good to go

 

Since I can't use a transportation app to get tickets (I always have bad luck with Korean apps, which keep locking up on me), I went old-school and simply visited the Express Bus Terminal where I found a 무인/mu-in (automated, lit. "no person") kiosk and got my bus ticket for Busan for this Sunday the 26th, departing at 1:50 p.m. Seat 21 on the bus isn't next to any other seats, which is why I picked it (many express buses have rows of seats where two seats are next to each other, then there's an aisle, then there's a lone window seat). I love how the ticket says the bus could be at 승차홈/seungcha-home (platform) Number 1 or 2. So I'd better keep my eyes open and ask the driver if I'm not sure which bus to get on. Upshot: arrive early.

As Zero Hour draws near, there's less and less for me to do. My backpack is mostly prepped. I got a haircut today; I requested a fairly short cut as I always do before long walks, and I'll be letting the hair and my beard go wild while I amble. I've got my express-bus ticket to head down south. I have few chores left to do (laundry, light cleaning), and few clothes to wash (I never carry much in the way of clothes anyway). I've made the possibly fateful decision not to buy new walking shoes this time around: my shoes from last year are still mostly good if somewhat worn. Normally, I buy new shoes every year if I'm doing something like the Four Rivers route: after 633 km and a million steps (thank you, pedometer, for your hard work), shoes tend to be worn down. But since last year and this year's walks are both relatively short (I have a 20-day walk calendar with six resting days built in, i.e., I'll be walking for only 14 days), I think I can get by with the same pair of shoes. It's a gamble, but hey, life is a gamble. Just stepping outside of your place is a gamble. Cardiac problems? Possible shoe problems? Maybe I should just stay home and be safe. Yeah, fuck that. And miss all that heavenly glory?

What do we say to the god of death? "Not today."