김포평야가 조금씩 가을빛을 띠고 있을 때 <가을소풍>이라고 이름붙인 자전거 라이딩 계획이 세워지고 있었습니다. 거사일을 열흘쯤 앞두고 총감독 황 목사님이 톡을 보내왔습니다.
“제가 13일 장 목사님과 정 목사님과 잔차탈 길 약간 아리까리 한데가 있어…시간도 재 볼겸 답사 차 돌아 보고 있는데요~~~ 정말 좋습니다~~~ 가을 소풍 기대해 주십시오~~~ 또 우리가 밥 먹을 만한 멋진 곳도 살피고 있습니다~~~” “갑자기 배가 고프네요~~ 기대합니다^^” “황 목사가 곁에 있어
행복합니다.” “감사합니다~~ 황 목사님, 친히 답사까지^^ 선배들을 위한 수고에 복 주시길^^”
다음 날 그곳 지도와 함께 다시 연락이 왔습니다. “13일 코스가 이 둘 중에 하나를 하려고 합니다… (1코스는) 장목사님 댁에서 대명항까지 20키로 정도, 대명항-강화대교 15키로, 강화대교-전류포구 30키로 전류포구-도착 10키로 75키로 정도는 될 거 같더라구요… 업힐이 몇 군데 있는데… 최고 긴 게 경사도 15% 450미터 정도니깐 그건 끌고 올라가면 될 거 같고…무난한 코스입니다. 그러면 석탄리 벼도 그때 쯤이면 노랗게 익었을 거 같습니다…” “2 코스로 하면 10키로 정도가 줄 거 같습니다… 지난 번 장목사님 타시는거 보니깐 천천히 쉬면서 가면 충분히 타실 거 같습니다… 다음주 한 주간 매일 20키로씩 타셔서… 몸 만들어 놓으세요~~~ 정 목사님은 꺼뜩 없을 거 같습니다… “
“가는 길에 일반도로가 약간 있습니다만 거의 다 자전거 (우선)도로이기에 안전하게 탈 수 있을 거 같습니다…” “벌써부터 감동이 밀려옵니다. 업힐, 저희는 두려워하지 않습니다. 장 목사님과 저는 전기 힘을 잠간 빌리면 되거든요^^ 그리고 접선 장소를 바꾸어 (승용차에 싣고) 고양생태공원 주차장이나 자전거를 타고 창릉천/한강합류부 삼각지에서 만나면 어떨까요^^ 그래도 될거 같다고 대장님이 판단하시면! 너무 제가 욕심 내나요^^” “목사님께서 그렇게 하셔도 충분합니다만… 마치고 돌아 가실 때 힘드실까봐 그랬습니다… 에스라부터 직접 오시면… 왕복 120키로는 될 거 같습니다… 고양생태공원까지 자전거 싣고 올 바에는… 창릉천 한강 합수부에서 만나도 될 거 같습니다.”
“내일 주요 통과 지점은 대명항, 강화대교, 문수산성, 애기봉(애기봉은 코로나로 접근하지 못해 애기봉 입구까지만 갑니다) 시암리들판, 전류포구가 되겠습니다… 자전거길은 시안리 들판을 돌아 가게 해 놓았지만… 내일은 시암리 들판으로 들어서서 강화도 최북단 한강쪽 라인을 따라 돌겠습니다…” “내일 안전부장으로 김 목사가 올 겁니다…”황 목사님, 드립커피 내려서 가려고 하는데 모두 몇 명이 라이딩하지요^^” “총 4명입니다~~~” “장목사님~~~ 정목사님과 우리는 (창릉천 한강 합수부에서) 지금 만나… 출발합니다~~~ 10시 15분에 에코타워 앞 잔차길에서 뵙겠습니다” “정 목사님 황 목사님 김 목사님, 20km에 갇혀있던 내게 85km 넓은 세계로 인도해주심에 넘~~감사합니다. 평안한 쉼을 누리소서.’ ‘ㅋ… 오늘 정말 에너제틱한 라이딩이었습니다~~~ 즐거운 가을소풍 길에 함께 해 주신 모든 분들께 감사 드립니다…” “평안한 밤 되시길~~”
Just as the Gimpo Plain was gradually donning its autumn hues, plans were being laid for a cycling trip christened "Autumn Picnic." About ten days before our expedition, Pastor Hwang, who served as our general director, sent a message:
“There are a few ambiguous turns along the route I want to ride with Pastor Jang and Rev. Jung on the 13th... So I'm out scouting the course right now to clock the timing~~~ It is truly wonderful~~~ Please look forward to our autumn picnic~~~ I'm also scoping out some lovely places where we can share a meal~~~” “Suddenly, I feel so hungry~~ Looking forward to it! ^^” “Having Pastor Hwang by our side brings such joy.” “Thank you so much~~ Pastor Hwang, scouting the route in person! ^^ May God bless your labors for your seniors! ^^”
The following day, another message arrived along with a map of the area:
“For our route on the 13th, I'm thinking of choosing between two options... Course 1 would be about 20 km from Pastor Jang's home to Daemyeong Port, 15 km from Daemyeong Port to Ganghwa Bridge, 30 km from Ganghwa Bridge to Jeollyu Inlet, and 10 km from Jeollyu Inlet to the finish line—totaling about 75 km... There are a few uphills... The longest is an incline of about 15% stretching 450 meters, but we can easily dismount and push our bikes up... It is a very manageable course. By then, the rice paddies of Seoktan-ri should also be ripe and golden...” “If we go with Course 2, it will shorten the ride by about 10 km... Seeing Pastor Jang ride last time, I think he will do splendidly if we take our time and rest along the way... Ride about 20 km each day this coming week... to get your body in shape~~~ Rev. Jung, I'm sure, will have no trouble at all...”
