A Quiet Day on the Road

Daily miles: 27.27 | Total miles: 9658.56

My alarm rang at 5:30 am. My head and eyes still felt tired, but when I looked out the window, the sunrise gave me a gentle start to the day. Coffee, a small breakfast, getting ready — and I was out the door just before 7 am.

The morning was cool and grey. The forecast predicted rain before noon, so I hoped to make it most of the way before it arrived. Fall is definitely in the air now — in the temperature, the fields, the gardens, and the colorful foliage along the way.

I ran toward the dark green hills near Sekigahara and then made my way down toward Hikone. The route passed through small villages with beautiful traditional houses. It was a quiet run — not much happening, just me and the steady rhythm of the road.

As I approached Hikone, traffic picked up again. I noticed that many of the construction barriers here have cute animal shapes on their sides — small details that make me smile.

Just as I reached the city, the first drops of rain began to fall. I stopped at a convenience store to pick up a few things, and by the time I reached the hotel, the rain had turned into a downpour. Lucky timing.

Check-in went smoothly. I hadn’t spoken to anyone all day, so I asked the man at reception to take a photo with me — a small human moment before heading to my room. Dinner was simple: ramen noodles and a small salad. Hopefully, I’ll find something different for tomorrow.

Not much happening today, but sometimes quiet days are exactly what’s needed.

Thanks for checking in.

Take care, Andrea