The Road Gives Back

Daily Miles: 25.28 | Total Miles: 7,259.53

My alarm went off at 6:00 a.m., but I was simply too tired to get up. I’d stayed up chatting with a woman staying at the same place, and we ended up having one of those long, meaningful conversations that quietly stretch into the night. So at 6:20, I finally peeled myself out from under the warm blanket and stepped into the cool, quiet morning. Coffee. Toast with butter. The usual rituals that signal a new day on the road.

I started running around 8:00 a.m. It was cold enough that I wore gloves, and my body needed the first mile just to warm up. The streets were alive with the weekday rhythm—school children in uniform, crossing guards guiding them safely, and the familiar hum of morning traffic.

I decided I was far enough out of Melbourne to start running along the freeway’s bicycle lane again. For the first five miles or so, I ran alongside the roar of cars. Then a police car pulled over behind me. But rather than ask me to move, the officers were curious and kind. They were impressed by the run and offered encouragement before sending me on my way. Encounters like that always give me a small mental boost.

The first half of the day offered some rolling hills, manageable and steady. The second half was a different story—a long, gradual uphill that didn’t seem to end. No chance to run. Just me, the buggy, and the climb. The shoulder of the road was narrow in places, sandy and uneven, so I had to stay extra focused. I tried to keep my spirits up, reminding myself that it was a shorter run today, “only” 25 miles.

Once I exited the highway, I still had about two miles to go before reaching Ballan’s town center. I hoped it might level off, but instead, the road tilted upward once more. Naturally. When I finally reached the grocery store, I was tired, a little damp, but happy. I stocked up on food for the night and packed it all into the buggy.

I’d planned to stay at a caravan park about a mile back. But on my walk through town, something made me pause. I saw a small agency called Cartier World Travel. I smiled at the irony—I’m technically on the world’s slowest world tour. So I stepped inside, thinking maybe they’d know another option for accommodation.

That’s when I met Alison. We hit it off right away. It felt so good just to sit down, warm up, and talk to someone after the miles. At some point, she said: “I might have a place for you.” A short phone call later, she came back smiling. A room at the back of the agency was mine for the night.

Just like that. Kindness, unprompted, unexpected, and so deeply appreciated.

Thank you, Lesley, Alison, Caroline, and Dora—you truly made my day. I had a shower, caught up on socials, and now I’m getting ready to eat and rest.

Some days, this solo journey can feel incredibly lonely. But then something like today happens—a conversation, a warm room, a generous offer—and I’m reminded of how much beauty there is in the world when people simply choose to care.

These small acts mean everything. They stay with me, mile after mile.

Thanks, as always, for following along. I believe it’s the little things that make the world go round. I’m incredibly grateful for the kindness, connection, and quiet magic of everyday encounters.

See you tomorrow. Andrea