Today we start early in the morning at 6:10 am and witness a stunning sunrise.
Queensland nature offers a lot of opportunity to experience silence. It brings us the feeling of peace.
As we run, vast fields are replaced by green forests. During our journey, it is very nice to see the different landscapes Australia offers. It is wonderful and rare to see Mother Nature's beauty in so many different forms in one country.
Cheering each other on hot/warm days helps us to reach our destination faster. Emily from New Zealand is among our fastest women. She gives us good hints on stretching and strengthening the body.
Team C breaks out the rarely used triple leap. This is where we drop off the first runner, drive up five km, drop the second runner then drive up five km more to drop the third. Then the van drives back the last five km to wait for the first runner, picking up the rest up as it goes forward. It works great as long as the third runner is fine with running more than five km. We make it to the school just in time!
Pentland State School greets us with two lines of children creating a finishing chute for the team to run through.
We tell them about our mission and vision, play the country guessing game and sing songs about peace and harmony.
The children are wonderful and the teachers are very inspiring.
You all got the answer! We are all brothers and sisters!
Some parents join us too!
"If we can invoke Peace and then offer it to somebody else, we will see how Peace expands from one to two persons, and gradually to the world at large" - Sri Chinmoy
Hugging the whole world while singing the World Harmony Run song.
To the delight of the children and teachers we have teachers run a lap with the peace torch. They turn into excited children themselves.
The children receive a special Peace Run card with a poem about peace on one side...
...and on the other side a country the Peace Torch has been.
Gianluca from Croatia is very touched by the peaceful environment around the school: the birds chirping, the happy trees and well cared for meadow. He gifts the school "Listen to Nature", a compilation of writings by the Peace Run founder, Sri Chinmoy.
Mel, the school captain, reads out the poem on the Peace Run Certificate of Appreciation.
It's finally time to hold the Peace-Torch. "Peace begins with a smile" - Mother Teresa
Finally we all run with the peace torch!
Thank you very much Pentland State School! It has been a delight meeting you! Teachers and children here are such a great example of peace, kindness and love.
We still have to finish our running for the day. Now it is much hotter than the morning, so we have to keep well hydrated.
Oh, we nearly forgot that we need gas for our support vehicles! We find a petrol station by this mango tree. Can you spot his eyes and nose?
When we pay for fuel, the staff is happy to hold the peace torch. The runners get fueled with some snacks too!
Back on the road. The Peace-Torch is ready!
While waiting for the runner to complete the assigned kilometers we work on getting confirmations on meetings for the days ahead.
We are immensely grateful for the generous donation of food supplies by Woolworths. It will keep us running with enough protein for the runners.
A well deserved ice crem sundae!
After a beautiful run, crossing the vast fields and forests of Queensland the men's team reach their destination: "Aussie Outback Oasis," in Charters Towers. They love it here!
The women's team stay at Heritage Lodge Motel After weeks of camping they are immensely grateful to have a bed in a cozy room, right in front of a refreshing pool.
Before going to bed, some runners go for an evening run with the Peace-Torch, embraced by the universe and stars.
