation President of GYGIG (Get Your Guts In Gear) http://www.ibdride.org/ responded positively IF I could link up with their summer Charity touring events across a few States. The problem is they are not everywhere...just a few select States, and how would I get to all the Canadian chapters and those US rides in one summer on the way to Patagonia, seemed impossible. In that "Loop" the ride took a dive and John didn't take interest in my cycle trip [evident in a recent email response a few days ago, will forward]. I'm an amateur when it comes to promotion and planning [all I can do is ride long-distance without complaint, cycling is strong, training is great in Korea] but promoting the idea into action riding requires a second or third party, for that part, I am not up to the task. I've even considered riding in sections of the route, over several years. Like http://www.ride-earth.org.uk/ which is continuous mountain biking with breaks back in the UK. Better yet, the already successful Nicholi Bangsgaard from Denmark is currently rolling into Year 4 of his WT...a model for all intrepid cyclists eagar to WT in the common age of Eco-travel, save the petrol/pollution...it's all wind (sailing) and 99% cycling, definitely check him out @ http://www.worldtravellers.dk - He's accepting PayPal to support his current ride, check the Days for Sale link, I'm in there!!! ^^.

All for now, Rob: I wish you a strong training in advance of these tremendous expeditions, anything crosses your mind about my cycle that would support the Crohns and Colitis Foundations, I'm all ears about it. I like to make a correction I've had [a close relative] experiencing Colitis for 9 years now, we talk about it often now...since talking to John C. Scott.

Warm Regards, Brian