Bandon to Gold Beach

August 9th
Bandon to Gold Beach

Today I spent trying to ditch the family of bicyclist which were very near to us. I would have felt bad that a Middle aged dad, mom and their 10 year old boy would out ride me so i pushed a little harder than usual. Blake and I met up and went swimmimg mid day in an icecold beach which had signs everywhere"Do not swim! Do not Swim! It was hot and we needed a bath! We made it out safely. I spent approximately 3 dunks at about 2.5 minutes. Blake made it a clean 10-20 minutes. Blake heard that this was wild bear country so he started practicing climbing trees in order to hide his Kit Kats if needed. At some point we became the photographers for a huge biker gang who were cruising the up the coast. I think today we were quite tired. 60 miles up and down hills in the hot sun gave us nice sun burns and a good reason to drop dead when we made it to town.

raw kombucha-breakfast of champions

August 9th
Balarama Jayanti

We woke up to a mystic morning feeling we were on a deserted Island which only prehistoric monsters roam. Until 8am or so we were the only monsters present. We rose about six and took ice cold baths in the ocean. I took a dip in one of the ponds and Chaitanya went for it and dove into the ocean. He thought it would be the only chance to swim in the Oregon coast since we are about to cross the border in a few days. Anyway it was invigorating! We spent the early morning in japa meditation and prayer to Lord Balarama. Half day fasting allowed us to spend til noon in Bandon beach having cowherd boy adventures through the caves, ponds, rock bridges and investigating the local wildlife. Extra day light reading was most enjoyabIe. Often we only read when its dark and we have to use our flashlights. I also collected nice shiny rocks to give my hippy friends like Ananga and Bobbitto. By their inspiration Raw Kombucha was the fast breaking drink of choice. energy boost! I highly recommend Bandon to anyone who wants a quiet getaway for maybe writing a book or just being alone to chant your japa or study. I look forward to returning someday. Very special place actually my favorite out of everywhere on the coast. I just love that early morning fog which hides the seastacks. Reminds me of fairytales. Did you know that one is always looking to "live-happily-ever after" because they are sat-cit-ananda! Live-cit(consciousness), Happily-ananda(blissful),Ever after-sat(eternal).

more bandon photos

bandon photos

Balarama's purna chandra...

We arrived to Bandon the night before Balarama Jayanti. The moon was huge, bright and full white color. There was a blue ring which encircled it and made our evening most auspicious. We had no idea that we would be sleeping in a most mystical place. There were little to no houses or hotels near by. It was a bird sanctuary so there were no business' etc. We arrived and the fog had rolled in and left silhouettes of sea stacks to be viewed down the cliffs into the ocean. Chaitanya blindly climbed a sea stack not knowing what else to do on a most beautiful night. The moon shown brightly so we could see quite easily. We finsihed chanting our japa on the beach below, engaged ourselves in kirtan, spoke a lttle about Lord Balarama and offered our prayers to him that he may protect and inspire us while on this journey. On the day of my initiation HH Radhanath Maharaja told me that Balaramacandra is actually a name of Lord Nityananda. It is so because the moon(chandra) is representative of mercy and blessings. "balaram hoilo nitai" Lord Nityananda is non different than Lord Balarama. In Chaitanya Lila Gaura Ntai come to save the most fallen whether they deserve it or not. This is krpa... So the Mercy of Lord Balaram has decended and walked the earth as His very Self, Lord Nityananda. He goes knocking from door to door asking everyone to accept Krsna as their mother, father, worshipable Lord, their life and soul. He begs them to simply give up your sinful ways and chant Gauranga! Chant Hare Krsna! My Gurumaharaj said I must act as a servant to Lord Nityananda's mission. I prayed to Lord Balarama on this evening that I may be blessed with the opportunity to serve this order. Sri Balaramaji Ki Jaya!

satatam kirtayanto mam...

bandon o bandon

Entering Bandon.

One sad thing about Oregon is every so often you come across these tree graveyards. There are mountain side which all the trees have been clear cut for this "renewable resource".

