day 10
I'll follow up smoothly on the last entry. Takao Takao really was bivouacking at Sul's place. In the end it was not in front of the chapel, but in some wooden ruin. It was quite spooky and I can imagine it vividly. Beskydy ridge, dense forests, wind that provided a screeching soundscape and a completely different universe for Takao. Maybe that's why after a few hours he got up and headed out into another night.
But before Takao could set off, he arrived Martin to Roznov. When I wrote the last notes from the ninth day, I wrote that Martin was probably struggling, but that was just my poor short-term memory. Martin has quite big problems with his heels, which hurt a lot from walking and that is also the reason for his slower walking. So when he finished, the poor guy apologized for not being able to be here sooner and I realized I had forgotten.
Then another embarrassment. Martin does not ideally digest gluten and although I know it, I made him a cauldron of wheat noodles. He dutifully ate it and then said he hoped it would work out intestinally somehow. Only then did I realize what I had done. But he's a tough guy and he fought it bravely. We had a beer together and went to bed. Martin wanted to sleep and take advantage of not having to yawn at the bus stop.
In the meantime, to my dismay, Takao started moving. When we said goodbye to Takao, he said he was going to come in the afternoon. But no matter how I counted, it didn't work out. But I guess the fatigue is already considerable, so I left it to fate, figuring it would work out the way it was supposed to. And it did.
In the morning at 7 I looked at the tracking with concern if Takao was waiting on the bench in Havířov. Fortunately, no. He kept a friendly slow pace towards me (because of his sore foot). So Martin and I had a relatively quiet breakfast. I made him his favourite sausages and offered him some bread to go with them (maybe I should go for some examination).
Then Martin figured out why his heels hurt, because he was adjusting his running shoes and cutting his shoe insoles. And on it was the slogan "No pain, no gain!" and it was solved. No pain, no gain/reward. His problem was over, the shoes weren't bad, they were designed specifically to live up to their slogan. That made it immediately easier to limp. It was time to lock up Lentil. Which was our checkpoint at 470 km and like Maršov, it ranks among the nicest because it's just good, cosy, fireplace and quiet. We would love to go back there again next year.
Martin set off in the direction of Radhošt' and I set off in the direction of Havířov. There I met a woman Takaa, Hitami. And soon, Takao showed up. Smiling, he ran under what we call the Arc de Triomphe. I was almost touched. He had flown such a long way to cross a landscape he could hardly understand, but he had peeked beneath its surface and was thrilled. Huge congratulations to him. I dare say that in those 9 days, 3 hours and 45 minutes he's seen a lot more than some of the sedentary people who've lived here all their lives,
Eva's mother was already preparing for the big moment when a rare and distant visitor from Japan would sit down at the table in their home. On the menu was an honest broth and a segedi, in which she could participate in the world championship. She also made Shi-take mushrooms and rice, just in case. But everything was eaten. Segoš, Shi too, also strudel, jasmine tea, we just stuffed ourselves like a pussy.
The atmosphere was more relaxed, and of course the communication with it. And it wasn't the alcohol, Takao doesn't drink alcohol. It was nice to add a few more pieces to the Takao Kitada puzzle. For example, I asked him if he had to ford the river after Budišov, he smiled devilishly and said "Takao Japanese ninja, no water crossing". He handled all the pitfalls of this year's event with ease and showed his Japanese patience, discipline and respect for his surroundings. For this he has our deep respect.
So now we are looking towards the Beskydy Mountains, where the only and lonely Martin is moving.
