Practicing Patience in the Rain

19.15 miles | Total: 12,288.59 miles

During the night I heard thunder, and through the window I saw lightning flash across the sky. Another big thunderstorm passing through Greece, bringing heavy rainfall with it. I slept in until 7:30am, knowing I had some organizational tasks to take care of and also wanting to stay true to my Gentle Wellbeing month attitude.

Not everything went as I had hoped, but I reminded myself that this, too, is part of the constant practice: staying patient, calm, and relaxed about the things that are not in my control. I love this practice.

I had booked a room only about 20 miles away in Igoumenitsa, where I wanted to complete a few tasks today. While I worked in the morning, I kept looking out the window as the rain came and went—sometimes light rain, other times proper rain. By 10am, I had finished most of what I wanted to do, packed the buggy, and was ready to face a wet day on the road.

Oh well. A relatively short day. Just walk and enjoy whatever the weather brings.

The rain made everything feel alive. Fog hung in the mountains. Little streams of rainwater crossed the road, creating beautiful patterns of flow. Raindrops formed ripples in puddles. The clouds over the ocean were dramatic and constantly changing, and every now and then the sun pushed through. Flowers bloomed along the roadside. Birds bathed in puddles. Dogs looked slightly miserable with their wet fur. And I danced around, trying to keep my feet dry—with limited success.

Once I reached the coastal road, the rain stopped and the sun broke through. I looked down at the ocean and watched the heavy ferry traffic moving in and out of Igoumenitsa. These massive ships, carrying so much over water, felt spectacular to observe.

As I walked down toward town, I reflected again on the size of Greece—this beautiful country, so rich in history and culture. I know I always only touch the surface of the countries I pass through. And yet, being able to meet people, observe locals, watch their conversations, their body language, the way they help one another and move through their daily lives—this small slice of lived experience gives me a sense of place. It’s limited, yes, but it still informs how I see the bigger picture.

I feel incredibly lucky to wander, walk, and run through these countries. I still love the randomness of the places, situations, and people I encounter along the way.

Once in town, I contacted the person renting me the room for the night. A nice room. I was able to bring the buggy inside to empty it and let everything dry. After some more organizational work, I took the buggy to the closest bike shop, ProBikeShop, where they did incredible work for very little money. Thank you, Giannis, Panos, and your wife. My brakes work again, and my wheels turn smoothly once more.

Now I’m back in my room, doing laundry. That feels like luxury. I’d better get ready for tomorrow.

I’m feeling content. I’m on a good path—physically and mentally—and I’m so excited about Albania and my Europe tour in general.

Let’s go, my friends.

Thanks for checking in. Andrea