A Blessing at the Threshold of Goa

Daily miles: 19.04 | Total miles: 11,013.7

After only a few hours of sleep, I woke up in a truly beautiful place that the Karwar Bicycle Club had organized for me. Cold coffee, packing, and out the door I was. Today felt special from the start: I would cross the 11,000-mile mark—another quiet but powerful milestone on this long journey.

Walking out of Karwar, the city was already alive. The market had taken over the streets, set up by individuals, families, and whole communities. Fresh fish, fruits, vegetables, staples, spices, hardware—everything you could imagine was laid out. Dogs roamed freely, the air was still cool, and yet the hustle and bustle of daily life was already in full motion.

Soon after, I ran along the beach and met several members of the bicycle club who hadn’t been able to join the day before. Then, on the bridge as I was leaving town, my two friends from the dinner the previous evening showed up to say goodbye. Some of the cyclists even started running with me for a short stretch, turning the morning into something lively and varied. The miles passed quickly.

Two young men noticed the website printed on my shirt, looked it up, and then came running after me, breathing heavily. They asked if I was really the one running around the world. They told me they had been out running too but were exhausted—yet somehow, seeing me gave them the energy to join me for a while. Moments like these remind me how movement connects people instantly, without words.

After about eight miles, I crossed into Goa. Wow. I actually reached Goa. A small state with a very different vibe—shaped by its Portuguese colonial history and its later independence compared to the rest of India. With more tourists around, many people greeted me in English. The atmosphere felt different, too—though I couldn’t help noticing the many liquor stores along the road, which felt a bit overwhelming for me.

Then I took a right turn toward Partagali. Harish had suggested I end my run there, and when a local makes a recommendation, I trust there’s a reason. He was absolutely right.

I finished my run at the Partagali Temple. Harish had arranged a car and driver, and Mahima, Pramod (her father), and Sachin, the driver, all joined me for a temple visit. I parked my buggy among countless two-wheelers—no worries at all about theft; no one touches anyone else’s belongings here.

We removed our shoes, and for the first time, I found myself inside such a large temple. So much to see. So many people. And at the same time, my mind was full of practical thoughts—packing the buggy, getting to the airport on time. But Pramod had clear instructions from Harish, and so we slowed down, walked around, and joined the free lunch that is served to everyone. Equal, simple, nourishing.

Then came something I could never have expected: the unbelievable privilege of meeting the guru, a highly respected spiritual leader. Many people were standing outside, looking through the window, hoping for a visit. Somehow, I was invited in. I stood in line, not quite knowing what to expect. I was told to keep some distance, that he might ask questions—but otherwise, I simply waited.

Harish later told me that normally there would be hundreds of people present, but because of a holiday, there were thousands that day.

When it was my turn, I knelt down. The guru was told that I am “the runner.” He took a silver plate and placed offerings on it: bananas, an apple, an orange, flowers, a small package, and a white shawl.

The fruits symbolize abundance and nourishment—a wish for health, strength, and balance. The shawl is a symbol of blessing, protection, and respect. It reflects recognition of sincerity, humility, and right intention. For me, the deeper meaning felt like this:

May you be protected.

May your journey be supported.

May you continue.

I felt deeply honored and genuinely welcomed. To receive such a blessing and spiritual support from such a sought-after figure in the Hindu world is something I do not take lightly. I will treasure this moment for the rest of my life.

After that, everything moved fast. Out of the temple, back to the buggy, finding a shady spot to disassemble and repack it. Then everything went into the car, and off we were—Sachin driving fast, skilled, and safely through India’s wonderfully chaotic roads.

We arrived at Goa International Airport just in time, about two hours before my domestic flight. What a day. Everything flowed. Everything worked. From there on, it was smooth sailing to Mumbai, even with collecting luggage, re-checking it, and going through security again.

Thank you, India, for being so kind, generous, hospitable, beautiful, diverse, loving, colorful, and so much more. This country and its people have left a deep and lasting impact on me.

Namaste, Andrea