WHAT A DAY IT HAS BEEN, RUNNING WITH YOU, MY FRIENDS
YESSIR, BIG SUR!!!!

Tony Bennett sang it best but now I really know what those words mean after running with my friends, Sunil, Sean, and Brynn across the Golden Gate Bridge to a backdrop of emerald green, blue/gray sea garnished with a few white capped waves and the famous city by the bay glistening over my shoulder. What a day it has been, running with you my friends, and thank you!

It was a good day. We each ran a 13 miler then an additional 2 miler apiece at the end. No need to do a tempo run in this area but to just take in the sights. Yes, there are the typical cars and traffic, noise and exhaust, but I am past sight and sound, past this disturbance. The energy I felt at the beginning of the run stayed with me while on this ocean road.

One thing that entered my thoughts while running was the promise my dad made to me, my brother and sister when we were kids, to take us to visit San Fran. We never made it and that stuck in my psyche. Well, dad, I made it. Not the way you probably envisioned it, but I see why you thought this to be one of the most beautiful cities. You were in the Coast Guard service, young and I am sure had so many dreams and aspirations for your family. I hold no resentment now. You did the best you could, battled your own demons and I guess, such is life.
We had a good turnout for the baton exchange in the San Fran City Park. People we spoke with about our mission seemed really appreciative and many had heard about it through the media.
The next day after our run through Berkley and into Oakland, we had an opportunity to meet with some elementary school kids and sign autographs on their National Geographic insert BPR maps. They have been following the run and were ecstatic to meet us. They cheered as David ran past. I noticed David's gait pick up a bit and his eyes shown a little more brighter as the children treated him like a rock star.
Fast forwarding to the next day and the run through the BIG SUR. While in Mongolia I made a comment about that area and a feeling that "if this isn't heaven I don't where it is", but now I know. This Big Sur region is close to it. My leg was a hilly jaunt. Again, no reason to push but to ingest the majesty of the place, I knew we were in for something special early on as we passed through Carmelo and Pebble Beach. I have seen pictures of the area and watched the Pebble Beach Golf Tournament for many years on t.v. with the scenes of the oceanside cliffs.
My run began with mist hiding much of the ocean views to my left. Only occasionally for the first five miles did I catch a glimpse of majestic rocks looking like small pebbles anchored in the sea as they have for eons. The road was narrow, very curvy and I was always anticipating that a vehicle might be racing around the next blind curve and so to have my escape route planned well in advance. Luckily I avoided becoming road kill.
There were many curious onlookers at various overlook pulloffs. One couple from Washington became my official cheerleaders along my path. They followed me the entire 10 mile leg, cheeing, "go Lansing"! They plan to meet us in Washington D.C. later. They are going to run and cycle some with us. These happenstance meetings with strangers who soon become friends is so refreshing to me. Many understand the cause for the run and know the crisis and are planning on contributing and asking their friends to contribute.
We need your help, too. You can contribute by simply going to the BPR website, i.e. www.blueplanetrun.org.
The day ended with a spontaneous birthday tribute to our amazing photographer, Chris. We sang happy birthday to him in conjunction with a small, fun Karaoke sing-a-long gathering.
For me, music, singing, playing piano allows me to let my mind wander, if only for a short rest. I absent myself from road and wind and the warm sun. I am free to measure the importance of things. I am purified by the effort we are making as global ambassadors to bring the news of an urgent crisis. One that affects 1.1 billion people on earth. Those that lack access to safe drinking water. This is unacceptable. We have the knowhow to eradicate the problem. We need the funds to do so. Everyone deserves the opportunity to become coping, competent and contributing members of society. Without water there is not life. We all, working together are the solution.
This day, each day wears a halo of compassion and love. Peace and blessings.
"What a day it has been, going 'round that bend my friend and it's almost like being in love"!
YESSIR BIG SUR! Thanks for the memories!
Lansing