Listener Frédéric Dith alerted me that long blue lines mark long distance cycling routes, not only in Japan but also in Taiwan and South Korea. During a year of backpacking in Asia, following a burnout from the pandemic and working at a Berlin startup, Fred bikepacked the 633-kilometer-long Four Rivers Cycle Route, traversing South Korea from Seoul to Busan. Fred learned all about South Korea’s engaging system of issuing bicycling passports and repurposing bright red phone booths as places to stamp your passport to show your progress. After completing his goal of cycling the entire Four Rivers route, Fred’s reward was a professional-looking certificate, suitable for framing. After talking to Fred, we also check in with previous guest Hannah Bowley, who has spent the past months riding in Japan and South Korea. 

To learn more about the colors of cycling routes around the world:
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2095756421000416

For links to podcast platforms, feedback via email, the podcast website, and Instagram:
https://linktr.ee/accidental_bicycle_tourist