3년 전 울산에서 고양으로 올라올 때 아내는 남편을 위해 기도했습니다. 울산에서와 같이 좋은 라이딩 팀을 허락해 주시도록 기도했고 그 기도는 풍성히 응답되었습니다. 그 결과 요일에 따라 화요, 목요 라이딩 팀, 계절에 따라 봄, 가을라이딩 팀, 지역에 따라서는 공릉창릉 팀이란 이름을 붙이기도 했습니다. 그동안 다녀온 곳은 오가는 풍광이 아름다운 춘천이 제일 먼저 떠오르고, 팔당댐에서 초계국수를 즐기기도 했고, 고양에서 지축을 지나 북한산길로 해서 송추, 의정부, 중랑천, 한강, 창릉천, 공릉천, 벽제천 자전거 길(110km)이나 행주대교, 김포갑문에서 아라자전거길을 통해 정서진까지(90km) 가든지 아니면 전류리 포구까지나 특히 가을벌판이 아름다운 김포쪽 평화누리자전거길을 달린 적도 있습니다.
그러다가 이번에 라이딩의 계절 가을에 자캠(자전거캠핑) 바람이 불었습니다. 의기투합한 네 사람이 인제에서 자전거로 출발해서 원통을 거쳐 미시령을 넘어서 속초로 가서, 통일전망대까지 갔다가 바닷가에서 캠핑을 하기로 했습니다. 25일(월) 10시 45분 경 집결해서 열심히 달려서 미시령옛길을 따라가다가 고갯길 정상 2킬로 지점까지 올라갔습니다. 그런데 낙석으로 인한 공사중이라는 통행금지패말이 길을 가로 막고 있었습니다. 몇 단계를 거쳤지만, 마침내 미시령관리사업단의 번호로 연락을 해서, 결국 그 사람들이 우리를 미시령터널을 통해 반대쪽에 있는 미시령휴게소에 실어다 주었습니다. 대한민국의 자랑스런 민간기업 서비스를 경험했습니다. 덕분에 오후 3시에 속초를 거쳐서 천진, 아야진, 삼포해수욕장까지 올라가다가 거기서 1박하기로 했습니다. 저녁 5시^^ 그 시간이면 누구나 상상하듯이, 준비해 온 돼지고기 삽겹살을 구워서 깻잎, 상추, 고추, 오이, 당근 등과 함께 꿀맛의 저녁식사를 일찍 마치고, 곧 바로 건너편 소나무 아래에 텐트를 쳤습니다.
이제 잠자리까지 마련했으니 솔방울을 모아서 조촐한 ‘캠프파이어’를 하는 중에, 가까운 바닷가에서는 젊은이들의 폭죽의 세레모니가 우리들의 자캠을 축하하는 것 같았습니다. 구경을 마치고, 요즈음 열풍이 불고 있는 맨발걷기를 한 차례 모래사장에서 하다가 텐트에 가까이 왔을 때 일기예보처럼 빗방울이 듣기 시작했습니다. 하지만 시니어라고 특별배려한 1인용 텐트에 들어갔습니다. 시니어 두 사람은 각각 텐트에서 파도소리와 빗방울 소리를 들으면서, 차례로 잠이 들었습니다. 하지만 이번 자캠의 공로자 두 분은 한 텐트에 슬리핑백도 없이 등을 맞대고 서로의 온기와 핫팩에 의지해서 옅은 잠을 자다가 작전회의를 한 모양입니다. 결국 일기예보로 인한 걱정 때문에, 새벽 3시에 택시를 불러타고 인제에 가서 공원에 세워둔 두 대의 승합차를 가지고, 삼포해수욕장으로 돌아왔다는 사실을 새벽 5시에 일어나서 알았습니다.
