When It Makes Sense to Stay Put

Daily miles: 2.93 | Total miles: 7,868.01

I woke up this morning knowing rain was on its way and that my plan had been to cover about 26 miles. So, there was no rush to get going before the heavy showers arrived. Instead, I had coffee and checked my emails.

During the night, Yolanda had written me a kind message offering a place to stay in Port Augusta if I needed it. I had replied with thanks and shared my planned itinerary. But soon after, my phone buzzed with a weather alert: damaging winds and severe gusts were expected throughout the day. Looking out at the dark sky, with rain already in the air, I decided to call Yolanda back. This time, I accepted her generous offer.

The forecast for the coming days looks better—less rain, calmer winds, and slowly warming temperatures, which will be especially helpful once I start camping again. Postponing the journey by a day felt like the safest and wisest choice.

I set off toward Yolanda’s house, about three miles west. It rained a little along the way, and the wind carried that unmistakable potential of turning wild. On arrival, I was welcomed with cappuccino and cookies—a treat—and a lovely chat on the terrace before Yolanda had to leave for a while.

I took a shower, did laundry, read, and soon became best friends with the family dog, Ollie. Watching the wind stir the world outside from the comfort of indoors felt strangely soothing. Reading the weather reports confirmed I’d made the right call—the winds were indeed causing disruption elsewhere. Sometimes the best decision on a long journey is to stay still.

Later, Yolanda returned and drove me to the botanical gardens—a first glimpse of the arid landscapes I’ll soon be crossing. The sky shifted between dark and moody, but we were lucky: just wind and cold, no rain. We walked Ollie, had easy conversations, and enjoyed the beauty around us.

Back at the house, Yolanda prepared a wonderful veggie curry, her son cooked steaks, and Alan, her husband, kept us all happily engaged in conversation. Dinner stretched long with talk, laughter, and even dessert. By the end of the night, Ollie had slipped into his pajamas and looked quite ready to claim my bed.

A short mileage day, but a full one. Safe, warm, and grateful.

Good night.