I hadn’t planned on taking today off, but due to the August foot injury, and the fact that I was just now reconditioning my body as my miles were getting underway, I took Sam & Isil up on their ultra-hospitable offer to host me for longer, and I spent my birthday with them. As I would not be carrying any laptop, they allowed me to catch up on communications and web planning from their home computer.
They treated me to a delicious local Thai food restaurant later that evening, and nicer than my gear, Sam gave me his sturdy yellow-and-black rain jacket, which I remember him wearing through his college days, a dozen years ago. I would wear this honored gift for nearly a thousand miles before trading it up for something newer, lighter, and more waterproof.