가을은 독서의 계절이라고 알고 계신 분들도 있지만 자전거를 타는 모든 분들은 라이딩의 계절하면, 봄이나 가을을 꼽을 겁니다. 둘 중 하나를 고른다면 저울은 가을로 더 기울어질 것입니다. 울산에서 경기도 고양으로 올라와서, 작년에는 한강에 도달했던 감동이 아직도 남아있다면, 올해는 거기에 버금가는 감동을 며칠 전에 맛보았습니다. 에스라성경대학원 대학교가 위치한 고양동에서 필리핀 참전기념비가 있는 곳으로 가면 공릉천을 만납니다. 그리고, 거의 자전거 전용도로를 이용해서 창릉천에 도달하면, 작년에 개척한 창릉천+ 한강합수부를 향하여 우측으로 내려가는 것이 아니라, 좌측으로 창릉천을 따라 올라가면 지축전철역 부근에 도달합니다.
달리말해 창릉천을 따라 올라가는 길은 지축에서 끝납니다. 거기서는 무조건 차도와 병행하는 자전거도로로 북한산 입구방향을 향하여 북한산 길을 따라 올라가면 정상에는, 상당히 알려진 <섬진강매운탕>집이 나옵니다. 거기서 내리막으로 달리면 <송추가마골>이란 식당을 지나서 호국로를 따라 의정부 경민대학교 앞길을 따라 직진하면 의정부시 녹양전철역에 도달합니다. 거기서부터는 중랑천 자전거길과 연결이 되니 중랑천을 따라 달리다보면 중랑천한강합수부를 만나게 됩니다. 중랑천 자전거 길은 여러가지 볼거리도 많고 그 길 자체가 정말 아름답습니다. 대한민국은 정말 아름다운 자연환경을 가진 나라입니다. 오죽하면 금수강산(錦繡江山)이라고 했을까요? 우리 조상들은 멋을 아는 이들임에 틀림이 없습니다.
중랑천 하구에서는 한강자전거길을 만나고 고양을 향해서, 정확히 말하면 창릉천한강 합수부를 향해서 내리달리게 됩니다. 혹시 한강 남쪽 자전거 길을 타기 원하면 잠수교를 건너면 됩니다. 그러나 저는 한강북로와 평행하는 강북의 자전거길을 따라 내려오면 되니 돌아가는데는 어려움은 없습니다. 그동안 북한산길에서 호국로를 따라서 의정부 녹양역으로 가는 길을 혼자서 찾는 것은 무리였습니다. 그동안 벼르기만 하다가 의정부쪽에서 목회를 하시는 최 목사님의 친절한 도움을 받아, 삼송볼링센터에서부터 동행해 주서서 어려움은 없었습니다. 어디서 사진을 찍어야 할지 포토존까지 알려주고 촬영도 해주었으니 감사가 충만했습니다. 중랑천 합수부에서 헤어지고 혼자서 몇 번 달려본 한강자전거 전용도로를 내 속도에 맞추어 달렸는데 …
충전한 밧데리는 다 소모하고 들어가는 것이 원칙이라는 생각에다가, 좀 더 빨리 달리고 싶어서, 속도를 높여 파스2로 달리기로 했습니다. PAS란 Power Assist System 의 약자로 제 자전거는 eMTB입니다. 나이 70이 된 기념으로 체력을 보강하는 전동장치를 부착했고, 주밧데리와 보조밧데리 두 개이니, PAS1로는 150 km정도는 달릴 수 있습니다. 그러나 페달링을 해야 전력을 갖다 쓸 수 있습니다. PAS2로 달리니, 평균 18km에서 25km로 속도는 향상되었지만 전력 소모는 빨라질 수 밖에 없습니다. 다시 한 번 지축에서 차도로 올라가서 고양을 향하는 도로변 자전거길을 택해서 창릉천변에 도달했을 때는 빨간불이 들어왔습니다. 이미 90km가까이 달렸으니 안장위에 앉아 있었던 시간도 6시간을 넘었고, 아직도 갈길은 5km이상 남아있는데 … 전력도 체력도 바닥이 나고 주변은 점차 어두워지기 시작하고, 집에서 기다리고 있던 아내의 전화도 마침내 걸려오고^^ 힘을 다해 페달을 밟았습니다. “종아리 힘이든, 전력이든, 있을 때 아끼자”라고 마음속에 되뇌이면서 ㅠㅠ
While many consider autumn to be the season for reading, anyone who rides a bicycle will name spring or autumn as the true season for cycling. If forced to choose between the two, the scales would easily tip toward autumn. Having moved up from Ulsan to Goyang, Gyeonggi-do, the deep impression of reaching the Han River last year still lingers with me; just a few days ago, I experienced a joy every bit as profound.
