Our girls team had their biggest day so far – 82km – so Saranyu headed out early…
The boys teams were not so sprightly, however ...
Our first morning in the Northern Territory. The last few nights the wind was so powerful that from our tents we take it as a heavy rain or a storm. Only the early hours of the day and the dawn that follows bring with them the fresh stillness and calm ...
The team got going slowly this morning, a combination of big mileage days and the 1 ½ hour time change. Because of the time change some of us almost missed the breakfast. But happily nobody missed the start of running. At 9am we met a local contingent from Timber Creek at their sports facility ...
... present were two Aboriginal elders, Peter Mick and Smiler Lagut, and prominent local residents Lee Armstrong, Trisha McGillivray, Camille Fogarty (with certificate), Becky Fogarty & Lyn Chambers (in the fluro top) ...
... Camille has lived in the area since 1952, the last 30 in Timber Creek; the men have lived in the area even longer ...
By now the girls were way ahead on the highway ...
... we discovered that in the warm temperatures up north chocolate should really be kept chilled ... Oh well, it still tastes good!
Our day was bright and hot. We had almost no traffic on the road ...
... so it was a big event for us today when we met two cyclists coming the opposite way. Jim from Australia and Alexandra from Germany are doing a stupendous thing: they have cycled all the way from Germany to Singapore, and now they have continued on to Australia where they started in Darwin and will finish in Broome ...
... they mentioned the fine weather conditions here, as in Singapore it was insupportably humid. We were reciprocally impressed with each other's undertaking ...
Who said that running has only beneficial effects? Look at Steve: at the end of his 20 kilometres for today he is only one metre tall!
Though the boys have now seen a crocodile, the girls have yet to discover one ...
... this sign looks promising!
... we find a beautiful crocodile-infested river, but no ancient reptiles to be seen ...
... perhaps they are all lurking under the surface, just waiting for a tasty Peace Runner to take a refreshing dip!
There are times on the Peace Run when all of life's duties and demands loom larger and larger – however once you are out on the road running with the Torch, all problems recede and are forgotten. The soul of Australia does its healing. Your body gets warmed up and moving nicely, your mind goes quiet, and you discover the inner peace and joy of the Peace Run. The action of running through the Australian bush gave me so much joy this morning. Unfortunately the second and third runs were not quite so epiphanic, in fact a bit more of a struggle. However one good run sets you up for the day ...
Our most spectacular scenery was near the Victoria River and Gregory National Park. This river runs between impressive ridges and hills before making its way north to the coast ...
One of the sad facts about running on the highways is seeing the roadkill up close. However, something unusual happened today as Oyungerel finished her stint ... she found that inside the dead mother’s pouch was a live and unharmed baby wallaby!
Fortunately we have a vet on the team – Saranyu is a qualified, practising veterinary surgeon!
... so little “Rudra” was rescued ...
... and given some Rescue Remedy, she soon perked up ...
... becoming quite active in her towel-pouch!
She is just so adorable!
Rudra joined the Peace Run to Katherine where Saranyu dropped her off at the local vet practice. As she was uninjured, they will give her to a local wildlife rearer who looks after orphaned wildlife ...
In Katherine we were greeted by Mayor Fay Miller ...
... and the local member of the Northern Territory Legislative Assembly, Willem Westra van Holthe ...
... it was an honour to meet you all and to be accorded such a lovely reception into Katherine ...
... shopping in the largest town we will see for a while. The green stuff is just camouflage for all the chocolate underneath ...
... at the supermarket we met two girls trying to organise a surprise for their friend. They asked us to say 'Happy birthday!' to him in English and in our mother tongue into their phone. So, we wished him 'Happy birthday from the Peace Run!' and Ion greeted him in Romanian ...
... after a big day of running and a lovely reception, we drove to Manbulloo Homestead Caravan Park near Katherine, where we were greeted by Bronwyn and her mother Stephanie (not pictured). This lovely camping place was just right for the team. Peaceful and quiet with a lot of shady trees creating the peaceful ambience. Thanks for your generous hospitality!
This Park is on a working cattle station, and right on the lovely Katherine River – highly recommended!
