From Storm to Sea
Daily miles: 31.5 | Total miles: 11,604.8
I got up, had a cold coffee, put on warm clothes, and was out around 7:30am. The sun was just about to rise over the mountains after a stormy night. It was downhill from the start, with beautiful views all along—mountain peaks carrying white patches from the storm.
Along the way, I passed wooden structures wrapped in plastic. It looked like a small plastic-house village, and I could see people living there. It was cold and windy, and some of the plastic was ripped apart. The contrast stayed with me for a while.
A bit further down, I passed through the town of Lamia. The sun came out, the sky turned blue, and the temperatures began to rise. I ran for a while and felt quite well. A good day.
At mile 11, my sister showed up, shortly before I had to fend off some dogs. She stopped in front of a kind of bakery, and I couldn’t resist taking a picture with some traditional Greek cookies. It was a short stop—into the van and off I went again.
The road ran parallel to the highway, but it was quiet and beautiful, with mountain views to the right and straight ahead. It was a gorgeous day—warm, calm, and delightful.
At one point, I passed a place where several men were sitting outside. I waved and ran on. Then one men, Mubarak, walked toward me. I stopped and asked how he was. “Good,” he said—he had been to the market and was heading back to the camp. Mubarak is originally from Sudan, and I enjoyed our short exchange.
Just a few meters further down the road stood a monument of King Leonidas I of Sparta, a powerful symbol of heroism and sacrifice. There I met Muaaz, another man from Sudan. Another brief exchange, and then I continued on my way.
A few miles later, I was welcomed into the van with coffee and a few salty chips. Both my sister and I now seem to have a permanent bent head from living in the van for almost three weeks.
The last eight miles were beautiful. Some clouds moved in, but it stayed dry, and I enjoyed the sunshine on my skin. I walked the final miles again and felt much better overall than in the last few days. A good day.
When I arrived in Kamena—wow. The oceanfront was stunning, radiating peace and serenity. My sister popped out from behind a corner to let me know she would park behind the church further down the road. A beautiful finishing stroll to the van, and it felt so good to sit in the warmth after being out all day.
I did a bit of work, then we went to a pizzeria. The whole beachfront is full of cafés and restaurants. We shared a pizza and a Greek salad—plenty of food. Coffee, a bit more work in the van, then a shower and sleep.
Life is good. Thanks for checking in, Andrea