Steps Through Sun and Stone

Daily miles: 30.72 | Total miles: 11,993.87

Out of the van by 7 a.m., the day greeted me on a coastal road, Sunday quiet, with unbelievable views stretching in every direction. After about three miles, I passed the charming town of Kardamyli, where a majestic eucalyptus tree caught my eye and a pair of friendly donkeys invited a little conversation. Lucky me.

Soon, the road climbed, and I walked upward into the mountains. There is a unique joy in discovering a place from below first, taking it in from its base, and then gradually rising toward it—step by step, what seemed distant draws near, and the feeling of awe grows with every mile. The morning was overcast, but I could sense the sun behind the clouds, promising light later. As it lifted, the blue sky slowly returned, and snow-capped peaks inland came into view. The world opened up, and I felt both small and limitless at once.

A café stop with my sister brought warmth and coffee, a brief pause to breathe it all in. Then onward again, sun now on my back, jacket shed, fully present in the perfect day. The journey toward Kalamata revealed lush grass fields dotted with olive trees, white and yellow flowers, rocks embedded in the earth, and the centuries-old stone walls crisscrossing the landscape. Birds flitted in play above me, and nature seemed alive in its own rhythm. It reminded me that this season of movement, of being outside, is also a season of growth, with spring quietly preparing flowers and trees to bloom.

From above, Kalamata’s beachfront appeared, a stretch of sand met by gentle waves rolling in, shifting from turquoise to a gravelly grey as they broke along the shore. Walking along the water, I felt the sun on my face, the wind in my hair, the pulse of life in the world around me. By the way, my wiry hair stood up in the air all day, and my sister joked in the evening that I was “super connected—probably high-speed!” My hair had functioned once more as antenna.

Meeting my sister once more, we shared a final moment before I tackled the last five miles inland. The scenery was less spectacular, but the images and sensations of the day continued to unfold in my mind. Arriving at the van, gratitude filled me for another breathtaking day in Greece. Dinner together, a pending shower, and the comfort of shared presence made everything easier, warmer, and more joyful.

Lucky me.

Thanks for checking in. Andrea