Day 148 – EU – Albania [Rest Day in Golem]

19/07/20

 Rest day in Golem (Albania, Europe)

Resting by the seaside, re-planning my route and reflecting on the journey traveled so far

I passed the 5,000km mark yesterday. Next week, when I reach the Southernmost point of Albania at the Greek border, I will be at exactly 20% of my journey’s planned length (26,232km).

These are the maths – and the theory. The reality will be different it seems! The world being in the state it currently is, I am “stranded” in Europe for quite a while. Very unsure how long for. Australia is still not granting visas and not planning to do so till at least March of 2021 (at the earliest). South America is out of the question at the moment as the virus crisis is at its worst out there. North America is pretty much uncrossable too as different states adopt different measures in terms of degrees of lockdown.

The bottom line is I’ll end up doing probably a lot more kilometers, as I will roam around Europe for a while. And it will have its own challenges. Greece has closed all of its terrestrial border checkpoints (to the exception of 1 located in Bulgaria). My plan for next week is: run towards the border checkpoint, Albania’s side. Then rally Tirana by bus. Fly to Athens. Fly to Ioannina up North. Make my way by bus towards the Greek side of the border checkpoint – and resume my run. There will therefore be a gap of a dozen kilometers or so – but this is the best I can do to stick to the rules of WRA and make my world run a “continuous run” as much as is possible.

[*I am absolutely mad at the carbon footprint to (in effect) move 100m from one point to another… I do compensate my carbon footprint whenever I fly – but this is no less outrageous]

I am having such a great time on the road. Feeling so alive and happy every day. Traveling to new places, meeting new people, seeing the changing scenery day by day. Being independent and self sufficient. There is nothing else I’d rather be doing. I still wake up every day before the alarm goes off. And that’s 4:45am these days! Every single day I am amazed that my body is fresh for a new day of running, with no discomfort, pain or signs of fatigue. As has been the case since day 1.

Yes, my timing is proving to be far from ideal… Conditions are never ideal. But these are truly exceptional circumstances. It is quite a “privileged” standpoint (in a way) to witness it from my position, from that of the world traveller, on foot. I wanted this journey to surprise me… always be careful what you wish for they say! 🙂