“There are brief stretches of regular roads along the way, but most of it consists of dedicated bike paths (or bike-priority lanes), so we will be able to ride safely...” “My heart is already brimming with excitement. As for the uphills, we have nothing to fear. Pastor Jang and I can briefly borrow electric assistance ^^ And what if we adjust the rendezvous point and meet either at the Goyang Eco Park parking lot (loading the bikes into a car) or ride to meet at the delta where Changneungcheon meets the Han River? ^^ Of course, only if the leader deems it suitable! Am I being too ambitious? ^^” “You could certainly do that, Pastor... My only concern was that you might be exhausted on the ride back home... If you ride all the way from Ezra, the round trip would be close to 120 km... But rather than hauling the bike to Goyang Eco Park by car... meeting at the confluence of Changneungcheon and the Han River sounds wonderful.”
“Tomorrow, our major waypoints will be Daemyeong Port, Ganghwa Bridge, Munsusanseong Fortress, Aegibong (Aegibong is currently closed due to COVID-19, so we will only go up to its entrance), Siam-ri Plain, and Jeollyu Inlet... The standard bike path detours around Siam-ri Plain... but tomorrow, we'll ride directly into Siam-ri Plain and trace the Han River line along the northernmost edge of Ganghwado...” “Tomorrow, Pastor Kim will join us as our safety director...” “Pastor Hwang, I plan to brew some drip coffee to bring along; how many riders in total? ^^” “There will be four of us in total~~~” “Pastor Jang~~~ Rev. Jung and I have just met (at the confluence of Changneungcheon and the Han River)... and are setting out~~~ We will see you at 10:15 on the bike path in front of the Eco Tower!” “Rev. Jung, Pastor Hwang, Pastor Kim: to me, who had been confined to 20 km rides, thank you so~~ very much for leading me out into the wider world of 85 km. May you all enjoy peaceful rest.” “Haha... Today was truly an energetic ride~~~ My deepest thanks to everyone who shared in this delightful autumn picnic...” “May you have a blessed and peaceful night~~”
Net toe die Gimpo-vlakte stelselmatig in herfskleure begin getooi raak het, is daar planne beraam vir 'n fietsrit genaamd "Herfspiekniek." Sowat tien dae voor die groot dag het ds. Hwang, ons hooforganiseerder, 'n boodskap gestuur:
“Daar is 'n paar onduidelike draaie op die roete wat ek op die 13de saam met ds. Jang en ds. Jung wil ry... So ek verken die roete tans om die tyd te bereken~~~ Dit is werklik pragtig~~~ Sien asseblief uit na ons herfspiekniek~~~ Ek kyk ook uit na 'n heerlike plekkie waar ons saam kan eet~~~” “Skielik word ek sommer honger~~ Sien baie daarna uit! ^^” “Dit bring soveel vreugde om ds. Hwang aan ons sy te hê.” “Baie dankie~~ Ds. Hwang, dat u self die roete gaan verken het! ^^ Mag die Here u seën vir u opoffering namens u seniors! ^^”
