A One Piece Fanatic and the Perfect Breakfast
June 16th. Kicked off the day leaving McKinley. Started the morning by heading over to a local's house for a promised breakfast. Turns out, the host is a massive One Piece nerd—the place was absolutely decked out in anime merch! Had a great meal with some of the neighbors who gathered around. They even brewed fresh coffee for me; honestly, their hospitality was off the charts.
The Smile-Wiping Heat
Hit the road, but man, it was brutally hot. My body, the trailer, my gear—everything was in perfect working order. But the heat was so intense it completely wiped the smile off my face. I tried forcing conversations along the way, but things just weren't flowing, so I had to keep stopping for breaks.
Trusting My Gut
Around noon, having barely covered 10 kilometers, I passed a crew of construction workers. I cycled past them initially, but my gut told me I should turn around—so I did. I threw out a clumsy "Hey, water!" and they immediately offered me a seat. I ended up hanging out and resting at their worker dorm.
Going back was 100% the right call. I've made a pact with myself not to rush this journey. Sure, I only made it about 10 kilometers today, but I'll trade distance for these deep, meaningful experiences any day of the week.
The guys had to go back to work for an hour, so I just chilled out and took a break. Afterward, they were kind enough to say "Sleep here" and let me use one of their rooms to crash. Woke up around 3:00 PM, knocked out a few small tasks, and just soaked in how incredibly kind everyone was.
Salty Comfort and a Local Dinner
Dinner time rolled around just after 6:30 PM. Everyone chipped in and cooked up a feast for us: a veggie soup loaded with okra and Chinese cabbage, served with rice. And let me tell you, that rice was surprisingly delicious—slightly larger grains than I'm used to, but it totally hit the spot. The base flavor of the meal was intensely salty, so the mild, gentle taste of the veggie soup balanced it out perfectly.
Spent the evening chatting a bit, and I'm planning to hit the hay before 10:00 PM. It really made me realize that if you only ever focus on moving forward, you end up missing the magic happening right next to you. I definitely want to keep cherishing these spontaneous moments.