Two Italian Brothers, Francesco and Arpan, share a few miles under the cloudless skies of the high desert.

Video of the first month in USA

Getting ready to leave the Sedona we sadly had to say goodbye to Rosemarie, Banshidhar’s ageless mom. She spent about five days with us and really made our trip so much more enjoyable with her friendly and warm youthfulness. No one would ever guess in a million years that she was an octogenarian, as she had more energy and enthusiasm than most of the people we meet half her age. The night before last she had offered us a soulful rendition of a native Hawaiian hula dance with Bangshidhar offering his supporting moves. It was very sweet to see the two express the love and sweetness of their native land through a simple and soulful dance.

The team says fairwell to our good friend Mia and Banshidhar’s Mom, Rosemarie. Their enthusiasm gave us great joy and energy .

After offering Rosemarie a few mementos of our appreciation and taking some photos, we also bid goodbye to Mia Margaret Angelica, our dear friend from Sedona who always brightens up our stay here each time we come through Sedona. She had such a good time with us in the short time we were all together with her that she wants to travel up to the northwest to join our women’s team and run a bit with us. It is people like Rosemarie and Mia who may not run much or spend too much time on the road with us but who nevertheless offer us valuable and positive energy, love and support that is so essential to our own state of mind, consciousness and energy to keep the flame of harmony alive and well.

Ulugbeck grabs a quick siesta after running in the desert heat.

The temperature was heating up into the 90’s F (30’s C) as we filled our bottles with the natural spring water in Oak Creek Canyon back up to Flagstaff where we were to start our journey for the day. We ran westward on Route 66, the famed highway that used to span the entire country from the Atlantic to the Pacific offering respite and entertainment to all the transcontinental travelers. We made a stop in the small town of Seligman as we ran towards the larger city of Kingman, both on route 66.

There is a food establishment called Del Gadillo’s Sno Cap where we stop each time we pass through Seligman. The owners, John and Bob Del Gadillo, and their mom, carry on in the tradition of their wonderful dad, Juan, who unfortunately passed way two years ago. When you go into this fast food restaurant to order food, you are surrounded by old photos of weary travelers coming here and stickers of all kinds on the window, including some of our previous runs through here.

Bob and Juan not only offer great food and service but light humor when you order your food. If you ask for a small ice cream cone you may get thimble size cone with a drop of ice cream in it as a joke. Or when you ask for mustard or ketchup on your food they present a plastic squirt bottle that they squirt on you with a colored string instead of real mustard.

Antique cars and signs dot the landscape as you feel you are in the old time West. We are very happy to see Bob, John and their mom who still offer tourists and travelers on Rte. 66 great food and wonderful moments of humor to elevate their weary bodies and soothe the soul.

Running into Kingman, our team had to split up into two motels. Some members stayed at the Best Western Kings Inn, a wonderful motel on the main route through town complete with swimming pool. Tom Spear, the Vice-Mayor, was also the General Manager of this lovely motel who was so kind to offer us two rooms.

Further up the road in the historic part of town was the Hotel Brunswick. We were offered five ‘cowboy’ rooms there for our 5 guys that were staying there. Each room is big enough for only one person in the tradition of the old west. The hotel was built in 1909 and has been restored to a wonderful and quaint but cozy residence for travelers through Kingman. Jason Pfaff and his wife Jennifer own and run the place including a great restaurant on the ground floor. We are very grateful to Jason and Jennifer for their generous offering to our Harmony ‘cowboys’.

Arpan and Team Harmony

---

Harmonemail:
You can send a message to the runners or read the messages.

< USA 31 May

USA 2 June >