Thunderstorms, Uphill Battles, and Unexpected Joy

Do you believe it? I certainly couldn’t when it happened, but there I was, in the middle of a chaotic night, trying to keep calm and figure things out.

I had fallen asleep early in my tent, probably around 9 PM. It had been a hot day, so I didn’t bother with the rain fly, leaving just the mosquito-proof inner tent set up. My phone and watch were charging, and everything seemed peaceful—until 11:45 PM, when a massive raindrop hit my face.

Thunder rolled in quickly, and the rain came hard and fast. Caught off guard, I shuffled around inside the tent, but it didn’t take long to realize that things were getting soaked. Some of the plants outside had thorns, so I had to be careful as I scrambled out with the rain fly. Thinking quickly, I moved essentials like my shoes, sleeping bag, and electronics into the buggy, which thankfully has a rain cover.

The storm was intense—strong winds, blinding lightning, and deafening thunder. It was one of those moments where the line between panic and focus feels razor-thin. I had to remind myself to stay clear-headed and steady, even as the rain drenched me and made pitching the rain fly a serious challenge.

After what felt like an eternity, I finally got the rain fly on, dried the tent with my inner sleeping bag as best as I could, and bundled up in my half-wet down sleeping bag. I was cold but manageable. The rain came and went all night, but I eventually warmed up and even slept well.

When morning came, everything was soaked, and I had to reorganize my gear, which was scattered from the night’s chaos. I moved everything to the road nearby, where the ground was drier, and packed up as efficiently as I could. Of course, it rained again during this process.

I hit the road late, with my GoPro malfunctioning—it wouldn’t power on all day. Likely an overheating or battery issue from the previous day, so filming my run was out of the question.

The day’s run was challenging but rewarding. The first 13 miles were uphill to a pay station at the cumbre, where a police officer checked on me. We ended up chatting, taking a photo, and he wished me a "buen viaje." The next 7 miles were another uphill stretch, testing my endurance, but the payoff was worth it. At the top of the hill, I began a glorious 10-mile descent into San Luis.

Flying down the hill at a pace I hadn’t run in a while felt amazing. A truck driver who had seen me a few times stopped for a quick chat and photo, wishing me "suerte" before I continued on.

As I approached San Luis, the traffic picked up, and the final stretch was a bit nerve-wracking, with heavy and fast vehicles keeping me on high alert. Then, just a mile before my destination, two men were waiting by the roadside—one with a camera, the other with a microphone. They stopped me for an impromptu interview, which was a pleasant surprise and a great way to cap off the day.

Finally, I arrived at my accommodation. The work didn’t stop there: I organized my gear, aired out my wet belongings, did laundry, caught up on social media, and planned the next steps of my journey. Oh, and somewhere in all that, I ate and went shopping.

There truly never seem to be enough hours in my day, but moments like these remind me why I’m doing this. Thank you for following along and being part of this adventure!