Our boys awoke this morning to be greeted by a paddockfull of kangaroos and the rising sun ...
... while our girls team also woke up bright and early after a restful sleep out in the country ...
... Jenny our host had been up and about even earlier preparing our breakfast for us – including homemade bread!
While our various teams stayed in different locations last night, rainbows greeted us all on our way into Walpole where we met for a briefing on today's activities ...
... and gathered at the new plaque which had been installed only yesterday, dedicating Walpole as the newest "Sri Chinmoy Peace-Blossom Town".
Leading us out of Walpole this morning, running towards Manjimup, was Boys Team 'A', captained by Adrien ...
This is truly inspiring country to run through. Even though there were a few hills, the runners were all happy to spend time out on the road in the midst of such majestic trees ...
... running a little slower than usual at the moment I am having more of a chance to look around and appreciate this beauty ...
Our girls were on the road by 7.30 am to get to our starting location, 40 km out of Walpole ...
We were fortunate today to be running through the Walpole-Nornalup and Shannon National Parks. This has to be one of the most stunning highways I have ever seen ...
... flanking each side of the road are these great Karri and Tingle Eucalyptus trees ...
... as we ran our first few km today you felt this road and these trees were put here just for you the Peace Runner to run on, on this specific day ...
... the way the trees framed the road so beautifully, even the road became part of this work of art that Mother Nature created for us.
There had been rain overnight and the freshness of the new day could be felt in the air ...
... each step you took lightened you as these mighty trees seemed to offer you encouragement and applause as we passed ...
... you were left with the deep feeling of stillness and peace that both quieten the mind, widen the heart and energise the body ...
... as you drew nearer and nearer to the end of your run, unconsciously your pace slowed and your breath deepened as you tried to draw in more and more of this magical place – needing to entrap some of it into your heart so as to never forget the calmness, tranquillity or power that is so deeply felt here.
Boys team 'B' today operated out of the camper van – we first drove ahead over the kms being run by our other teams through the stupendous karri forests, then embarked on our first task for the day – to run the final 40 km into Manjimup ...
... here the eye and the heart are automatically drawn upward, as one reaches in one's spirit for the lofty grandeur of these mighty beings ...
... miniscule among them, yet they accept, nurture, inspire and uplift us as we take step by step towards our goal ...
During a respite between runs this morning, Drishalu sought the company of a kindred giant soul ...
As there was the threat of some rain in the air, Steve ran for much of the morning in his green "frog costume" – and finished his morning run the proud owner of a Western Australia licence plate! ...
... then on our way into Manjimup Primary School, we were greeted by a cheery little frog on the wall. This was perhaps auspicious, as in some cultures, the frog symbolises enthusiasm ...
When we were playing the "guessing game" – in which the students must guess which country or city our runners come from – one of the questions was: what is the capital city of Australia? When one student responded: "Manjimup!", we had to agree – this is indeed the capital city of enthusiasm! – and Manjimup Primary School gets our award for "most enthusiastic school" on our Peace Run around Australia (so far)!
When Salil – our MC for this morning's presentation – invited some teachers up ...
... and the teachers got their chance to run around the assembly area with the Torch, the roar was almost deafening!
Out on the oval, all the classes formed into the largest circle, to pass the Torch around ...
Ion was stunned to make his second acquaintance from Romania in two days – one of the teachers at the school, Daniela Badea, is from Romania and is now living and teaching here in Manjimup. We wondered why all the children from one class in particular were so quick to guess his country of Romania!
Meanwhile, across town, both other teams arrived at East Manjimup Primary School ...
... to be greeted by the Head Students Jenna, Emma, Blake and Reece ...
... who showed us the banners the school had done in honour of our arrival and then lead us into the school ...
... where all 350 students were waiting for us.
There was artwork and poetry that was used as a backdrop for the ceremony ...
A number of the students came and read some of the poetry:
“Every day is a new beginning
Treat it that way. Stay away from
what might have been and move on.
Don't let negative words or actions
of others affect your smile. Decide
that today is going to be a good day”
“Still be calm in your heart”
“Worrying does not take away tomorrow's troubles
It takes away today's Peace”
Some students came up to say Peace in another language that they knew.
We brought out a second torch to make sure all the students had an opportunity to hold the torch and at the end the Head Students and teachers all ran around the courtyard with the torch ...
As we left and sent our runner on their way all the students came to the front of the school to farewell us ...
On leaving the school we were presented with some of the students' artwork on Peace. While the artwork will be exchanged with another school we will visit soon, it is currently on display in Van 2, decorating our van's ceiling ...
With only 10 km left to go for the day for the girls team, Harita and Hastakamala set off!
Leapfrogging ahead of the girls, on the run towards Bridgetown, Boys Team 'A' ran through rolling farmland ...