As we approached Bandon we stopped and enjoyed the beautiful glades. Each day we would see various natural environments that just captured your minds. One time a disciple asked Srila Prabhupada," Prabhupada, do you think that that sunset is beautiful?" Prabhupada answered,"If you think that the sunset is beautiful wait til you see the artist behind it." We didnt think that Bandon was going to be one of our favorite places on the whole trip. We arrived to the town and it was a little place with just one small grocery store. We got some food stuff to eat and headed to the local Library to catch up on email . We got there a little late so only spent ten minutes there. We chatted with a golf catty for twenty minutes or so and he gave us the advice to camp on the beach in these little huts that he and his caddy buddyies go drinking at each night. We liked the beach idea but not the hanging out with his buddies idea. Caddying is a good job for anyone who likes to be the servant for very rich people. He get 80 dollars plus tip to carry a bag for four hours. We showed up at the beach and our jaws dropped seeing and feeling the environment. Most beautiful.

Redsport to Bandon

August 8th
Reedsport to Bandon!
54 miles

Sheet boy appeared. We had no clean clothes so this morning we found a laundry mat and threw everything into the machine. Chaitanya put everything except a dhoti and chaddar and walked around this small town to chant his japa. The kids that lived across the street started yelling "hey sheet boy! hey sheet boy! The family even walked over just to see who he was and what the hell he was doing walking around in sheets. This nick name stuck with him until today. On the ride Blake took a break engaging himself in his favorite activity of eating reeses peanut butter cups and kicking a rock around. Those shorts are lycra not spandex, don't laugh! In Coos Head we met the local organic farmers at the co-op and they hooked us up with veggies for our mid day sandwiches. We stopped at the local thrift store for Blake to buy some warm clothes then we rode off to hit the seven devils. Seven devils are theses huge hills. We didn't even know what we were getting into when they started. Switching back and forth through neighborhoods we just kept riding and riding. The hills never stopped. It was like riding a bike in San Fransicso over and over again for hours. While riding we met our good friend from Germany. He was a priest who was taking a vacation like us. In Nitai's words "Bonified". He preached to us abut celibacy and the need to have good association in order to last th elong haul out of material life. His parish takes nice care of him and in turn he can take nice care of everyone spiritually. He was very joyful and we kept meeting him for the next week on the road. Oregon has one of the nicest bike routes . Practically didn't even need a map.

reedsport

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Reedsport
August 7th

48 miles

We woke up to a most scenic view of sea stacks and sea bridges. I showered in the bathroom Indian train style with my lota. The other boys made friends with the local firefighters and used the showers in the fire department. We chanted and did yoga on the rocks and then ate whatever we had to eat. The day started with a ride up a big hill. The book said it was a "lumpy ride" but it was still tough. We rode the huge hill and took darshan of hundreds of sea lions. That was at the top of the hill. It was always a satisfying feeling to ride down a hill going 35 miles per hour and see others struggle up each hill. It as satisfying on our part but also we felt empathy knowing how big of a struggle it is to go up that hill. Poor chaps. Only they knew what kind of struggles we will meet in the miles to come and only we knew what struggle they would meet later in the day. The rest of the day was flat riding through sand dunes. It was hot and dry. Earlier yesterday we met a group of 7 girls riding from all parts of America. We met them and pedalled very fast as to not end up camping next to them. They were all pretty fast riders so we kept meeting up to them at various times. This evening as we pulled into our camping area there they were! How did they pass us? I guess when we stopped they rode and when they stopped we rode. Something like that. We kept meeting friends like this along our way. Before dusk we stopped at a local skate park and met a few of the skaters. Our favorite one was this little boy who talked a lot and skated with his feet strapped in innertubes. We rode into a camp ground and some old guy started to wave us over. I guess he knew what we were up to. We hesitated to come over but he called us again and again so we came over. he was a nice guy and asked us what we were up to. We asked about sleeping on the sand dunes and he said it was a bad idea and better we stayed with him. His name was mike and he was living at this camping spot for the past month. He sold sea shells that were painted on and made little to no money. He said we could stay with him and if anyone said anything he would cover us by saying we were his kids. He liked us a lot and offered us cheap sodas and bologna sandwiches. We told him all about ourselves and he was very interesed. He told us about his early life meeting Hare Krishnas and asked us to chant for him. We had hot tea and chanted next to the fire. I think this evening was the first and only time we actually used out tent. Other than that we just bivey sacked it. We slept that evening being quite scared since mike told us all about some wild racoon and wild cat that attacked a few people the weekend before. We chanted Narasimha Mantras and slept close together.

