F. Schlessinger – Lucky Fish’s Trip Around Eurasia

Diary Entry, Day 473

Today, I strolled through the cobblestone streets of a little village in Georgia (the country, not the state—still not used to human geography). My shoes, which were in desperate need of a resole after last week’s ill-advised trek up the Altai Mountains, held up surprisingly well. A local cobbler repaired them for the price of one sardine, which felt reasonable, if a little speciesist.

I must admit, walking on land still feels strange. Every so often, my gills try to flare out of habit, but I remind myself that I’m an adventurer now—a trailblazing, shoe-wearing fish exploring Eurasia on behalf of all aquatic-kind. Not to brag, but I don’t think there’s another perch-turned-pedestrian who’s hiked the Ural foothills or crossed a Kazakh desert with nothing but a canteen and a well-polished pair of gold boots.

Today’s highlight was a surprising one: the Black Sea. Seeing it from land, the waves crashing dramatically, I felt a pang of homesickness. I thought about diving back in, but honestly? I can’t imagine going fin-to-fin with a group of herring ever again. The gossip, the aimless darting—no thanks. I belong here now, boots on my fins and dirt under my soles.

At dusk, I climbed a hill and watched the lights of Tbilisi flicker in the distance. There’s a certain charm to cities, even if their air is a bit dry for my liking. Tomorrow, I’ll head down to the markets and see if I can barter for a map of Armenia and directions to the Cross Garden. I hear the roads are steep, but I’ve got the legs for it—and the shoes to prove it.

yours and yours alone,

L.Fish (Explorer, Walker, Pioneer of the Shoed Fish Movement)