... with cattle and sheep eager spectators to the unusual people passing along their fences ...
... while waiting for a team runner, Adrien sang to the cattle, finally finding an appreciative audience ...
Boys Team 'B' drove even further ahead, running the final 10 km into Bridgetown ...
We all met up on the final approach into ...
... Bridgetown Primary School ...
... where we were greeted by the Head Girl and members of the Student Council ...
While waiting for the students to gather, members of the team were interviewed by the Manjimup-Bridgetown Times reporter ...
... the Student Council members led us into the school assembly where Grahak Cunningham addressed the attentive students ...
The children were very quick at guessing the team members' respective countries ...
... and proved to be also quick learners of the World Harmony Run Song, enthusiastically joining in with the actions for the song.
Also present was the Bridgetown/Greenbushes Shire President Tony Pratico, who demonstrated a deep understanding of what we are trying to accomplish with the Peace Run.
The students all greeted Cr Pratico with an enthusiastic bustle of excitement – we were later to learn that Tony is not only the Shire President, he also operates a popular ice cream van!!
During the presentation to the school, Grahak presented Shire President Tony Pratico with a letter from the ACT Chief Minister, inviting the Shire to participate in the Peace Run which is also celebrating the National Capital's Hundredth Birthday.
Some students got to hold the Peace Torch inside ...
... while others held the Torch outside ...
We were sorry to leave the students after they ran two laps of the oval with the torch. Their youthful energy and enthusiasm will invigorate us for the miles ahead!
Ever wondered how the flame continues to burn on the Peace Torch?
Well, thanks to Recochem Australia, our Peace Torch continues to stay alight due to their kind donation of a safe, clean burning odourless fuel, which has been provided (topped up) at each major city en-route. The torch needs to be refilled approximately every 50 minutes with 125 ml of fuel, depending on weather conditions. With 15,000 kilometres to run, and many hundreds of ceremonies to attend, that computes to about 250 litres of torch fuel needed. That’s quite efficient compared with our thirsty support vehicles!
Today Prabuddha Nicol, one of the Peace Run organisers met with James McAllister from the Recochem office in Perth to pick up a few more drums of the Torch Fuel. We'll be collecting this when we arrive in Perth just a few days from now ...
Our team is staying in three unique locations tonight – each remarkable and special in its own way. Two of our runners are staying tonight at Tweed Valley Lodge, where Margaret cannot be kind enough to us!
This idyllic haven is nestled just above the Blackwood River, with its own private garden leading all the way down to the water's edge ...
Unfortunately we could not capture the remarkable array of birdlife on our small iPhone ...
... sometimes we really wish we were not running around Australia, and could linger longer in such a sublime setting!
After our visit at Bridgetown Primary, our girls team made our way amongst the cows to Matt at Bridgetown Riverside Chalets, who has kindly hosted us for the evening ...
... we are most grateful to Bridgetown Riverside Chalets for offering us such a lovely, tranquil place to spend the evening ...
... while most of our boys' team are staying at the incredible Donnelly River Holiday Village, who hosted our team also in 2008 ...
... where Robyn Edward greeted the team, for a photo in front of their sign.
This place has been the most amazing for our international visitors. Close up encounters with inquisitive kangaroos and emus had all the boys out petting kangaroos and cameras all flashing ...
The wildlife here really do behave as though they own the place ...
... to get into our cabins one has to climb over the kangaroos clustered at the bottom of the stairs. Adrien found Milo to be the way to the kangaroo's heart – and now they do not want to leave us!
During our school visit to Bridgetown Primary School this afternoon, the Shire President, Councillor Tony Pratico was inspired to invite our whole team to dinner with members of his Shire Council of Bridgetown-Greenbushes – so just a few hours later, at 6 pm we all met at Emporium Bistro for a wonderful meal and heartwarming gathering ...
... present from the Shire Council were – in addition to President Tony Pratico – the CEO, Tim Lynch; Deputy President Allan Wilson; Councillor Doreen McKiernan; Councillor Steve Hodson and his wife Sue; Councillor Brad Williamson and his wife Gema. We learned that the occupations of our hosts included: dairy farmer & fast food outlet operator; retired school principal; lithium miner; and linguist.
Animated and fascinating discussions flowed on all sides and along the full length of the table ...
... the hospitality, kindness and generosity of all of our hosts – and through them, the entire town of Bridgetown – touched us deeply and left us with warm memories and the highest regard for this wonderful town ...
After the dinner, Cr Pratico – who aside from his roles as Shire President, dairy farmer and fast food operator, also owns and operates the only blue ice cream van in all of Western Australia – took us to his shop to load us up with sweets for the team for the road tomorrow! Bridgetown, we cannot thank you enough!
