Thursday, June 30th,
2016
Peru, Illinois
Farewell to the I
& M
Our last day on the ‘I
and M Canal State Trail’ had its own power.
There were images and impressions worth remembering. The canal itself appeared and disappeared,
that is, filled with still water or none at all. Giant reeds were invasive, yet they provided
shade. A magnificent rock wall cut
through like a gorge to our sight.
Uttamananda and I
viewed the intensely cardinal-red colour of one bird. During a chanting session we had, a song, in
honour of the guru, I spotted two stellar blue birds that went in a flit and a
flirt. Solitary deer came out of
thickets to feel the freedom enjoyed on the trail, but upon seeing us they
would dash away timidly.
A plaque informed us
that Wild Bill Hickok began his nefarious ways along the canal when he was a
teen.
Beginning from the
city of Ottawa, the trail seems unfrequented by pedestrians. Of course that might be because we started
trekking early. By the time we got to
where the trail cuts through Utica and La Salle, the presence of people picked
up.
“Hey, that was you on
TV wasn’t it?” asked one elderly man who stopped and dismounted his bike.
Fishermen and
fisherwomen began to dot the edge of the canal, some successfully reeling in
fish, mostly bass.
Kamlesh, a 59 year
old, successful Gujarati businessman in the area decided to join us and even
arranged rooms for our night-time stay at the Tow-Rest Motel. But, before sleep, I was invited to the
proprietors’ home for kirtan and a
message from the Gita, chapter 8, verse 6, about preparation for positive
thoughts at the moment of death. This is
what we dwelt on.
It was a glorious
day, but I’m sad to see the trail leave us.
May the Source be with you!
21 miles
May the Source be with you!
21 miles
No comments:
Post a Comment