Fifteen Year old aspiring boxer Sean Bailey joined us for a couple of joy filled miles through his town of Gary.

Video of the first month in USA

Before leaving Chicago today, we were treated so well by our friends at the Victory’s Banner Restaurant once again. They not only made us a delicious breakfast, but they even made us great lunches to go. All this was done while also preparing for what was to be the busiest day in their history. One can definitely see how they have been living up to their most glorious name.

Ulugbek enjoys the protection of the Gary, Indiana Police escort that went on for many miles.

On the road again after more than a day of being spoiled by our Chicago friends, we had a few people to meet along the way. Our first team met up with a police escort that took them through the city of Gary Indiana. Three police cars protected the runners and offered much visibility as they made their way through town.

We are very grateful to our escort officers, Indiana’s finest.

It is always a special treat to have a police escort and the Gary police always seem to do it so well. We are grateful to them and the Mayor who unfortunately could not be in town to meet us today.

Chuck Oberly, the Mayor of Michigan City, geeted us at our very first “Mud Bog Fest”.

Our big ceremony of the day took place in Michigan City, a little further east. Joe Doyle of the City Council, and the events organizer for the Michigan City Summer Festival, kindly invited us to run into a uniquely entertaining event called the ‘Mud Bog’.

The huge crowd offered their thunderous applause at the site of the Harmony Torch.

On the sand dunes and beaches of Lake Michigan there in Michigan City, Indiana, they made a huge mud pit for special vehicles with big wheels to try to drive through. Being more for amusement than for competition, it drew a huge crowd with bleachers and a grandstand.

Mud racers gleefully get sprayed clean after chasing after prizes hidden in the guey stuff.

There were even events for the children to get involved. There would be balls with money inside that would be thrown into the mud pit and the children had a certain amount of time to run in there to retrieve what they could. The kids had loads of fun and were hosed down by the fire department when they came out, happily covered in mud. Steven Peterka from the Michigan City News Dispatch covered the events including our ceremony there.

The mud flies as local enthusiasts tried their luck at blazing through the mud pit.

During one of the intermissions we were introduced by Mayor Chuck Oberlie as we ran to the stage in front of the mud bog with the Torch. After introducing ourselves to the hundreds of cheering people there, we had some time to watch some of the big trucks struggle through the mud bogs. It reminded me of what it feels like sometimes when I have to running when tired or sore, like ‘spinning my wheels’ and not getting to far.

We made a soulful presentation at the Gospel Music Fest nearby.

We are ever so grateful to Joe Doyle and the rest of the City Council who offered us so much in our brief stay there and to Mayor Oberlie who was very kind and welcoming to us. They also invited some of our runners to share our event at a nearby Gospel Fest, also in Washington Park by the beach.

A local Reverand offers his blessings with a heartfelt prayer over the flame.

One team of runners brought the Torch there later in the afternoon and were welcomed by a small crowd of people. We are grateful to Leshunda Kiner for inviting us to share common sentiments with the people at this festival.

We settled into the Comfort Inn for the night due to their kindness and generosity.

Arpan and Team Harmony

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