Yachats

August 6th
Lincoln city to Yachats
50 miles

Cold ride today. Not difficult terrain. Saw prehistoric sacrificial arena called "Devils Punchbowl". Note the blood on the picture. Crossed a few bridges which are always fun and dangerous. A few whales appeared to enjoy the beautiful environment. Its wonderful to see pine trees on your left and the ocean on your right. Blake decided to eat all the Barbaras blueberry fig newtons. He even took a picture of himself doing so. Every aquarium on the way was closed. One enjoyable part of the trip was seeing the Kite surfers. An extreme sport where surfers strap parachute like kites to their bodies and travel at like 35 miles per hour three four miles out into the ocean and come back then fly ten twenty and sometimes fifty feet into the air. They come crashing back to the water and shatter their ankles. In Yachats we stopped in a small market and made our famous sanwiches and ate them in the parkinglot. We hung out with the locals and learned that we could sleep in the park. We ended up sleeping at the park on some rocks. I was scared of the thunderous waves so i prevented us from sleeping on the sand below. Sleeping there could have led us to our death while enlcosed in our mummy bags. It is a general rule that you shouldn't sleep so close to the water especially when its pitch black and you don't know where you are. Either the tide comes in or the sea monsters get you.

Hanumanji Ki Jaya!!

kapi-dhvajah--one whose flag is marked with Hanuman

























We needed protection and speed.
So our prayers were fulfilled and Hanumanji appeared by the Vaisnava's mercy.

Chapter 1. Observing the Armies on the Battlefield of Kuruksetra

TEXT 20

atha vyavasthitan drstva
dhartarastran kapi-dhvajah
pravrtte sastra-sampate
dhanur udyamya pandavah
hrsikesam tada vakyam
idam aha mahi-pate

SYNONYMS
atha--thereupon; vyavasthitan--situated; drstva--looking upon; dhartarastran--the sons of Dhrtarastra; kapi-dhvajah--one whose flag is marked with Hanuman; pravrtte--while about to engage; sastra-sampate--the arrows released; dhanuh--bow; udyamya--after taking up; pandavah--the son of Pandu (Arjuna); hrsikesam--unto Lord Krsna; tada--at that time; vakyam--words; idam--these; aha--said; mahi-pate--O King.

TRANSLATION
O King, at that time Arjuna, the son of Pandu, who was seated in his chariot, his flag marked with Hanuman, took up his bow and prepared to shoot his arrows, looking at the sons of Dhrtarastra. O King, Arjuna then spoke to Hrsikesa [Krsna] these words:

PURPORT
The battle was just about to begin. It is understood from the above statement that the sons of Dhrtarastra were more or less disheartened by the unexpected arrangement of military force by the Pandavas, who were guided by the direct instructions of Lord Krsna on the battlefield. The emblem of Hanuman on the flag of Arjuna is another sign of victory because Hanuman cooperated with Lord Rama in the battle between Rama and Ravana, and Lord Rama emerged victorious. Now both Rama and Hanuman were present on the chariot of Arjuna to help him. Lord Krsna is Rama Himself, and wherever Lord Rama is, His eternal servitor Hanuman and His eternal consort Sita, the goddess of fortune, are present. Therefore, Arjuna had no cause to fear any enemies whatsoever. And above all, the Lord of the senses, Lord Krsna, was personally present to give him direction. Thus, all good counsel was available to Arjuna in the matter of executing the battle. In such auspicious conditions, arranged by the Lord for His eternal devotee, lay the signs of assured victory.

trying, really trying...

August 6th
We were really trying to leave but too tired....
Our napping provided just enough time for a very special friend to join the trip.....

Chaco golf.

1st chaco golf tournament champion



Chaco golf...
So we made up a new game. Just like in that movie 2001 space odysey the apes figured out how to use the bones as tools and weapons, we figured out how to use our chaco sandals for sporting tournaments. chaco's are some of the best sandals ever. Some will disagree and vote for the brikenstocks or this sumer the hot sandal was the Crocks. The Crocks are too light for use in this sport and the birkenstocks just are not sporty enough. First we wished we had kites, because they looked quite fun in this windy place. We had zero dollars so that was out of the question. Next we wished we had a frisbee but it was actually too windy to use one anyways. We chanted for some time and then the light bulb appeared and I explained the new sport. Perfect. The rules are the same as frisbee golf. Pick a tree, stump, house, car, rock, hole, whatever as a marker. Bet on how many throws it'll take you to hit the mark then go for it. Make a line, back up a bit, then run and kick your heart out. the sandal is supposed to go flying off your foot and launch a good number of yard in front of you. Alternate kicks and see who hits the mark in the least number of trys. Its great fun. I recommend all of you get out there and start playing. We want to send a demo video to chaco and see if they'll sponsor us for free sandals. I think its a good idea and it can catch on quick!