Generosity Wherever I Go

Daily miles: 40.25 | Total miles: 7,398.95

I woke up a little after 6am, had my coffee, packed my things, and headed out for the included hotel breakfast at 7am. Two slices of toast for the moment, a few more tucked away for the road. By about 7:20am I was running, knowing I had a 40-mile day ahead. No time to waste—just steady progress, one step at a time.

It was still cool, though warmer than yesterday, and I quickly settled into a comfortable pace. My plan was to take a break around mile 20… but at mile 17, I had to stop.

Standing there with his sad eyes was The Giant Koala. I couldn’t resist giving him a hug. I didn’t venture inside his belly (no need for souvenirs today), but I did pop into the café next door to use the toilet. The lady behind the counter was lovely, and I treated myself to a slice of locally baked carrot cake—absolutely delicious. I chatted with another traveller before heading out again.

To my left, mountains in the distance; ahead, mostly flat terrain. I arrived in Horsham and went straight to the grocery store before starting my hotel search. My plan was simple: go into every place I saw, ask for the cheapest room price, and see what I could find.

While I was waiting to ask at one hotel, I met Keith, who already had a booking there. When I heard the room rate, I decided it was too high. The owner, Suku, kindly gave me the address of a place that might fit my budget. But before I could leave, Keith spoke up: “I’ll pay half for her room.”

We were all a little surprised by the gesture, but I was deeply touched. In the end, I stayed there for a very small amount, with Keith and Suku covering the rest. Moments like this remind me how much kindness there is in the world.

I thanked them both, and Keith told me he thought what I was doing was great. After a hot shower, a simple dinner of rice, beans, and salad, I’m ready for a well-earned rest.

Another wonderful day on the road—see you tomorrow. Andrea