16 June 2008, Chungju, 1412km

14 June
I spent two hours in a PC-ban in Taebaek on 14th, because of the big earthquake happened near my home town in Japan. No damage to my family.
The town was all misty as I came out. Though it was still around six, I had to camp nearby. Driving in mist seemed too dangerous.

16 June
It's difficult to avoid motorway in Korea, because the same route becomes motor way in some parts and ordinary way in other parts, like when it's near cities.
I'm sure there is some certain rule, but it was not so apparent when I happened to get into a motor way yesterday. I was just following signs "Jecheon" from an ordinary road, and eventually found myself on a big road where cars drove like fighter planes. I was really scared in tunnels. But I wasn't aware that I was on a motor way.
I was riding for a couple of hours, I guess. Then finally a police car found me. It followed after me for some hundred meters till there was an exit to a town, and announced something on the speaker.
"Get off the motorway, you moron!"

My translation. The policeman and the policewoman were actually generous. As soon as they understood I was a stupid foreigner who didn't know the rule, they let me go with smile.
The young policewoman asked me where I was from, then asked me to write my name in hiragana. I did, and she read my name. I think she wanted to impress me that she could read some Japanese or to be friendly, but I showed no reaction. I'm afraid I was a bit nervous, and again stupid.
The road they showed me was in countryside. I enjoyed the quietness a while.