Midnight Cake
It was a sleepless night. At 2 a.m., the convenience store staff suddenly placed a slice of cake in front of me.
“Want some?”
His face seemed to say, “This is all I can offer, but I hope it helps.” The sweetness spread through my body, warming me just enough to ease the weight on my chest.
By 3 a.m., my stomach was full. But strangely, my heart felt a little lighter.
Despair and a Message
Still, nothing was solved. The problem remained—a flat tire. No matter how long I stayed in town, I could not continue without fixing it.
But there was no bike shop. No way to repair it. I felt helpless.
And then, out of nowhere, a message arrived. It was from the man I had met back in Eucla on the Nullarbor Plain.
“I’ll come pick you up from Port Germein.”
I could hardly believe it. Once again, kindness appeared just when I needed it most. This journey had shown me so many times how human warmth can save you.
The Town of Port Germein
He drove me to Port Germein.
🗺 Port Germein, South Australia — Once a thriving salt port, it is home to one of the world’s longest wooden jetties, stretching 1,532 meters into the sea. Today, it’s a quiet town of just a few hundred people, where the atmosphere of an old port still lingers.
At his house, we replaced the tube and gathered the missing parts I needed.
To be welcomed into someone’s hometown as a traveler—it felt both unfamiliar and deeply comforting. Gratitude filled me in ways I couldn’t fully express.
Evening Sea and a Glass of Wine
In the evening, I walked out to the coast. Beyond the jetty, the sea glowed softly as the sun melted into the horizon.
The breeze was cool, almost cold, yet somehow that chill felt refreshing.
With a glass of wine in hand, I sat quietly watching the sea and thought to myself:
“I can keep going. I can continue this journey.”
