Grateful Miles and Gritty Nights

Daily miles: 38.18 | Total miles: 6997.92

I woke up at 5:45am today. A hot coffee, a bit of quiet, and then I carried everything downstairs, packed up the buggy, and hit the road just before 7am. The sky looked promising — the forecast had hinted at rain, but once again, I got lucky. No rain at all.

From the first steps, I felt good. I had booked my accommodation the night before, so I knew I had a solid 38 miles ahead of me. I ran mostly nonstop, just a few short pauses — and although there were many beautiful spots I could’ve stopped to photograph, sometimes it just feels right to keep moving.

The landscape was gently rolling, with endless green hills dotted with sheep and cows. The views were soft and wide. At one point, a car towing truck pulled over ahead of me. As I got closer, a young man jumped out, smiling, and handed me a Pepsi and an energy drink. His name was Steve, originally from Turkey. A random act of kindness, one that landed right when I needed a sugar hit. The Pepsi tasted like magic. We waved goodbye and off he went.

The last few miles were mostly downhill — which probably means an uphill stretch is coming soon — and I eventually exited the highway, heading toward the center of Albury. First stop: the shopping center. Second stop: the hotel.

Now… the hotel. Let’s just say: it’s been better. The elevator only fits my buggy if I stand it upright. Pressing 3 takes you to 4, but pressing 2 doesn’t take you to 3. It took some trial and error to find the right floor. The room I was first assigned didn’t have WiFi, so I switched. The second room — well, the WiFi barely works either, but in one corner, with enough patience, it loads.

The room itself? Old carpet, dripping shower, sink that doesn’t drain, heater that growls like a wild animal, a chair that nearly collapses when I sit, and a refrigerator I wouldn’t store anything in. There are ants, too. But honestly — I don’t mind. Nights like these make me appreciate comfort when I have it. It’s like the weather — today’s sunshine felt especially good after a few wet and cold days.

Now I’m heading down to the pub to post my work, because the connection here just won’t cut it. Thanks for checking in, and thanks for being part of this journey — for the miles, the kindness of strangers, the views, and even the dodgy hotel rooms.

Take care, Andrea