Video of the first month in USA

This morning we started out with cloudy skies and a light rain as we drove to our starting points. Our first team running out of Ontario, Oregon met up with the local reporter there.

Many people honked and waved in this area of eastern Oregon today because the NBC station in nearby Boise, Idaho played a news coverage they created with us the day before as we ran through Boise and met with quite a few children.

Most of the miles of our run today were in the natural open areas of Oregon’s high plains. It was beautiful, pastoral and peaceful. Francesco was to finish at a junction that led to the small town of Harper, which was not on the route. But he was inspired to” bring the flame to the people”. So he turned and ran the extra 2 miles into what appeared to be a very quiet neighborhood. A few cute horses greeted us, and a friendly wave from their owners was all we saw.

Then, just before we departed, a young man drove-up to us on a four-wheel motor bike and said, “ We saw you on the News last night. My wife is a teacher at the Harper summer school around the corner and we would love to have you visit the children!” It was as if we were looking for this very thing. So we happily ran into the school’s playground to the enthusiastic cheers of a dozen students and there thrilled teachers. The spontaneous joy of the gathering was contagious and we made each other’s day a lot brighter than it would have been.

Once again, the days’ events were magically guided by that unseen hand that seems to direct every step of this journey across America.

We had another unplanned but inspiring meeting with four or five senior women who comprised most of the town of Buchanan. When we stopped at a remote gas station and store seemingly in the middle of nowhere, we realized that this was the town of Buchanan where we were to end our daily run. Talking with Connie, Mavis, Sheila, and Charlotte, they were happy that we stopped in for gasoline and proceeded to show us around. There were hand made furniture from Juniper wood and various other beautiful handicraft from Native American Indians and other locals. The women were thrilled to pose with the Torch and some of our runners and they even offered us free ice cream.

Considering this is the only gasoline station for 60 miles, I imagine they meet many tourists passing through, but probably not many runners from far away places such as Asia or South America.

Even when there are no planned ceremonies or meetings, the daily run can be quite exciting or just deeply peaceful and rewarding in other ways. Today’s natural surroundings inspired me to write a little poem which is the closest way that I could attempt to describe what it is like out here in the vast countryside of eastern Oregon.

“The brilliance of the deep blue sky

Peeking though the silvery mist

Of clouds floating peacefully by.

Endless road ahead

Tapering into nothingness,

Where mountains beckon,

And the Ocean draws nearer

With each small step,

As we progress along

The road of Harmony.

Step by step

And mile by mile,

All the while carrying the Torch

To meet new friends

And make them smile.”

Arpan

Settling into another great accommodation, we would like to thank Jonathan Sharp and Troy Clark of The Best Western Rory and Ryan Inn of Hines, Oregon. Their wonderful facilities complete with swimming pool and Jacuzzi was a real treat for us and a generous offering on their part. We also had a room at the Silver Spur motel in Burns and we are grateful to the management there for such a nice place for one team to rest for the night. Everyone’s offering, large or small, brings out the best in each other as harmony is shared in many ways.

Jose from El Toreo Mexican Restaurant in Burns was also quite kind in offering us all some delicious Mexican food for dinner.

Team Harmony

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