Puroga contemplates another day of running and meeting children in local day camps. He is one of three runners who has been on the the whole North American Peace Run so far, with only 11 days to go.
One team of runners run into our first location in the town of Perth, Ontario.
At the Marrywood Easter Seals Camp we introduce ourselves to many excited children and young adults.
They were happy to see our video on the International Scope of the Peace Run.
The children and counselors have to guess where each of us come from with clues to help them.
We were honored to offer our Certificate of Appreciation to Barbara Gray, Camp Manager.
Receiving a colorful reproduction of a painting by Sri Chinmoy, Founder of the Peace Run.
Passing the Peace Torch to everyone to reflect on peace and offer goodwill is one of the highlights of our presentation.
A rare full team photo as some people just arrived and a few members will leave us in a few days.
The whole team had a short run together as we ran out of the Marrywood Camp.
Back on the road again.
Luckily some highways have wide shoulders to run on as the traffic can be quite busy at times.
We always meet some very nice people as we run through the towns and cities.
Yatkara is usually behind the camera but loves to be out on the open road as well.
Two other teams stopped at another children's camp called the Maple Key Day Camp in Perth.
The children made beautiful, colorful torches for us.
Kristen, Camp Manager, cheerfully holds the torch and our Certificate of Appreciation. We are grateful to everyone who recieves us with such enthusiasm and oneness as we saw at this wonderful day camp.
Peace and joy in every face.
Wonderful expressions of peace from the children in their artwork as well.
Salill draws an interested audience.
Full of heart.
A wonderfu group of peace lovers.
After arriving in Ottawa we went directly to the Peace Garden Cafe, a cozy restaurant nestled inside a spacious indoor mall in the main market area or shopping district of Ottawa.
Not far away are the beautiful Parliament buildings displaying ornate European architecture.
The Rideau Canal starts here also in northern Ottawa where there are classic old locks which allowed boats to get from the Ottawa River into the canal.
The Eternal Flame in front of the Parliament buildings.
Gazing forward to the road ahead with Terry Fox, a young Canadian runner who ran across Canada after losing a leg to cancer. He succumbed to the disease after completing almost the whole journey and raising awareness and money for fighting cancer.
Our next visit was to Phulero Dola Flower Shop owned by one of our hosts and good friends here in Ottawa.
We were welcomed by the ever cheerful Deepmala, one of the full-time employees there.
As we were leaving Deepmala offers us some exquisite chocolates which they sell there.
We also visited a Peace plaque which is situated near the central area of Ottawa 29 years ago.
The Peace plaque is comfortably nestled amongst a small grove of trees in a garden near downtown Ottawa.
We then made our way to a beautiful gift shop, Garden of Light, owned by one of our good friends, Utsahi, who was unfortunately out of town at this time.
Manoshri welcomes us to this most amazing gift shop.
Singing bowls from all over the world are one of the specialties here.
We then went to visit this beautiful Oak tree which was planted by the Ottawa River over 40 years ago by Sri Chinmoy, Founder of the Peace Run. It serves as a reminder of the inspiration and encouragement that Sri Chinmoy offered as he worked tirelessly for peace throughout his lifetime.
The plaque at the base of the Peace Tree.
Meanwhile the women's team was running into Ottawa from the west.
The women's team met some very inspired people as they ran into Ottawa along the beautiful Ottawa River.
They were fortunate to meet with John Ceprano, creator of some amazing balancing rock sculptures who happened to be there when the women's team ran by.
John is very welcoming as the women, along with hundreds of other visitors, get to enoy his incredible work.
The sun began to set as the men's team came to visit the rock sculptures also.
Some of the men's team added a human element to the balancing act.
In the evening some of us were mezmerized by the incredible light show projected on the main Parliament buildings in Ottawa. Portraying the evolution of Canada through colorful and impressive images and sounds, this show is offered almost every evening during the summer, attracting thousands of locals and tourists from all over the world.
