A Slow Day
From the moment I woke up, it felt like time was slipping by unusually fast. The strong wind during the night had kept me awake, and I was left a little sleep-deprived. My health wasn’t bad, but perhaps the fatigue of camping after a long break had built up more than I realized.
I woke early, followed my usual routine, and packed up my tent. The ground was scattered with animal droppings—something that might normally bother me. But today, I just thought, “Oh, I stepped on it,” and kept going. Maybe I didn’t have the energy to care, or maybe I was simply too tired to let it get to me.
A Short Ride
My next destination was close by—just one or two kilometers away. It was the easiest move I’ve had in a while. Still, the strong wind made it hard to enjoy even this short ride.
Since I had time before my 2 p.m. arrival, I sat in a nearby park and worked on posting a podcast. I hadn’t uploaded in a while, so using this spare time to catch up on something important gave me a small but real sense of accomplishment.
A Warm Welcome
I arrived at the house as planned. My room had a bed and even a washbasin, making it very comfortable. I lay down for a short rest almost immediately.
Later in the evening, I went to the living room and met the family’s six-month-old baby. When the baby saw me, he smiled for the first time. That may sound ordinary, but for me it was rare—back in Japan, babies often cried when they saw my face. So this simple smile made me genuinely happy.
Dinner was a warm, home-cooked meal. It wasn’t fancy, but that’s exactly why it meant so much. Eating “home food” while traveling always feels like a blessing.
Back in my room, I spent a quiet evening. The only concern was my left index finger, which had become swollen. Perhaps an infection had gotten in. The pain wasn’t severe, but I hoped it would heal within a couple of days.
