On Changes

One thing that we learned pretty well on our last trip is how little making plans actually matters. Last year I planned out a detailed route, including roads, ships, trains, and potential places to stay. In the end, we visited only 2 countries on that original plan (our start and end countries) and none of the above. Boats were cancelled, roads were not what they were marked to be, and of course there's the whole "bikes were stolen" thing. But what we leaned was that plans are overrated and, ultimately, unnecessary. They can often  interfere with an amazing opportunity, when they stop you from saying "yes" to something in the interest of staying on plan. 

This time around we specifically didn't plan too much. We researched what has been done and what hasn't, but always in our mind was that knowledge that plans are meant to change. 

And change they did. Don't worry, it's not because of hospital visits or disasters, it's because we are having too much damn fun. Will's friend Min Jae picked us up from the airport and instantly began showing us the best Korea has to offer (mostly good people and soju). Our planned one day with her turned into two, then bled into three. Will kept getting messages from old friends who wanted to hang out, and it became increasingly clear that we had two options: 1) stick with the original plan and kick our butts riding down to Busan, or 2) visit with people, enjoy the many wonders of Korea, and bike around a shorter track.

We chose number 2. Despite a couple of hangovers, we have yet to regret it.

We rode around Ansan, Will's old home, a few days ago, and ended up having dinner with his old boss and sleeping on the roof of his old school. It felt amazing to ride again, and we both are ready to ride again, but the all-or-nothing nature of our original plan just ended up not being worth it. 

So now we're in Seoul, at a giant indoor amusement park ( I'm writing this while we wait in line for the "French revolution" roller coaster) with some friends. Tomorrow we "plan" to catch a ferry down to Jeju, a beautiful island down south, where we will be able to ride and camp to our hearts' content. After that, maybe spend a day in Busan, then a final night with Min Jae before we fly home next Saturday. That's the idea at least. Well let you know when that changes.