Facing Fears, Finding Kindness, and Sharing Melon in Laraquete

Today, I woke up early, packed my things, and made sure I was ready just before 7 AM. I had a quick breakfast at the hotel, took a little food with me for the road, and set off to find my way out of Concepción.

Fear was a theme today. I couldn’t quite pinpoint why, but I think it was a combination of things—the unknown terrain of southern Chile, the stories people tell, the wildfires, the traffic, and just the overall unpredictability of the journey. Lately, I’ve heard many people warning me to be careful down south, hoping nothing bad will happen. Normally, I can rationalize these fears, but today, my mind felt like a storm, swirling with endless thoughts. It wasn’t overwhelming, just more intense than usual. It’s interesting how the mind sometimes plays tricks on you—how sometimes you can quiet the storm, and other times, it pulls you in.

But there wasn’t much time to dwell. After navigating through the streets, I found myself on the long bridge over the Biobío River. At first, I ran on the left side, but then I switched to the right, only to realize later that there had been a cycling path on the left the whole time! By then, I was already on the road, sticking to the far right, navigating through traffic, adrenaline pushing me forward.

From there, I joined Ruta 160, a major highway bustling with trucks, cars, and motorcycles. It was a challenge to figure out which side of the road had more space and where it was safest to run. Some stretches were particularly tricky—neither option looked great, but I always found a way through. My focus was razor-sharp: keep to the side, place each foot carefully, run efficiently, and stay alert.

Whenever I could, I diverted through small towns to take in a different atmosphere than the relentless highway. The towns here are dense, with houses tightly packed together, full of life and movement. Today, my mind was filled with deep questions, and I felt a little sadness—not pity, but a heightened awareness of the privileges and opportunities I’ve had.

After tackling some hills, I finally reached Laraquete. I first stopped at a nice-looking hotel but decided to look for something more affordable. Before securing a place to stay, I figured I should buy some food first. In a panadería, I met Ruth and Carlos. Carlos, curious about my journey, started asking questions, and with the help of Google Translate, we had a great conversation. Of course, once I asked about accommodations, the ball started rolling. It always amazes me how, when locals take the lead in finding a place, it usually turns out to be somewhere with kind and welcoming people.

That’s exactly what happened today. Ruth knew someone, and Carlos personally took me there. On the way, we stopped to pick up a huge, incredibly sweet melon, which we later shared after I settled in. My hosts, Sebastián and Cecilia, offered me a small apartment—not as clean or polished as a hotel room, but a real, local experience. Sebastián wanted to install a gas heater, but I declined, thinking I’d be fine. Later, when I took a cold shower, I realized I should have let him do it! But by now, I’ve taken plenty of cold showers in Chile—it’s just a matter of getting used to it, especially in warm weather.

Sharing the melon with Carlos was a beautiful moment. We sat together, talking and exchanging stories. Later, I did laundry, bought food for tomorrow, and settled in. In the evening, Cecilia and her granddaughter Paula invited me for tea and bread. These kinds of moments are what I cherish the most—the warmth of human connection, simple yet profound conversations, and a reminder of why I love this journey.

Now, it’s time to rest. Day 55 awaits. Vamos together, my friends!