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| | Enviado Martes, 11 de Enero de 2005 - 10:15 am: |  |
Padayatra América
June 2
We cross the Louisians/Texas border- our last state in the USA.
The roads have been the best so far- wide, with good size shoulder and in good condition. We are finding the majority of the people very covered (this is due to too much sinful activity) even some of the police have not been very inclined to help. But somehow everyday there is a good soul that gets the mercy of the Lord by being engaged in the padayatra/sankirtana mission. We are moving on Highway 73 outside of Orange towards Port Arthur. The local people are always keen to let us know what is ahead- and they are saying it is a big bridge ahead “the tallest bridge of the south” approximately 500 feet from the ground, one mile long and no shoulder. It is a whole meditation; today we stop just before the bridge to rest for the day, reinforce/grease the brakes; reinforce the harness of the horses and rest them as it is hot and humid these past days.
It looks very dramatic- just in the middle of the flat swamplands suddenly an enormous “rainbow bridge” (due to it´s shape). For traffic, the devotees will walk in the back, and we will cross early morning tomorrow (Saturday). Let Jwala Nrsimha lead us for this new challenge....
Hare Krsna! In 15 minutes we were on the other side. Kana and Balaji again receive the complete shakti of the Lord- I let them trot, and they were steady, calm, grave all the way to the top. The view from there was beautiful- and the cause of that beauty was there in the wagon enjoying His own creation and pastime of putting us on that bridge. I turn to the Deities in the altar and saw Srila Prabhupada extremely satisfied with the adventure. Everybody including the ferocious Ugra Nrsimha was smiling. Krsna says in the Bhagavad-gita that He is the adventure Himself (10.36) and we perceive Him in the adventure this padayatra is undertaking. Next? The ferry and the ocean....meanwhile Krsna consciousness is spreading in all directions....literature, the holy name, newspapers....”little by little the drop break the stone”
June 18
We enter the Bolivar Peninsula, a stretch of 20 miles ending at the ocean. Coming close to the coast means wind, sand and swampy areas with thousands of mosquitos. We, especially the horses had several nights of difficult sleeping. There is an epidemic of mosquitos in some places, and the record was a night we witnessed a 6 feet long, 4 feet wide black buzzing cloud next to the wagon...we have never seen anything like this before.
June 9-11
We come to the beach through Gilchrist, not a single tree or any kind of shade for miles and miles. The Lord, however, being compassionate to the horses (His devotees) has arranged a few days of cloudy, lightly rainy days for easy moving through this area.
We cross many small beach and tourist communities introducing many in these remote areas to Krsna consciousness. The wind and the sound of the ocean is very strong, and we sleep at night very peaceful next to the beach.
June 12
We reach the end of the peninsula, slowly we see the ocean creeping up on both sides, half a mile on either side. As we come close we find out that the ferry won´t let us cross (legalities). Hare Krsna, let´s see what the Lord wants. We stop for the night just a few feet from the entrance to the ferry to evaluate the situation. Deciding it a good idea to talk with the ferry operators, I go at night to explain our situation- maybe they will help. After talking with the control tower, who called his authorities in Houston, and waiting until after midnight for a reply; the word comes back that we will have special permission to cross at 9 am with a personal ferry for the Lord. Jaya!
June 13
In the morning we arrive at the gate at 9 am. But to our surprise, nobody knows anything about the previous nights labor (different shift of workers) and the beligerent head captain is not willing to comply with the order of the Houston office. Hmm...
Now they don´t want us to cross without a trailor and in a very low class dealing they left us standing without any alternative in the sunny Bolivar Peninsula without a single tree under the sun of 95°. As a last resort we call 911, in the hopes that the police will be able to alleviate the situation. Sherriff Elder arrives on the scene, and explains that the ferry captain reigns supreme on the ocean, because it is federal property- even he doesn´t have jurisdiction there. So even though the order was given by the state of Texas to allow us to go forward, the captain can refute; that the captain on the previous night may have been willing but this one is not. He will try to help by finding some local trailor....
All day has passed and nothing.
The Galveston daily paper gets word of the prediciment and sent a reporter and photograhper. (and the next day ran a very thorough article putting the “Hare Krishna pilgrims” in a nice position.). Finally at 5pm Mr.David Ewing and his wife appeared, surprised we were still there (all 5 of us-Avadhuta Siromani d. Viththalesvar d, candrabhaga dasi, Kana & Balaji) hovered under the picnic bench awning. He had seen us yesterday and this morning and inquired what was holding us back. Immediately he invited us to his house, a few miles away (there was no suitable place for us to stay where we were) and in the morning he would personally haul us across. Haribol! We left immediately for his place....
Meanwhile, Sherriff Elder had made arrangements (there was no way of us knowing...) and when we arrived at the place of Mr. David after 6pm, the word came in that the sherriff was on the way to bring us immediately across; and within a few moments he was there with a whole “posse” of officers and helpers.
Well, that would be great, except for one problem, sherriff, that as soon as we drop down on the Island we would have to pass through Galveston downtown (pop.60,000) which would take a good 2 hours for us- and there´s only 1 hour or so of sunlight...
No problem! Everyone was enthusiastic working on overtime, and they agreed to take us through town and onto the other side past all the congestion.
By 7 we were all loaded up- the sherriff´s men with the horses and Mr.David, his wife and the devotees with Nitai-Gaurasundara and the wagon. By 8pm we were on the biggest ferry of the south! Now, on the ocean!!
The Lord looks happy, and many are coming forward to ask questions, get information. Kana and Balaji are fine as always calm and trusting.
It was a late night for everybody that night, as it took quite some time to get through town 15 mph- the wagon couldn´t sustain speed over that; but everyone was thoroughly inspired and undeterred and the party all met up again on the outside of town on the side of the highway once again.
June 14-15
Now we have 30 miles of Island ahead, and it is a quiet resort area with beach on one side and bay on the other. We found a beautiful kunja for the Lordship right on the ocean bay, with a beautiful sunset in the front. Tomorrow, as is becoming a common thing in our travels, we will be crossing a few big bridges to come to Freeport on the mainland; and from there continue around the Gulf of Mexico on our way south. We have approximately 320 miles until Brownsville.
June 16
Our next adventure is to find a veterinarian to make all the papers required to pass the border with animals. There are health certificates and different tests for diseases, etc. And one of them requires a 14-day quarentine. Therefore if we start the procedure now, the papers should be ready by the time we reach the border.
We stop outside Freeport in a shady pasture and the local police animal control officer
comes to help us find a feed store. He is unsure of a vet; but another woman stops and she knows a vet know who sends us to the people we need. But the office is in Bay City, out of our way.....
At 2pm Viththalesvar prabhu came and without mentioning anything before, says that he is not prepared to leave the country. He is going to the Houston temple. He seems concerned that after going out, how would we return? Hare Krsna, what can we do? Krsna always seems to provide at the proper moment, and that is how we try to live on padayatra. Anyway, we will move on...of course we thank him for his service and without trying to convince anyone of anything we let him continue on his journey.
Our path is clear- Mexico, Central and South America are our next goal. The Lord is with us and He will take the program wherever He wants to.
We plan on arriving in Mexico the first week of July.
Hare Krsna
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