April 30, 2016 Live from the road

Savannah, GA - Darien, GA

Reported by Arpan DeAngelo, Puroga Theobald 50.0 mi

Waking up to a beautiful scene behind our campground.

First thing in the morning was a 5K race called the Turtle Trot on Tybee Island.

Our women's team. Phaedra (on the left) organized our events for today.

Everyone was inspired by watching the children's 1 mile race first.

A very young, fit and enthusiastic finisher.

At the start of the race Phaedra had the announcer explain about the Peace Run and our team of runners.

Pierre placed second overall out of over 300 runners.

Sarankhuu was not far behind.

Tavishi was first overall for the women.

Luana from Germany carried the Peace Torch the whole way.

Salil had a good finish for first in the 50-55 category.

We welcomed Ashadeep to her first day on the Peace Run here today.

Akbota from Khazakstan crosses the finish line.

This whole family came to the race and were excited about the Peace Run. Shane, on the right, won his age category. He wants to run a race in every state eventually.

Tavishi receives a nice engraved glass trophy for first place.

Congratulations Tavishi.

After finishing first in his age category in the 5K race Arpan is back on the road as the sun gets hotter and hotter. It went into the 90's today, about 35C.

Getting a police escort to Midway, Goergia.

Running to the center of town by the old colonial church building.

The whole team runs in for a small ceremony there.

Our police escort holds the torch with the Mayor, Dr. Clementine F. Washington.

Councilman Curtis Roberts kindly came to welcome us as well.

Councilman Roberts great-grandaughter Chloe, was very enthusiastic about the Peace Run as well.

Mayor Washington offers us a very soulful prayer before our departure.

Ashadeep enjoys her first run as the women's team challenges the hot and humid weather.

We meet many friendly locals on the road who are inspired by what we are doing.

Phaedra, our local coordinator in Georgia, carries the torch a few miles. We are grateful to her for all of her enthusiastic work in arranging the events for these two days.

The men's team was back on the road too as we made our way towards the town of Darien.

The local police came to escort us once again, this time for about 10 miles into town.

Huge oak trees covered with Spanish moss decorated parts of our run today and gave us much needed shade.

The women's team also came to run in the police escorted caravan to Darien.

Luana from Germany is happy to run with the team but sadly will be leaving in two days.

Our good team of police escorts.

Chief Deputy Sheriff George Trexler was dressed to run about six miles into town with us.

He helped carry the torch the whole way with some of the women and the men's team as well.

Later we were joined by Councilman Augustus Bubba Skeen who put in a few good miles with Chief Trexler.

A short photo stop at a local church on the way.

At the end of our run we pass the torch to Mayor Hugh Bubba Hodge, on the right.

Many locals and town officials came to the United Methodist Church in the center of town to greet us.

Pierre is beginning to feel a bit American these days.

This is part of the feast they offered to us at the church.

Pierre's favorite part.

We had a wonderful dinner with Mayor Hodge, City Manager Archie Davis and his wife Missy.

Other officials dined with us as well. Councilman Griffin Lotson joined us along with Councilman Skeen who ran with the torch earlier.

Some of the local high school students were there helping with the meal,

We are so happy that these young people came to offer their selfless service and meet with the Peace Run as well.

Mayor Hodge receives our Certificate of Appreciation.

City Manager Archie Davis also deserves our appreciation and gratitude for helping to organize this event for us

County Commissioner Charles Jordan holds the torch. He was very supportive of our efforts as well. He also used to live in Queens, NYC, where our Peace Run headquarters is and where some of us currently live.

Councilman Griffin Lotson was also enthusiastically supportive of the Peace Run.

We are very grateful to Pastor Huling who was very kind in allowing us to use the United Methodist Church for this wonderful function and meal.

We were also offered specially wrapped treats to take with us on the road.

We are extremely happy and grateful to all those who prepared all the great food and treats in Darien for us today.

Head Chef Dave Collins who is the Culinary Arts Instructor at McIntosh County Academy so kindly and enthusiastically organized this whole meal with his volunteers of students and other locals of this very hospitable community. His primavera marinara sauce was out of this world.

Chef Collins wore this badge today which says in Arabic something to the effect, "One world, one family."

Torch carried by
Akbota Jumabayeva (Kazakhstan), Arpan DeAngelo (United States), Ashadeep Volkhardt (Australia), Luana Koch (Germany), Phaedra Rosario (United States), Pierre Lantuas (France), Puroga Theobald (Hungary), Salil Wilson (Australia), Sarankhuu Jargal (Mongolia), Tavishi Matthews (Australia).  
Photographers
Arpan DeAngelo, Luana Koch, Pierre Lantuas, Salil Wilson, Tavishi Matthews
The torch has travelled 50.0 mi from Savannah, GA to Darien, GA.

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