A Gentle Day, Carried by Kindness

Daily Miles: 30.28 | Total Miles: 13,977.07

I slept so well that I hit the snooze button a few times and then, for once, woke up without the alarm after 7 a.m. I guess I really needed it. Cold coffee, getting ready, and just after 8 a.m., on my way out, I met Sabah, who works at the hotel. That short conversation already made my day. She’s a dance teacher, and as she spoke about choreography, steps, rhythm, and hip hop, my mind started spinning. Just thinking about dancing feels freeing.

I stepped out into blue skies and sunshine—but it was a bit deceptive. At first, there was hardly any wind, so I took off my jacket. But about an hour in, the wind picked up—ice cold. Jacket back on. Sweating again, but at least protected.

The run itself was beautiful. I followed a canal for a long stretch, almost all the way to Montpellier. Mostly bicycle paths, away from traffic, which I always appreciate. There were sections of gravel, grass, and even narrow, almost invisible trails through fields. At times, it didn’t look like there was a path at all—but somehow, there always was. Or I just created one.

Entering Montpellier felt lively. Big buildings, elegant houses—one stood out especially with its balconies catching the sunlight. Still sunny, still windy, still a bit cold. I stopped at a café, had a croissant and a coffee, recharged my phone, and just sat there observing life around me. These quiet pauses in the middle of the day often feel just as meaningful as the running itself.

It felt like an easy run overall, maybe also because I knew something awaited me at the end of the day. When I arrived in Gigean, Jean-Michel, a Facebook friend, was already there waiting for me. We loaded the buggy into his car and drove a short distance to his home.

There, I met Chip, his dog, did some laundry, and took in the beauty of the place—inside and out. When his wife arrived, we all sat down for dinner together: carrots, eggs, rice, and baguette. Simple, delicious, shared. I really enjoyed the conversation, even if it went on a bit longer than planned—but these are exactly the moments I value so much.

Now I’m wrapping up. Tomorrow morning, Jean-Michel will take me back to where he picked me up today so I can continue from there.

A gentle day. A good day.

Be well, my friends, Andrea