Die volgende dag het daar weer 'n boodskap gekom, vergesel van 'n kaart van die omgewing:
“Vir die 13de oorweeg ek twee moontlike roetes... (Roete 1) sal sowat 20 km wees vanaf ds. Jang se huis tot by Daemyeong-hawe, 15 km vanaf Daemyeong-hawe tot by Ganghwa-brug, 30 km vanaf Ganghwa-brug tot by Jeollyu-inham, en 10 km vanaf Jeollyu-inham tot by die eindpunt—al te saam sowat 75 km... Daar is 'n paar opdraandes... Die langste een het 'n helling van sowat 15% oor 450 meter, maar ons kan maar afklim en die fietse stoot... Dis 'n baie hanteerbare roete. Teen daardie tyd behoort die ryslande van Seoktan-ri ook al goudgeel en ryp te wees...” “As ons Roete 2 kies, sal dit sowat 10 km korter wees... Te oordeel aan hoe ds. Jang laas gery het, glo ek hy sal dit baie goed kan hanteer as ons rustig ry en gereeld rus... Ry asseblief die komende week elke dag so 20 km... om die liggaam voor te berei~~~ Ds. Jung sal sekerlik glad nie sukkel nie...”
“Daar is 'n paar kort entjies op gewone paaie, maar byna die hele pad bestaan uit fietspaaie (of fietsvoorkeurpaaie), so ons sal veilig kan ry...” “Die opgewondenheid spoel nou al oor my. Vir opdraandes is ons geensins bang nie. Ds. Jang en ek kan immers 'n bietjie elektriese krag leen ^^ En wat as ons die ontmoetingsplek verander en (met die fietse in die motor gelaai) by die Goyang Ekopark-parkeerterrein ontmoet, of met die fiets ry en by die driehoek ontmoet waar Changneungcheon en die Hanrivier saamvloei? ^^ Natuurlik net as die leier dink dis 'n goeie idee! Is ek dalk te gulsig? ^^” “U kan dit beslis doen, Dominee... Ek was net bekommerd dat u te moeg sou wees op pad terug huis toe... As u regstreeks vanaf Ezra ry, sal die heen-en-weer-rit byna 120 km wees... Maar eerder as om die fiets per motor na Goyang Ekopark te bring... klink dit goed om mekaar by die sameloop van Changneungcheon en die Hanrivier te ontmoet.”
“Môre se belangrikste punte sal Daemyeong-hawe, Ganghwa-brug, Munsusanseong-vesting, Aegibong wees (Aegibong is weens COVID-19 gesluit, so ons sal net tot by die ingang gaan), Siam-ri-vlakte en Jeollyu-inham... Die amptelike fietspad loop om die Siam-ri-vlakte... maar môre ry ons regstreeks die Siam-ri-vlakte binne en volg die Hanrivier-oewer langs die heel noordelikste deel van Ganghwado...” “Môre sal ds. Kim as ons veiligheidshoof aansluit...” “Ds. Hwang, ek beplan om filterkoffie te maak en saam te bring; hoeveel fietsryers is ons altesaam? ^^” “Ons is altesaam vier mense~~~” “Ds. Jang~~~ Ds. Jung en ek het mekaar nou net (by die sameloop van Changneungcheon en die Hanrivier) ontmoet... en ons vertrek nou~~~ Ons sien u om 10:15 op die fietspad voor die Eko-toring!” “Ds. Jung, ds. Hwang, ds. Kim: baie, baie dankie dat u my, wat tot 20 km beperk was, na 'n wye wêreld van 85 km gelei het. Mag u 'n rustige rus geniet.” “Haha... Vandag was waarlik 'n energieke rit~~~ My hartlike dank aan almal wat deel was van hierdie vreugdevolle herfspiekniek...” “Mag u almal 'n rustige nag hê~~”