We left early in the morning for our first ceremony at Lake Eola Park in the center of town. Our good friends, the Morrison family who organized this for us, (Dave, Cynthia, Dave Jr., Jack and Kevin and Grandpa Ray) met us there along with Tilvila and Carol who drove down from Tampa. We all ran around the one mile loop as the heat intensified and reached the mid 90's once again (34 C). Taking refuge in the shade, we held a small ceremony amongst us as there were not many people in the park, perhaps due to the weather.

Our good friends made us a light lunch and provided much needed bottled water for this hot day and the 22 mile relay run which followed. In Lakeland, at the Barnett Family Park, we were greeted by the Mayor Pro Tem who presented us with a proclamation from the Mayor Ralph Fletcher. After leading us out of the park carrying the torch, he offered his goodwill and wishes as we started our relay with the torch towards Haines City.

Running 22 miles along Highway 92, we took turns carrying the torch with many positive reactions from passersby. People were quite friendly as they honked their horns and even stopped to take photos occasionally.

With about 6 miles to go we were met by a local family and two of them, Billy and Kevin ran the rest of the way into their hometown of Haines City with us. As we entered the city we were greeted by a police escort that very efficiently led our way to the center of town where there was a Cinco de Mayo Festival happening.

As we ran the torch to the stage where live music was being played, the MC announced us to the crowd of about 100 excited people.

After a ceremony that was partially spoken in Spanish at this Mexican Festival, we passed the torch around the audience where many enthusiastic people kindly offered their prayers and goodwill for a more harmonious world.

Following the ceremony we were treated by Tilvila, Carol and the Morrison family to a very filling and fulfilling dinner at a very nice local Mexican restaurant. It turned out to be a very exciting day with lots of running, food and celebration. We did not visit nearly as many children as we had in the last two days, but for a rather hot Saturday when schools are not in session, it was a very energizing and harmonious day.

We are ever so grateful to all of our friends who made this day possible and to Jane Patton, the President of the Chamber of Commerce in Haines City who made it possible for us to be part of the Festival there.

Thanks to the management at the La Quinta Inn and Suites in Orlando and our friend Mahesh's mom who arranged for our stay there, we had a good rest after a long drive from Hialeah last night. They offered us two very nice rooms as a wonderful gesture to our harmony efforts in the area.

Arpan and the traveling World Harmony Run Team.

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