From Hills to the Ocean

Daily miles: 29.84 | Total miles: 14,899.19

I woke up quietly, but soon realized the couple in my room were already ready to turn the light on—which, in a way, made packing easier. I had a short breakfast, said my goodbyes, and stepped out to the little house where my buggy was parked.

Since I’ll be back here in two days, I reorganized my things and left some of the heavier equipment behind. The idea of pushing a lighter buggy all the way back up felt like a good one.

I set off. The sky was overcast, the air cooler, but still no rain. The route rolled a bit at first, then gradually turned into a long downhill stretch. I made a conscious effort to take it easy on my legs—downhill over that distance can be deceptively demanding.

During the morning, my sister messaged me about a small logistical issue: the bag I need to transport the buggy won’t arrive in time before my flight. Not ideal. After about nine miles, I stopped and tried to sort things out—making calls, thinking through options. No real solution yet, but a few ideas to work with.

At some point, I got cold and had to keep moving again. These are the moments when I really feel how much there is to manage alone. It can be a lot—physically, mentally, logistically. And yes, I do wish for help in those moments. But at the same time, I know it can be done. It’s just… a lot.

I continued on and stopped for a coffee in the historic town of Mondoñedo. A quiet place, full of character. As I left town, I met Rosa, who instantly put a smile on my face.

Along the road, there are so many small, isolated houses—often with older people living there. I find myself waving a lot. Small gestures, but they matter.

Later, I briefly met René from France, on his first day of a cycling journey. We exchanged a few words, and then I had to keep going.

When I entered Foz, I made sure to take a picture of my second antipodal point. A quiet but meaningful milestone.

I went to a shop, and already, I could smell the sea.

Before heading up to the hotel on the hill, I ran all the way down to the ocean. And there it was—the Atlantic. I stood there for a moment, taking it in.

From Istanbul to the Atlantic Ocean.

That felt… big.

The hotel has a Buddha theme, for some reason. I’m very tired. I had dinner, and I still need to shower.

Tomorrow, I head all the way back up again—and I’m actually looking forward to it. Good training.

Take care, and thanks for being here, Andrea