Day: February 23, 2006

Today there were some really good encounters.  Here is what Serge dictated to me about them:

“As I set out today I met six children: 2 boys and 4 girls, about ten years old, who were leaving for school about 2 km away, and we decided to go together.  Running, then walking with them I felt like a child and in the end it’s probably what I would like always to be: a child.  They told me, in good English, where the mosque was and where their school was and I told them about my trip from Paris to Tokyo.  In front of the school we gave them post cards, they learned a bit more about my endeavour and then they applauded.  I have to say that their reaction touched me deeply because it’s difficult to gain children’s respect, especially in our society where they are so often blasé.  Their applause was just as moving as it would have been if I had run on the track of a stadium filled with thousands of people.  I’m the happiest of men.

In the afternoon there were five elderly people: 1 woman and 4 men, seated under an arbor at the edge of the road which overlooked the sea.  They made signs for me to join them for tea.  At first I refused, explaining that I was running and didn’t have the time.  A few seconds later I turned around and went back to accept their invitation and sit with them for 4 or 5 minutes to savor a quiet moment before continuing on my road to Tokyo.

All during the day we kept meeting Sébastien and his bike: in the morning, then again at the beginning of the afternoon following his lunch break.  We exchanged a few words on the road, coffee in hand.  He left France on September 18, with no time constraint, has already clocked 8000 km and doesn’t know when he will return.  He has no mobile phone, it’s real freedom and I can understand him.”

A certain number of you have mentioned the videos you have viewed on the website (View Video).  I forgot to mention that they were available (you need a rather powerful PC and Quick Time software). Thanks go to our four photographers, who take turns with us on the Trans-Eurasia: Pascal, François, Fulvio and Mathieu.  Without them you wouldn’t have these pictures.