Embracing the Journey

This morning started off with a rare treat: a hot coffee. With the luxury of warmth in my cup, I prepared some food for the road and packed my buggy, gearing up for another 31-mile journey. Moises was ready at 7 AM to walk me out of the property, but in true 'not-so-Swiss' fashion, I was running behind schedule. I asked him for an extra 15 minutes, and in that time, the day slowly emerged—overcast but mild.

After bidding farewell to Moises, I hit the road toward Futrono. My body felt great—legs strong, breath steady, and spirit high. About 10 miles in, a cyclist caught my attention with some hand signals. I couldn’t quite decipher his message, and before I knew it, he was following me, recording a video from behind. Eventually, he cycled up beside me and struck up a conversation. His name was Carlos, and he invited me to stop by his glamping site just a mile ahead. Initially, I hesitated, glancing at my watch, but then I reminded myself that part of this journey is about embracing connections and taking time for the good things in life.

When I arrived, Carlos greeted me with a waving Chilean flag. He showed me around his place and introduced me to a British couple, Linda and John, who were cycling through different parts of the world. The encounter was a wonderful reminder of the global community of travelers, each on their own incredible journey.

After that refreshing stop, I continued running, feeling stronger than ever. At mile 20, I took a break at a bus stop, eating and drinking before pushing forward. The landscape was breathtaking—stark colors painting a stunning contrast against the sky. The descent into Futrono was steep, and I knew that tomorrow would start with an uphill climb. A good warm-up, I told myself.

Arriving in Futrono, I was relieved to have already booked a room, allowing me to dive straight into some much-needed work. Maria and her son, Augustin, welcomed me warmly and showed me my space. Without hesitation, Maria invited me to join her for dinner, and I gladly accepted.

After settling in and tackling some office tasks, I took a hot shower—another small but treasured luxury. At 5 PM, Maria and I began preparing a traditional Chilean dish together: Sopaipillas con pebre. Cooking and chatting with her was a wonderful experience, and the meal itself was delicious. Later, Maria showed me some YouTube videos showcasing the beauty of Lago Ranco and its surroundings.

For the first time in Chile, I felt a light drizzle. I wondered how much rain tomorrow would bring. The evening wrapped up with the nerve-wracking but necessary task of booking my flights from South America to North America. Managing baggage policies and logistics can be overwhelming, but thankfully, my sister helps keep me calm and focused through it all. The sheer number of logistical details that need to be managed is mind-blowing, but oddly enough, I find a certain enjoyment in the process—despite the stress.

Before calling it a night, I went out to shop for tomorrow’s supplies. After bidding farewell to my wonderful host, I finally settled in, reflecting on another rich and fulfilling day. Tomorrow marks my last domingo in Chile for a while. I plan to take it easy—easy like Sunday morning—and soak it all in before the journey continues.