From Goyang-dong, where Ezra Bible Graduate University is located, heading toward the Philippine War Memorial brings you to Gongneungcheon Stream. Following the dedicated bike path to Changneungcheon Stream, rather than heading right toward the confluence with the Han River—a route I pioneered last year—turning left and riding upstream along Changneungcheon brings you near Jichuk Subway Station.
In other words, the trail along Changneungcheon ends at Jichuk. From there, following the roadside bicycle path toward the entrance of Bukhansan Mountain and climbing along the Bukhansan trail, you reach the summit where the well-known restaurant Seomjingang Maeuntang sits. Coasting downhill from there past Songchu Gamagoll, and following Hoguk-ro straight past Gyeongmin University in Uijeongbu, you arrive at Nogyang Subway Station in Uijeongbu. From that point, the route links up with the Jungnangcheon bike path; following Jungnangcheon leads you right to its confluence with the Han River. The Jungnangcheon bicycle path is full of wonderful sights, and the route itself is truly splendid. Korea is indeed blessed with magnificent natural scenery. Is it any wonder our ancestors called this land Geumsu Gangsan—a tapestry of embroidered rivers and mountains? Our forebears certainly possessed a refined eye for beauty.
At the mouth of Jungnangcheon, you meet the Han River bicycle path and ride downstream toward Goyang—more precisely, toward the confluence of Changneungcheon and the Han River. If you wish to ride along the southern bank, you can simply cross Jamsu Bridge. However, since I could simply head down along the northern path running parallel to the Gangbuk Riverside Highway, returning home posed no difficulty. Until now, finding the route on my own from Bukhansan Road along Hoguk-ro to Nogyang Station in Uijeongbu had felt daunting. After lingering in hesitation for so long, Pastor Choi, who ministers in Uijeongbu, kindly offered to accompany me from Samsong Bowling Center, making the journey seamless. He even pointed out the best photo spots and took pictures for me, leaving my heart overflowing with gratitude. After parting ways at the Jungnangcheon confluence, I rode at my own pace along the familiar Han River bike path, which I had ridden several times before . . .
Under the principle that a charged battery ought to be fully used before returning home, and eager to pick up the pace, I shifted up to PAS 2. PAS stands for Power Assist System, and my bicycle is an eMTB. To mark my 70th birthday, I had an electric assist installed to support my physical stamina; equipped with both a main and an auxiliary battery, it can cover about 150 km in PAS 1. Even so, it only provides power when you pedal. Riding in PAS 2 increased my average speed from 18 km/h to 25 km/h, but of course, the battery drained much faster. Once again ascending from Jichuk to the road and taking the roadside bicycle path toward Goyang, the red warning light began to blink as I reached the banks of Changneungcheon. Having already pedaled nearly 90 km, I had spent over six hours in the saddle, and more than 5 km still remained . . .
Both my electric power and my physical energy were thoroughly depleted. Darkness was beginning to settle in, and at last, my wife—waiting patiently at home—called to check on me. ^^ I pressed down on the pedals with every ounce of strength I had left, repeating to myself in earnest: "Whether calf strength or battery power, let us save it while we still have it!" ㅠㅠ
Hoewel baie mense die herfs as die seisoen vir lees beskou, sal enigiemand wat fietsry die lente of herfs uitsonder as die ware ryseisoen. As 'n mens tussen die twee moet kies, sal die weegskaal beslis na die herfs oorhel. Nadat ek van Ulsan na Goyang in Gyeonggi-do verhuis het, het die diepe indruk van verlede jaar se rit na die Hanrivier my steeds bygebly; en 'n paar dae gelede het ek 'n vreugde beleef wat daarmee meeding.
