Gravel Roads and Generous Roadsides

Daily miles: 32.35 | Total miles: 6,360.19

I got up this morning, made a coffee, and carried all my gear downstairs to organize the buggy. The sun was already shining—it looked like it was going to be a warm, beautiful day. And yes, that’s exactly what it turned out to be.

I started running out of town and followed a bike path, which soon led me onto a rough 3-mile stretch of road. It was full of potholes, grated sections, gravel, and rolling hills. It was quite the effort to push the buggy over that surface—it instantly reminded me of Chile and those steep, rugged gravel roads. I saw the road workers who had been laboring on that stretch, now taking a break in the shade, and I appreciated the hard work that went into keeping these roads passable.

At the beginning of that stretch, I met Keith—one of the brief but meaningful encounters of the day. After that, I ran a short section along the highway before finding a quieter, parallel road that wound deep through forests and later across farmlands. The sun grew stronger, and the day turned into a hot, sweaty one. Still, I kept pushing forward.

Throughout the day, I was reminded once again of the kindness of Australians. Many drivers waved or gave me a thumbs-up from their windows, a gesture that always lifts my spirits. And when I reached Kempsey, I passed through a traffic queue caused by road work. As I ran by, some people handed me money—unexpected, generous support.

Toward the end of the route, I passed Richard in a tractor—another small but welcome exchange. I was focused on reaching the hotel early to get some rest. The two ladies at the reception were incredibly kind. I still had to shop for food, get my socials done, and now, all I want is sleep.

Thanks for following along. See you again tomorrow—one step at a time.

Dream Big Too.