Blown Away - HakDong Mongdol Beach and Windy Hill, Goeje

 I like to get the kids out of the house on weekends, which is getting harder and harder to do without them grumbling. They feel like they have seen enough flowers and mountains and temples to last them a lifetime. I beg to differ. Anyway, I found something in Goeje that was not flowers nor mountains nor temples. Win-win, right? It turned out to be more like wind-wind.

We started with HakDong Mongdol Beach.

'Hak' means hawk, which the shape of the beach resembles from above, or so they say. 'Mongdol' means pebble, hence the name Hakdong Mongdol. Us migooks (Americans) call it Black Pebble Beach.

They say the pebbles are like acupuncture on your bare feet. It was far too cold and windy to give it a try. 

The locals pop up their tents right on the rocks on warm summer days.

As you can tell from the sky, it was overcast. There was a cold wind blowing through. This particular day it felt like March was in like a lion, for sure.

We walked along the beach to the pier. Look how pretty that water is.

Lijee brought along his BFF Alex.

We rushed back to the car after the pier because the wind was pretty cold.

We weren't far from Windy Hill so I added to our itenary. Getting there is half the adventure, so when I saw a 'photo spot' sign I pulled over the car and took a photo.

The parking lot for Windy Hill is in Dojangpo Wharf.

The view from the steps climbing to the top of the hill includes the open sea.

With a name like 'Windy Hill,' one expects to encounter some wind. 

'Windy' didn't really describe the robust gales that assaulted us.

The hill boasts pretty green grasses a little later in spring and summer. I suspect the light breeze I read about also occurs later in spring and early summer, verses the hurricane force winds we battled.

I carried little Chuey down the stairs because I was afraid she might get blown off into the sea. For real.

Down below off the little boardwalk is the Shelter of the Wind.

It was made for visitors to enjoy the 'feel of the seawater directly as they soak their tired feet and take a break under the shade of the pergola.' 

The tunnel is shaped to form the expression of wind.

'Love Locks' are not saved just for N Seoul Tower in Seoul. You find them at lots of places, including here at the base of Windy Hill.

[March 6]