The Meandering Way to Susono
Daily miles: 30.64 | Total miles: 9,452.25
My alarm rang at 5:30 a.m. Coffee first, then packing — and out of the house I went. I’m still getting used to the Japanese custom of switching from shoes to slippers indoors — such a simple but meaningful ritual of respect and mindfulness. Around 6:30 a.m., I started running, weaving through narrow alleys and across train tracks, passing students and workers heading out on bicycles, on foot, and in cars.
After about two miles, I joined a cycle path along the Sakawa River, running upstream as the water gently flowed down. The river meandered through lush, overgrown fields beneath a soft grey sky.
I love the concept of meandering. For me, this gentle back-and-forth — right and left — carries the ideas of continuum and spectrum, fluctuation and movement, heterogenesis and heterostasis. When I see a meandering river, my thoughts begin to wander and expand. My understanding of meandering goes beyond a simple idea of wandering — it reflects the dynamic nature of growth, learning, and existence itself. It celebrates the richness and creation that emerge from moving in complex, non-linear ways. It’s an insightful framework — and today, it guided my rhythm, my steps, and my reflections.
The first third of the day was peaceful. Runners, cyclists, and walkers shared the path, and I smiled at how many ways there are to move through the world. The forecast promised a dry day, so even when the drizzle began, I thought, “This won’t last.” I was wrong!
The second part of my run turned into a wet, steep uphill challenge, with pouring rain and slippery ground. I haven’t climbed such inclines since England or Chile — and Australia certainly didn’t prepare me for this! The first road was quiet and calm; the second was a major route with trucks roaring past and sidewalks overgrown with vegetation, forcing me at times onto the street. Today became my first real test of Japan’s heavy-traffic roads.
Despite the effort, the scenery was stunning — bamboo forests and moss-covered trees, mist rising between the hills, and lush fields bursting with life. Everything glowed green, wet, and fertile. Even in the exhaustion, there was beauty.
At one point, I stopped at a gas station to put my jacket back on. The man working there smiled and handed me a small hand towel — a gift. Such kindness, such humanity. These small gestures always lift my spirit.
The final stretch was a mix of overgrown sidewalks and, thankfully, a long, glorious downhill. My arms and shoulders were tired from steadying the buggy through uneven paths — but I was happy to just keep moving.
When I reached my hotel, the language barrier struck again. I tried my best with Google Translate, and the man at reception was so kind, even running ahead to help me get the buggy into the elevator. Once inside my room, though, came the next challenge: how to turn on the lights! I had to go back down for help — and it turned out to be something I never would have figured out on my own. Yesterday, it took me 15 minutes just to turn off the lights in another room! Japan’s buttons and remotes are a mystery to me — but I’ve learned to laugh at being lost.
After a hot shower and half my dinner, I felt ready to rest. It was a long, beautiful, wild day — full of effort, rain, kindness, and deep reflection.
See you tomorrow, Andrea