새벽 5시에 텐트를 걷고 자전거를 차에 나누어 싣고, 6시에 척산온천에서 온천욕을 즐긴 다음, 7시 할머니순두부 본점에서 식사를 하고, 날씨가 아깝긴했지만 아쉬움을 뒤로 한 채 돌아가기로 했습니다. 아침 식사를 기다리는 동안, 우리 가운데 한 분은 전날 우리와 자전거를 트럭에 실어서 미시령 휴게소에까지 데려다준 터널관리 직원에게 커피를 쏘았고, 또 다른 분은 인천에 오면 꼭 연락하라고 명함을 건넸다는 사실을 들었습니다. 아직도 개선될 부분은 남아있지만 그래도 이처럼 고마운 분들이 주변에 있다는 사실이 대한민국을 아름답게 만들고 있습니다. 특히 70세가 넘어 은퇴한 선배들을 섬겨준, 함께 했던 두 분 목사님이 자전거 캠핑의 핵심이었다는 사실에 감사합니다. 특히 대장님은 ‘1톤 트럭에 2톤의 짐을 싣고 가는 것 같은’ 수고를 아끼지 아니했고, 여러 사단 군종참모를 마친 후에 8군단 군종목사로서 예편한 김 목사님은, 나머지 모든 치다꺼리를 기꺼히 감당해 준, 이번 자캠의 핵심참모였습니다. 그래서 우린 행복했고 다음에는 제주 환상 자전거길에서 만남을 약속하며 짧은 1박의 자전거 캠핑을 마무리했습니다.
Three years ago, when we moved from Ulsan up to Goyang, my wife prayed for her husband. She prayed that God would grant me a good cycling team, just as I had enjoyed in Ulsan, and that prayer was answered in abundance. As a result, we came to form teams named by day—the Tuesday and Thursday Riding Teams; by season—the Spring and Autumn Riding Teams; and by region—the Gongneung-Changneung Team. Looking back on the places we have visited, Chuncheon comes to mind first with its breathtaking scenery along the way. There were times we savored chilled chicken noodle soup (chogye-guksu) at Paldang Dam; took the 110-kilometer route starting from Goyang through Jichuk, along Bukhansan trails to Songchu, Uijeongbu, Jungnangcheon, the Han River, Changneungcheon, Gongneungcheon, and Byeokjecheon bike paths; rode 90 kilometers via Haengju Bridge and Gimpo Lock along the Ara Bike Path all the way to Jeongseojin; or pedaled to Jeollyu-ri Port and along the Pyeonghwa Nuri Bike Path in Gimpo, which is especially magnificent in the autumn fields.
Then, in this beautiful autumn—the quintessential season for cycling—the breeze of 'bike camping' caught our hearts. Four like-minded companions agreed to start from Inje on our bicycles, pass through Wontong, climb over Misiryeong Pass down to Sokcho, continue north to the Unification Observatory, and camp along the seashore. Gathering around 10:45 a.m. on Monday the 25th, we pedaled earnestly along the Old Misiryeong Road until we reached a point about two kilometers below the mountain crest. However, a sign prohibiting passage due to rockfall construction blocked our way. After several inquiries, we finally reached the Misiryeong Management Office, and their kind staff ended up giving us and our bicycles a lift through the Misiryeong Tunnel right to the rest area on the opposite side. We experienced firsthand the proud, considerate service of a private Korean enterprise. Thanks to them, we were able to pass Sokcho by 3:00 p.m. and ride through Cheonjin and Ayajin up to Sampo Beach, where we decided to stay for the night. Around 5:00 p.m., just as anyone might imagine, we grilled pork belly (samgyeopsal) that we had brought along, enjoying a sweet, delicious dinner accompanied by perilla leaves, lettuce, chili peppers, cucumbers, and carrots. Immediately afterward, we pitched our tents beneath the pine trees across the way.
