movieksetra

August 10th
Gold Beach to Illegal Camping at Jedediah Smith State Park.

Today we were quite excited. We had two choices. One, to ride across the Oregon border into California just to get state number two out of the way. Or two, ride into the Redwoods state park and get our first glimpse at the giant redwoods. This particular forest was the forest which Return of the Jedi was filmed. For young boys this was a great pilgrimage spot.

We chose the movieksetra. The ride was not too difficult but it was cold while entering the forest area. The roads were flat and we were surrounded by trees. we had no idea where we would stay as usual. We just kept the look out for a river for bathing. We stopped into the State park ranger station and the girl who worked there was celebrating her birthday. She was from Maryland and quite happy to speak with anyone from abroad about the park. She gave us good advice about where to "stay" and ride our bicycles through the best of forests.

We ended up riding on a dirt road for some time and it became pitch black. With our little bike lights we found a spot to camp just off the road. We had to be camp in such a way as to not get caught but the desire to have kirtan in this most wonderful place was too strong. We started playing the kartals, harmonium and mrdanga. a most melodious mahamantra filled the air and set the proper prayerful mood to remember great sages of the past and their meditating in the forest. At the very moment of our reaching a very calming place a ranger came driving right next to us. We all stopped abruptly and ducked down. Each of us was ready to accept our defeat and thouht up a million excuses for breaking the law. Fortunately, somehow he did not see us. We waited for some time, then chanted a bit more and fell asleep praying that ghosts, bears and ewoks don't disturb us.