Day 4 – Solo Korea Car Camping Trip: Gochang → Mokpo

2021.05.27(Thu)

By the fourth day of my car camping trip, I was starting to feel the first hints of wanderer’s fatigue.

Here’s what happened—yesterday had been so comfortable that I woke up in an unusually good mood this morning.

The plan for the day was to drive along Baeksu Coastal Road in Yeong-gwang, my father’s hometown, then head to a quiet café in Hampyeong I’d found in advance to catch up on some studying and work, and finally spend the night car camping at Dolmeori Beach.

Although the weather was dull and overcast, my excitement didn’t waver.

With my favorite playlist blasting and me singing along at the top of my lungs, I headed off to Yeong-gwang, fully caught up in the joy of the drive.

While driving along the coastal road, I realized my next destination was in the opposite direction, so I had to turn back halfway and head toward Hampyeong.

I stopped by a café, ordered a warm latte, and planned to take my time catching up on some work. But due to the owner’s personal circumstances, the café had to close early, and I was practically ushered out in less than an hour. Still, I didn’t mind—after all, I could finish the remaining work from my car once I got to the beach, even if it was a bit uncomfortable.

After driving a bit further, I finally arrived at my intended destination, Dolmeori Beach. But as luck would have it, for some reason, cars weren’t being allowed in. I had no choice but to quickly look for another place to spend the night.

With no other option, I crossed over to Muan and headed to Songgye Fishing Village, but due to COVID restrictions, camping was prohibited there as well. So I went to Jogeumnaru Beach nearby. The problem was, parking near the water meant the bathrooms were far away, and parking near the bathrooms meant being awkwardly out in the middle of an open lot—so I passed.

Next, I crossed into Sinan and arrived at the Aphaedo Ferry Terminal. The view for car camping was decent, and there was a public restroom right next to it, but strangely, I was the only one there.

I spent about an hour resting while looking out at the sea, but in the end, I didn’t feel comfortable staying there alone. After some determined searching online, I set my final destination for the night: Mokpo Bridge.

I had seen this spot recommended on a blog as one of the best car camping locations in Mokpo, so I put the address into my GPS and went. But in reality, it was just a parking lot behind Mokpo Maritime University. Sure, the Mokpo Bridge was in view—but that was about it.

My top priority when choosing a spot is having a public restroom nearby, but here, there wasn’t one. I couldn’t wash up or even use the bathroom. On top of that, I was the only person car camping there—no matter how hard I looked, I couldn’t spot another camper.

By then, the day had nearly ended, and after driving all day, I had no energy left. After so many failed attempts to find the right spot, I was hit with a wave of emptiness.

‘Who am I? Where am I? What am I even doing?’—for the first time since starting this wanderer’s life, I began to feel homesick.

But at the same time, a stubborn resolve kicked in. I wasn’t going to let these little setbacks crush me.

After all, life isn’t a neatly unrolling roll of toilet paper—it sometimes tears, gets wet, or gets dirty along the way. If there are days like this, there will also be days that go well.

I promised myself that I wouldn’t let such small inconveniences sway my emotions. Having paid my dues today, I went to sleep in a quiet corner of the lonely parking lot, holding onto the hope that tomorrow would surely bring something better.

+++ Update +++

I tossed and turned until midnight, unable to sleep—partly because I was scared to be alone. While scrolling on my phone, I started looking for a public restroom to use in the morning and discovered a hotspot just three minutes away by car: the Yudal Amusement Park public parking lot, complete with restrooms.

I drove there right away and found a few other car campers like me. Only then was I able to finally sleep in peace.

That night, I learned an important lesson—no matter how spontaneous you are, you should still do at least some research beforehand.

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3. Movies are a textbook containing all of the world’s most valuable experiences.

   
   

:For me, after watching many films, I truly feel my perspective on life has broadened. Even now, five years later, I still deeply agree with this statement.

Back then, I was a true movie lover—watching at least three or four films a week, sometimes even three in a single day. My weekend nights were often spent huddled together with my family, ordering late-night snacks and watching movies.

I watched films of every genre, from every era and every country.

As a high schooler who had spent her entire life inside the small “well” of Daejeon, movies became my way of visiting different countries, learning valuable lessons, and experiencing countless lives—if only indirectly.

When I worried about life, I watched coming-of-age films about people my age. When I didn’t like who I was at the time, I searched for films about happiness. And when I longed to travel, I turned to foreign films, living vicariously through their stories.

Books have been much the same for me.

I had never been a reader, but after returning to Korea last year, I began reading little by little. At first, I wanted to rebuild my self-esteem, and by chance, I picked up a book called Self-Esteem Lessons, which taught me how to raise it. When I realized I knew nothing about money, I turned to books about finance and economics to shape my understanding. And to learn about life itself, I read the biographies of great people.

Of course, asking those around you when you have questions or seek advice is not a bad idea. But it’s rarely enough to answer everything you want to know. That’s why I turn to movies and books—to find those answers.

Films and books are like compressed textbooks of countless lives, lessons, and wisdom, transcending nationality, race, and age. They give me access in just a few hours to answers that took others years, decades, or even millennia to find. How could that not be an honor?

If you’re ever searching for an answer, comfort, or advice, I wholeheartedly recommend this—find a book or a film on the subject, and start there.

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