Last night Tony, the Shire President, wouldn't let us leave Bridgetown before he could load us up with some sweet treats for the team. There were sounds of delight when we distributed the lunch packs to the other teams today ...
... and one of the team members couldn't wait and had theirs before breakfast!
Our girls team ran first out of Bridgetown today – and what a hill to greet us first up!! Stacey and Oyungerel shared our first kms and both got a major hill workout to start the day and build up a serious appetite for breakfast.
Further ahead, the boys team encountered a few showers amidst some really beautiful running through the forests ...
It was a mystical and misty morning ...
Drishalu got the last BIG downhill into Nannup – 4 km entirely downhill! He must have done something right in the past weeks to deserve this treat ...
Nannup is a beautiful little town nestled amongst the hills and the forests ...
For once, all 3 teams converged. There has to be a good reason for this to happen ...
... we were invited to breakfast by the Nannup Shire Council!
We were hosted by Tony Dean, the Shire President of Nannup Shire; along with Councillor Bob Longmore; and the Community Development Officer, Louise Stokes ...
Adrien, one of our report writers for today, researching for his report ...
The croissants and muffins were made by Tahlia Newnham – who is fund-raising for a trip she is taking shortly to Timor Leste to do volunteer work. This fund-raising she is doing is not to fund her ticket but will be used for the people of Timor Leste when she gets there. Her mother Karlene was also there helping, and after finding out she grew up in the same area of New Zealand as Stacey, our Team Captain, they quickly starting talking and soon realised that she actuality babysat Stacey many years ago! Luckily her memory wasn't too good to recount any babysitting experiences to the team ...
The Shire President, Tony Dean, spoke from the heart when he told us this might be the first occasion in all his years as a politician that he could say he was speaking on behalf of 100% of all residents. He said that if ever we should return, "We will welcome you with open arms and peace in our hearts."
Thank you to Nannup for such a warm and memorable welcome!
Although full from our delicious breakfast, the task of the Peace Runner is to run, so run we did ...
... along these lovely roads through this most enchanting corner of this infinitely varied and surprising land ...
We have lost count of the number of rainbows we have seen since leaving Melbourne ...
The girls took a slight detour from our main route to run into Karridale ...
... to visit Karridale Primary School. Here we meet with the entire school – about 90 students.
Harita ran the final leg into the school. We pulled in just before her and announced to the students in the front playground that our runner was about to arrive – she was greeted with cheers and many an excited face!
The children had created these beautiful Peace Flags to decorate the stage, which were later given to us to take with us on the road ...
... we hope to be able to use these as a backdrop to our stage at the Perth Welcome Ceremony next Tuesday.
With the banners behind and children's smiles in front of us, we felt immersed in the good wishes of the whole school ...
A number of students had prepared 'Peace Pledges' and Tom, Bob and Indii kindly read out a number of them:
“I pledge to be kind to everyone”
“I pledge to accept different people”
“I pledge to include everyone who wants to come and play with me”
We will carry these Peace Pledges with us as we travel around the country and will continue to make our own peace pledges as we run.
At the conclusion of our ceremony the students from Years 7 & 8 presented us with cake and cookies to give us energy as we continue our running ... we are hoping there will be a little left when we meet with the rest of the team at a ceremony in Margaret River later this afternoon!
We would like to thank Louise, one of the mothers at the school who helped with the Peace Flags and cooking of the cake and cookies. As we were leaving she ran to the car and pulled out a bag of fruit she had picked for us and included a card for all of the team. Louise's oneness with the Peace Run has touched us all.
While the girls were in the school in Karridale, the boys ran the remainder of the distance into Margaret River ...
On our arrival in Margaret River, Tom and Katie interviewed our local coordinator, Grahak Cunningham. They showed tremendous interest in the Peace Run, and a real appreciation for what we are doing ...
Our last official appointment for the day was a charming and uplifting visit with the children and staff of the Margaret River Montessori School ...
We were treated to a very lovely choral performance. We reciprocated by performing the Peace Run song ...
The children here were bright, attentive, fascinated and soulful ...
They loved joining us in performing Sri Chinmoy's World Harmony Run song!
Everyone held the Torch with genuine feeling, pride and concern ...
While everyone passed the Torch around, all the children sang a lovely song together – this was a wonderful effect and a deeply moving experience for us all ...
Thank you Montessori School, for a most rewarding visit!
With some time on our hands, we made the short trip out of town to visit the famous Lake Cave – one of a network of over 150 limestone caves in this area ...
... entry to the cave is from this massive 'doline' – or cavern in the ground ...
Half way down the doline ...
These caves were found over 100 years ago. A young girl out horseriding in the bush in the 1860s first found the entrance to this cave but it could not be found again until 30 years later when her brother and his friends rediscovered the entrance, and abseiled down to investigate. Soon after, Lake Cave was opened up to the public ...
Annette was our guide and told us all about the cave's other cave dwellers ... including the poisonous spiders – that were luckily too small to pierce our skin, and the chocolate brown bats that were hanging out outside the cave ...
We descended 42 metres underground to a whole new world ...
The lake at the bottom of the cave reflected these beautiful natural formations creating a world you could imagine fairies would live in ...
... there is an astonishing suspended table that was created over hundreds of thousands of years – it took a while for your eyes to adjust and realise that this formation was hanging from the pillars and not sitting on the lake. Annette informed us that this formation weighed about 7 tonnes! ... and just hanging there ...
At the far end of the cave, we sang the Peace Run song in the dark – the acoustics were perfect. Annette only commented afterwards that she wished we had boomed it out – next time we will Annette!
Emerging from the cave with our entire tour party ...
... back into the light ... and our other world.
It was wonderful to be able to come to Lake Cave and learn about some of the history of Margaret River. Thank you so much not only to Annette our guide, but also to Kerry the manager of the cave, who arranged for free entry for our entire team!
We could think of only one suitable way to round off such a wonderful day ...
Most of our boys team are staying tonight at the exquisite Margarets Forest Holiday Apartments, right in the centre of town. We feel really humbled and grateful for such wonderful accommodations – after camping on gravel for a few night across the Nullarbor only last week, it seems as though we have entered into another world entirely! Our sincere and heartfelt thanks to Astrid and her team for taking such good care of us!
Tonight the girls are staying at Helen and Graeme's place on a vineyard – a wonderful place to end the day and relax after another varied and fulfilling day on the run.
Helen of the Heritage Trail Lodge took really good care of the remainder of our boys team, Steve and Ion. We shall all cherish our memories of Margaret River, a very special part of Australia ...
Two more photos which from Donnelly River a few days ago – Australia's ambassadors for friendliness, welcoming our international visitors with an open heart and a ready smile :-)