With our sleeping quarters ready, we gathered pinecones to build a modest campfire. Meanwhile, the fireworks launched by young people on the nearby beach felt as though they were celebrating our bike camping journey. After watching the display, we walked barefoot along the sandy shore—a practice so popular these days. Just as we returned near the tents, raindrops began to fall, exactly as the weather forecast had predicted. Out of special consideration for the seniors, I was provided with an individual tent. The two of us seniors each fell asleep in our respective tents, serenaded by the sound of breaking waves and gentle rain. Meanwhile, the two devoted companions who made this trip possible shared a single tent without sleeping bags, resting lightly back-to-back while relying on each other's body heat and hot packs, evidently holding an impromptu strategy council through the night. Concerned about the worsening weather forecast, they called a taxi at 3:00 a.m., rode back to Inje, and retrieved our two vans parked at the public park, driving them back to Sampo Beach—a fact we seniors only discovered when we woke up at 5:00 a.m.
At 5:00 a.m., we packed up the tents, loaded the bicycles into the vehicles, and by 6:00 a.m. were unwinding in the hot springs at Cheoksan Spa. At 7:00 a.m., we had breakfast at Halmeoni Sundubu headquarters and decided to head back home, leaving behind a bit of wistful longing for the weather we could not enjoy further. While waiting for breakfast, I learned that one of our team members had bought coffee for the tunnel management staff who had carried us and our bikes in his truck the day before, while another had handed him a business card, warmly insisting that he get in touch whenever he visits Incheon. Though there are always areas in our society needing improvement, it is the presence of such gracious and heartwarming people around us that makes Korea truly beautiful. I am deeply thankful that the two fellow pastors who accompanied us and selflessly served their retired senior colleagues over seventy years old were the true heart and soul of this bike camping trip. In particular, our team leader spared no effort, carrying burdens as if packing two tons of cargo onto a one-ton truck, and Pastor Kim, who recently retired as the chaplain of the 8th Corps after serving as head chaplain in various divisions, willingly took care of all the remaining logistics as our indispensable chief of staff. Because of them, we were truly happy. With a promise to meet next time on the Jeju Fantasy Bike Path, we concluded our brief one-night bicycle camping adventure.
Drie jaar gelede, toe ons van Ulsan na Goyang verhuis het, het my vrou vir haar man gebid. Sy het gebid dat die Here vir my 'n goeie fietsryspan sou skenk net soos in Ulsan, en daardie gebed is oorvloedig beantwoord. Gevolglik het ons spanne gevorm wat vernoem is volgens die weekdae—die Dinsdag- en Donderdagspanne; volgens seisoene—die Lente- en Herfsspanne; en volgens streke—die Gongneung-Changneung-span. As ek terugdink aan die plekke wat ons al besoek het, kom Chuncheon met sy asemrowende natuurskoon dadelik by my op. Daar was tye toe ons yskoue hoendernoedelsop (chogye-guksu) by Paldangdam geniet het; die roete van 110 kilometer afgelê het vanaf Goyang deur Jichuk, langs Bukhansan-paadjies na Songchu, Uijeongbu, Jungnangcheon, die Hanrivier, Changneungcheon, Gongneungcheon en Byeokjecheon-fietsroetes; 90 kilometer gery het via die Haengju-brug en Gimpo-sluis langs die Ara-fietsroete tot by Jeongseojin; of tot by Jeollyu-ri-hawe en veral langs die Pyeonghwa Nuri-fietsroete in Gimpo gery het, wat veral betowerend is oor die herfsvlaktes.
