Back to England

Daily Miles: 35.12 | Total Miles: 16,522.39

I woke up, had a cold coffee, organized the mess from yesterday, and was on my way a little before 7 a.m. The route led me through Forges-les-Eaux and then onto a bicycle path that would take me all the way to Dieppe. It was another hot day, so I carried plenty of water and knew I needed to keep moving if I wanted to make the ferry I had booked the night before.

In a way, the day made that easy. There were very few people to meet along the route, which helped me stay focused on covering the miles. Every now and then I stopped briefly in the shade to cool down, but otherwise I kept putting one foot in front of the other and steadily made my way toward the coast.

After 33 miles of running, I reached the English Channel. The water was a beautiful deep blue, Dieppe stretched out behind me, music drifted through the air from somewhere along the waterfront, and I found myself smiling. Another milestone reached. Another section of the world completed. Another stretch of land crossed that I never truly imagined I would one day see this way.

Looking back, I have now seen so much of France that I never thought I would. To be honest, France always intimidated me. I studied French in school for years, but at the time I didn't really understand what it meant to learn a language, and my mindset convinced me that I wasn't good at it. It became a self-fulfilling prophecy. Today I see it differently. Learning almost anything takes time, patience, and repetition. Sometimes we don't fail because we can't do something; we fail because we decide too early that we can't. But that's okay too. That was simply where I was at the time.

I continued along the waterfront toward the ferry terminal when I noticed three people nearby, two sitting together and another fishing. Something about them made me feel like they would enjoy a short conversation. So I stopped. And yes, I could feel it immediately—that beautiful atmosphere when strangers come together and genuinely enjoy each other's company for a few minutes. It still amazes me how quickly that spark can appear. I waved goodbye and happily ran the final steps to the terminal.

I guess I can now say that I crossed Europe. From Istanbul to La Coruña. From Zagreb to Dieppe. That's wild.

Checking in at the ferry terminal went smoothly. I explained the arrangements regarding the buggy, just as I had discussed on the phone beforehand. I travelled as a foot passenger while the buggy was loaded onto a trolley as luggage. I also threw away yet another pair of running shoes that had finally reached the end of their life. Another pair that had given everything they had.

While waiting to board, I had a few nice conversations before finally stepping onto the ferry around 5:30 p.m. The crossing was calm, the sea looked peaceful, and I had brought some rice with me to heat in the microwave. While waiting, Bee and Peter became curious about the run and asked me about the journey. I loved our conversation. A few minutes later they came over to where I was sitting and offered me a place to stay in Newhaven. I thanked them and explained that I had already booked a room because of the late arrival. Then, half jokingly, I asked whether they happened to have a car and could perhaps help me with part of the journey tomorrow.

Bee immediately replied, "Yes, I could drive you."

I could hardly believe it.

She won't take me all the way, but far enough that I should be able to connect easily with a direct train afterwards. Another reminder of how often this journey has been carried forward by the kindness of people. Thank you already, Bee and Peter. I hope one day you come to Switzerland so I can make a proper fondue for you.

As I write this, the ferry ride is almost over. At least I think so. With the time difference, I'm honestly not entirely sure what time it is anymore. Once we arrive, I still have about a 30-minute walk to the room I booked for the night.

And then tomorrow, I will wake up in England.

I left England in December 2024. Now, after running through twenty-two countries and across four continents, I am back. Just a few days remain. Then, full stop.

Thanks for checking in. Andrea