Large crowds gather along roads, at rest areas as monks travel through county
Wingate Downs received a surprise call Saturday from the group of Buddhist monks walking from Texas to Washington. They needed a place to stay that night after traveling from Oconee County.
He jumped at the chance.
“I knew a little bit about what they were doing and, boy, I just loved the idea of helping them,” Downs said. “It did not take much thought.”
Downs, a longtime photographer and owner of Wingate Downs Photography, owns Oak Ridge Lodge off Wolfskin Road in Arnoldsville. As word spread, Downs said more than 500 people came to hear and interact with the monks as they rested on Day 70 on what they call their Walk for Peace.
“The most rewarding part was looking out and seeing when he was speaking, all those people so quiet, so absolutely attentive, hands on their hearts, hands in praying position,” Downs said. “That was when I felt like they were touching these people in a special way, and I just love seeing that on my property.”
The monks and their dog Aloka walked through Crawford and Lexington on Sunday, taking a lunch break at Oglethorpe County Elementary School, and spent that night at Echo Hill Farm before heading to Wilkes County on Monday.
They were embraced by the county wherever they went and attracted more large crowds at OCES and Echo Hill Farm.
“People brought dog food for Aloka, the dog, and people brought flowers and people bought medical supplies,” Downs said. “It was incredible.”
On Saturday, Downs knew he would need assistance with safety and logistics.
Downs called the Oglethorpe County Sheriff's Office and Josh Robinson, EMS director and assistant EMA director, for assistance to host the monks, their support groups and the 500 attendees who flocked to Oak Ridge Lodge.
Robinson and others assisted with each visitation within the county. A large number of those assisting were also volunteers from county fire departments, emergency medical responders, first responders and the CERT team.
“We wanted to be helpful, because we wanted to make sure that it was an experience that everyone would be able to get to enjoy, and that it would be safe,” Robinson said. “And with both of the locations being private property, we were sure to confirm with both of the owners of the property that they would like some assistance from the county when it came to just managing the crowd and stuff like that.”
Because Oak Ridge Trail, leading to Downs’ lodge is private, neighbors agreed to block off the road. Barrels were added to block the streets and lights were added.
The monks led a dharma talk for about 90 minutes and then received peace bracelets from attendees who came up toward the end.
“The rewarding part was just how successful it did go, and just sort of in the back of your mind, you knew the whole time that you were part of something that has caught national media attention,” Robinson said. “And it went as smoothly as I think it could have gone, honestly.”
The Oglethorpe County community showed the visiting monks hospitality and kindness.
“Our lives are too fast, too hurried, and these people represent good things — peace, unity, compassion,” Downs said. “I think that’s what they even express is their goal, and they are doing it all along the way — it brings people together.”