Toe, in hierdie pragtige herfs—die ideale seisoen vir fietsry—het die gees van 'fietstoerkamp' ons beetgepak. Vier eensgesinde vriende het ooreengekom om per fiets vanaf Inje te vertrek, deur Wontong te ry, oor Misiryeongpas na Sokcho te gaan, noordwaarts na die Hereniging-uitkykpunt te ry en dan langs die see te kamp. Ons het Maandag die 25ste omstreeks 10:45 bymekaargekom en ywerig langs die Ou Misiryeong-pad gery totdat ons sowat twee kilometer onder die bergpas se kruin was. 'n Kennisgewingbord wat deurgang weens vallende rotse en herstelwerk verbied het, het egter ons pad versper. Na verskeie navrae het ons uiteindelik die Misiryeong-bestuurskantoor gekontak, en daardie welwillende personeel het ons en ons fietse deur die Misiryeong-tonnel tot by die rusplek aan die oorkant vervoer. Ons het eerstehands die trotse, uitmuntende diens van 'n Koreaanse private onderneming ervaar. Danksy hulle kon ons teen 15:00 deur Sokcho ry en verby Cheonjin en Ayajin tot by Sampo-strand vorder, waar ons besluit het om die nag oor te bly. Omstreeks 17:00—soos 'n mens jou maklik kan voorstel—het ons die varkvleis (samgyeopsal) wat ons saamgebring het, gebraai en 'n heerlike maaltyd geniet saam met perillablare, blaarslaai, brandrissie, komkommer en wortels. Reg daarna het ons ons tente onder die dennebome aan die oorkant opgeslaan.
Noudat ons slaapplek gereed was, het ons dennebolle bymekaargemaak vir 'n beskeie kampvuurtjie. Intussen het die vuurwerke wat jongmense op die nabygeleë strand afgeskiet het, gevoel asof hulle ons fietstoerkamp vier. Nadat ons die vertoning dopgehou het, het ons kaalvoet op die sand gaan stap—'n gewoonte wat deesdae baie gewild is. Toe ons weer naby die tente kom, het die reëndruppels begin val, presies soos die weervoorspelling aangedui het. Uit spesiale bedagsaamheid teenoor die seniors is 'n enkelpersoontent aan my toegewys. Die twee seniors het elkeen in hul eie tent aan die slaap geraak met die geluid van branders en reëndruppels in hul ore. Intussen het die twee getroue manne wat hierdie kamp moontlik gemaak het, sonder slaapsakke in een tent rug-aan-rug geslaap, afhanklik van mekaar se liggaamshitte en warmsakkies terwyl hulle liggies gesluimer en blykbaar 'n noodplan beraam het. Bekommerd oor die reënweer het hulle om 03:00 die nag 'n taxi geroep, teruggegaan na Inje, die twee bakkies wat in die parkeerterrein gestaan het gaan haal, en na Sampo-strand teruggery—'n feit wat ons eers ontdek het toe ons om 05:00 die oggend wakker word.
Om 05:00 het ons die tente afgeslaan, die fietse in die voertuie gelaai, en teen 06:00 het ons 'n warmbad by die Cheoksan-warmbronne geniet. Teen 07:00 het ons ontbyt geëet by Halmeoni Sundubu se hoofrestaurant en besluit om huiswaarts te keer, met 'n tikkie weemoed oor die weer wat ons nie verder kon geniet nie. Terwyl ons op ontbyt gewag het, het ek gehoor dat een van ons vriende die vorige dag koffie gekoop het vir die tonnelwerker wat ons en ons fietse op sy bakkie gelaai het, terwyl 'n ander sy besigheidskaartjie gegee het en hom hartlik genooi het om kontak te maak wanneer hy Incheon besoek. Al is daar altyd ruimte vir verbetering in ons samelewing, is dit juis die teenwoordigheid van sulke dankbare en gasvrye mense wat Suid-Korea waarlik mooi maak. Ek is innig dankbaar dat die twee mede-leraars wat ons vergesel het en hul afgetrede seniors bo sewentig so getrou gedien het, die ware hartklop van hierdie fietstoerkamp was. Veral ons leier het geen moeite ontsien nie en laste gedra asof hy twee ton op 'n eentonnige bakkie gelaai het, terwyl ds. Kim, wat pas as kapelaan van die 8ste Leërkorps afgetree het nadat hy kapelaanhoof in verskeie divisies was, al die oorblywende reëlings as ons onontbeerlike stafhoof behartig het. Danksy hulle was ons werklik gelukkig. Met 'n belofte om mekaar weer op die Jeju Fantasie-fietsroete te ontmoet, het ons ons kort een-nag-fietstoerkamp afgesluit.