The Roller Coaster of Road and Emotion

Daily miles: 40.01 | Total miles: 7,930.15

I woke up, had a cold coffee, filtered some water in the kitchen, packed up my buggy, and set off. From the start, the road felt like it was climbing endlessly. I couldn’t quite tell when the incline began, but it weighed on me. With 40 miles planned, every step felt slower than I wanted, and frustration hovered in the background.

Emotions came in waves—sometimes light, sometimes heavy. Maybe it was the vastness of the road ahead, the stark beauty of the landscape, the exhaustion creeping in, or the uncertainty that’s always part of a journey like this. Whatever it was, I let it flow through me. The day became a roller coaster of both road and feelings.

A highlight was when the three nurses I’d met at Nutbush Retreat drove past and stopped to say hello. That small connection gave me a boost I badly needed. Later they passed again, and a quick chat lifted my spirits once more. Out here, little encounters mean a lot.

Still, I realized I should have brought more food and water. I had enough to get by, but the constant question of “will it be enough?” haunted me. It’s a good reminder: sometimes the mind struggles more with scarcity than the body does. Lesson learned—better to carry plenty.

Then came another challenge: the flies. Already in Port Augusta I had met them, but today they seemed determined to test my patience. As soon as the sun warmed the air, they were there—on my face, buzzing in front of my eyes, landing constantly. Eventually, I pulled out my head net. Running with it is uncomfortable, but better than going mad swatting at them every second. A necessary evil.

Late in the afternoon, Alison, Greg, and Lou stopped their camper van beside me. I asked for water—just in case—and they generously handed me 1.5 liters. That simple act eased my mind and made the last stretch much lighter.

Two miles later, at the top of a hill, I found a small patch just big enough to pitch my tent. I set it up quickly, slid inside, and immediately started eating. I was starving. After that, I tried to organize my usual routine—charging devices, setting up for the night—but before I knew it, I had drifted off. I woke up to darkness, skipped all the tasks, and let sleep take me fully.

Sometimes the best way to end a day like this is simply to close your eyes and let the world wait until tomorrow.

Good night.