Vanaf Goyang-dong, waar die Ezra Bybelse Nagraadse Universiteit geleë is, kom 'n mens by Gongneungcheon-stroom uit wanneer jy na die Filippynse Oorlogsmonument ry. As jy die feitlik eksklusiewe fietspad na Changneungcheon-stroom volg, draai jy nie regs na die samevloeiing met die Hanrivier—'n roete wat ek verlede jaar verken het—nie, maar volg Changneungcheon stroomop na links om naby die Jichuk-moltreinstasie uit te kom.
Met ander woorde, die pad langs Changneungcheon eindig by Jichuk. Van daar af moet 'n mens die fietspad langs die pad volg in die rigting van die Bukhansan-berg se ingang. Terwyl jy teen die bergpad uitklim, bereik jy bo-op die kruin die bekende restaurant Seomjingang Maeuntang. As jy vandaar afdraand ry verby die restaurant Songchu Gamagoll en Hoguk-ro reguit verby die Gyeongmin-universiteit in Uijeongbu volg, bereik jy Nogyang-stasie in Uijeongbu. Vandaar sluit dit aan by die Jungnangcheon-fietspad; as jy langs Jungnangcheon ry, bereik jy uiteindelik die samevloeiing met die Hanrivier. Die Jungnangcheon-fietspad bied talle pragtige besienswaardighede, en die roete self is waarlik skouspelagtig. Suid-Korea is werklik 'n land met asemrowende natuurskoon. Geen wonder ons voorouers het dit Geumsu Gangsan genoem—'n land soos geborduurde sy nie. Ons voorvaders het beslis geweet wat ware skoonheid is.
By die monding van Jungnangcheon ontmoet 'n mens die Hanrivier-fietspad en ry jy stroomaf na Goyang—om presies te wees, na die samevloeiing van Changneungcheon en die Hanrivier. As jy langs die suidelike oewer wil ry, kan jy bloot oor die Jamsu-brug gaan. Vir my was dit egter maklik om terug te keer met die noordelike fietspad wat parallel met Gangbuk-ro loop. Tot dusver was dit vir my te moeilik om op my eie die pad van Bukhansan langs Hoguk-ro na Nogyang-stasie in Uijeongbu te vind. Ná lang huiwering het leraar Choi, wat in Uijeongbu bedien, my vriendelik te hulp gesnel en my van die Samsong-rolbalsentrum af vergesel, sodat daar geen struikelblokke was nie. Hy het my selfs gewys waar om foto's te neem en het foto's van my geneem, wat my hart met dankbaarheid gevul het. Nadat ons by die samevloeiing van Jungnangcheon afskeid geneem het, het ek teen my eie pas voortgery op die Hanrivier-fietspad, wat ek al voorheen 'n paar keer gery het . . .
Met die oortuiging dat 'n volgelaaide battery heeltemal opgebruik moet word voordat 'n mens huis toe gaan, en omdat ek vinniger wou ry, het ek die spoed na PAS 2 verhoog. PAS staan vir Power Assist System, en my fiets is 'n eMTB. Ter viering van my sewentigste verjaardag het ek 'n elektriese hulpmotor laat aanbring om my krag aan te vul; met 'n hoofbattery en 'n hulpbattery kan ek in PAS 1 sowat 150 km aflê. Tog moet 'n mens self trap om die elektriese krag te benut. Deur in PAS 2 te ry, het my gemiddelde spoed van 18 km/h tot 25 km/h gestyg, maar die battery het noodwendig baie vinniger leeggeloop. Toe ek weer van Jichuk af die pad langs ry en die fietspad na Goyang neem tot by die Changneungcheon-oewer, het die rooi liggie begin flikker. Ek het reeds byna 90 km afgelê, meer as ses uur in die saal deurgebring, en daar was nog meer as 5 km oor . . .
Beide die battery en my eie krag was gedaan, die skemer het begin daal, en uiteindelik lui my foon—my vrou wat tuis gewag het. ^^ Ek het met alle mag op die pedale getrap terwyl ek myself in my binneste vermaan het: "Hetsy kuitkrag of batterykrag—spaar dit terwyl jy dit nog het!" ㅠㅠ