We woke up early and got ready. This place they had locked the bathrooms. So we had to wait for one of the volunteers to wake up and give us the key. We packed up. Tea was ready so we had tea and started walking around 6:45 am. We walked to Raverkhedi and stopped at an Ashram on the roadside. There was a small store in front of the ashram. Baiju asked him if we could buy Poha. He just told us to go into the ashram and sit. We will get Prasad and Tea. We sat there for sometime. Baiju took pictures to post on Google map. The Prasad was Poha with Tea. We ate and left. Every time we stop for rest or to eat, it takes us 5-10 minutes to put our shoes on and sling the backpack on our back with straps and all. But we are getting better at it each time. We continued walking. Shermanth Bajirao Peshwa’s Samadhi is located at the Narmada Bank nearby. We walked to the Samadhi (Tomb) and were surprised with how beautiful the place was. They have maintained it well. We only stayed for ten minutes or so but enjoyed the serenity of the place. The Samadhi was built in 1740. Bajirao was one of the great Maratha Peshwa (Prime Minister). He died at the age of 39 in this location leading an army of 100,000 men. He got fever and suddenly died. We reached Mardana village around 11:30am. We were looking for the lunch place but we had walked past the turning for the Harihar Kuti. Unaware of this we were just walking, when one person on a motorcycle stopped us and asked if we are doing Ekadasi fast or have had lunch? We said we would have lunch. He said we missed the raid
For the Ashram. He guided us to the Harihar Kuti. Today morning I was thinking that we have not had any fruit in last few days. Baiju commented that her would love to have a Banana. Anyway when we got to the Ashram. The Guruji there had finished the lunch for those who were there. But he cooked again for us three. And the gentleman who had guided us came and gave us Banana each while we waited for the lunch to get ready. We ate lunch and rested for some time. We met one Hardik Muni. He has a Kutira on the Bank of Narmada and he asked to stop there on our way. All the people we are meeting are extremely helpful. On our walk whenever we come to a fork in the road and there are no markings, all we have to do is say “Narmade Har” loudly , someone will guide us. This is called local live GPS. After lunch and eat we set on our way again. We were walking in has sun and dreaming of cold Limca drink. After about an out of walking we come to a small village where we found a Kirana Store and drank Sprite. We walked some more and saw four Sadhus sitting under a tree on the way. We had seen them in the morning and notes that they had also started the Parikrama from Omkareshwar on the same day. We had only cordially acknowledged them. But things were about to change. One of them was bandaging his toes before putting on socks to walk. Baiju offered his sandals, which he had picked up in Bangaluru. First the Sadhu refused. But when Baiju insisted, he said he will pay. I told Baiju just tell him a small amount so that he doesn’t feel like he is taking charity. . Baiju told him Rs. 10 and he took the sandals. He put them on. The size seems to fit exactly. He immediately paid the money and we started walking together. We reached Mardana and took a short break water and tea. We walked on and reached Bhatiyan. Avadhoot Saint Shree Siyarama Baba Ashram. The Baba is 100 years old and has local followers. They help him run the Ashram. He only will take Rs. 10 from anyone who comes to see
Him. Even if you give him a larger bill he will give the change back. We shared a room with the four Sadhus and also our driver(Sunil). He did not have a blanket so I gave mine. There was a cooler fan that was blowing cold air at high speed though the setting said low. After dinner we all settled for the night. Everyone except me was ready to turn off the cooler. I cooled down after few minutes and turned off the cooler. Everyone in the room almost clapped. We finished 22 kms. today.
