My 20 mile circumnavigation around Tongyeong, on my bike, with 4400 ft.  elevation gain!  I rode 10 miles to the Tongyeong Bridge, and stopped for lunch and climbing with my new Korean climbing friends!  I learned so much, got even more tired, then had to pedal the 10 miles back home.  Whew!  What a great day!   Here are photos taken along the way over and from the bridge.  Then my kimchi mandu and jinbbang picnic in the grass.  
The Tongyeong-si area is a collection of 100+ islands and you can see some of them here.  The ride back during sunset made the fatigue worthwhile!

     What a fantastic day to spend outside,on the bike, around the island... in Korea!  I spent the afternoon pumping out going up multiple hills (some were 20% grade!) for an overall elevation gain of 4100 ft.!  Then I'd coast down, my breathing settling, feeling relief, and gain just enough recuperation time (like 30 seconds, haha) until I had to start peddling uphill again!  Up down up down up down.  A glorious workout over the course of hours, stopping to take these stunning photos.  Looks like the Caribbean right?  Well, the water isn't as crystal, and yet...  
     Since I had planned a simple and easy ride for two hours out and back, I didn't pack lunch.  Thank Buddha for Buddha's Birthday celebration, where there are festivities and celebrations and honors... and free meals!  Thus, after pedaling a few hours, I serendipitously happened upon a small temple outside of Inpyeongdong, and stopped on the ride back.  I enjoyed some quiet and not-so quiet meditation time, then was "encouraged" to come eat some bap (rice).  I was served a huge meal of rice and vegetable and fruit and ttok (rice cakes).  Then they made me take some home after learning I had ridden so far.  
     The temple was beautiful, the day was glorious, the ride was exhilarating!  I am so proud of myself; not having been on a bike since Key West, and never having done any kind of mountainous riding!  15.5 miles and over 4100 feet of ups.  
I impressed myself!  :-))