Tuesday, 12 September 2017

Sunday, September 10th, 2017

Concord, California

5 Days 2 Go

It is my great pleasure to have my dear friend, Anuttama, from D.C., join us for a few days.  He has been a cheerleader for me since I started marathon walks in ’96.  Finally, he has come to walk a walk and see me get close to the finish line.

We were off to a late start—9:00 a.m. and we tackled Camino del Diablo—The Path of the Devil—a windy, paved road through soft-ridged mountains.  Anuttama admitted to me that he saw, for the first time in his life, a coyote, on this day.  To see olive groves in an American setting was a first.  We were also delighted by trees producing various nuts as we moved along in what is clearly ranch country.  It was hard for me to extract any notion of Satan being in our midst.  Pure pleasure of walking in the sanctity of the outdoors with a decent foot partner became my experience, although it was a tad on the hot side (99° Fahrenheit).

Our accommodation was in the Motel 6 in a city called Pittsburg and naturally we took advantage of the pool for loosening up stiff leg muscles.  There we met Steven Styles of Sacramento, who describes his former way of being, somewhat like that of the devil.  Luckily or by “the grace of God,” as he put it, he had gone through a transformation for the better.  Our dialogue, while in the pool together, was a productive meeting for two human beings and worth the encounter.

Whether on the road with someone, or in a pool of refreshing water, you always try to make the most of any event.  Make everything a God experience.

May the Source be with you!

10 miles

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