Trip to Jirisan, 27–29 March 2026
Riders: Peter van der Meij and Yoon Yi-Han (both from Yeongjong-do, Incheon), and Laurens (from Geoje, 220 km to Namwon).
Day 1 – Friday 27 March: Yeongjong-do to Namwon
I met Yi-Han outside his apartment at 07:30. The ride to Namwon was 321 km and took 5 hours 58 minutes. We had a coffee break at 10:12 in Hwaseong (화성) and a lunch break at 12:10. We reached the Sanriji Hotel at 15:48 (124 Sori-gil, Namwon-si, Jeollabuk-do). Laurens arrived later that afternoon. He got lost, which was predictable without a navigation app on his phone. He like to ride with printed maps. The three of us had dinner within walking distance of the hotel.
Day 2 – Saturday 28 March: around Jirisan
After breakfast together, all three of us rode from the Sanriji Hotel towards Jirisan. We made our first photo stop on road 861, at 141-43 Jicheon-ri, Gwangui-myeon, Gurye-gun, Jeollanam-do, among the cherry blossom.
At the top we stopped at a lookout area for coffee.
We then continued to the Odojae (오도재) viewpoint, with a view over the winding road of Jianjae (지안재) below.
For lunch we had wild vegetable bibimbap. The restaurant no longer exists.
We took a break at the Donghoje pavilion.
Our last coffee break was at a coffee shop on the way back to the Sanriji Hotel. In total we rode 182 km around Jirisan.
Day 3 – Sunday 29 March: home
The next morning we went our separate ways: Laurens back to Geoje, 202 km, Yi-Han and Peter back to Yeongjong-do, another 321 km.
