A Terrifying, Sleepless Night in the Mountains
June 13th. Looking back, it was an incredibly tough day.
It all started the night before. I had set up camp on top of a hill, but I didn't get a wink of sleep. A pack of stray dogs kept barking endlessly through the night. I had made the rookie mistake of leaving my food right behind the tent, and the sound of them prowling in the pitch black was pure terror. It instantly brought back memories of my first terrifying night in Cambodia.
Just when the dogs finally settled down and I managed to drift off, a massive thunderstorm rolled in. The sheer force of the wind violently flapping the tent against its frame kept me on edge. I eventually welcomed the morning completely sleep-deprived.
Hands-Free with the "Waist-Tow" Style
Exhausted but determined, I set out for the day.
I decided to switch things up. Instead of manually pushing or pulling my trailer from behind, I rigged it up to pull it from my waist. It was a total game-changer. Having both hands completely free meant I could easily film videos, snap photos, and wave back at the locals.
The sun was absolutely scorching, and my goal for the day was roughly 37 to 40 kilometers ahead — about a 10-hour walk.
Interestingly, the new towing style changed the angle of my cart, making the Philippine flag much more visible. Thanks to that, even more people started calling out to me along the way.
A Hero's Welcome in Guihulngan
I eventually reached a large city called Guihulngan.
The moment I arrived, a crowd of 20 to 30 people immediately surrounded me, eagerly asking for photos. To be honest, it was getting late, and the sun was about to set. I was slightly panicking about walking on the dark roads with speeding cars, so a part of me really wanted to just keep moving. Still, having so many strangers show genuine interest and stop me for a picture was incredibly heartwarming.
By the end of the day, I had interacted with about 100 people and gained just as many new followers on social media.
Reaching the Limit in McKinley
By the time I finally dragged myself into McKinley, my body was in absolute tatters.
I had already hit my physical limit back in Guihulngan. Knowing how demanding tomorrow's route would be, I made an executive decision to book an extra night's stay here in McKinley. For the next two days, I am going to take it easy and let my body recover properly.
Listening to my body and choosing to rest — I know it was the right call.