Last night after I went to sleep a whole bunch of ladies came around 10:30 and started talking very loudly. Couldn’t sleep for a while. Finally fell asleep. Again at 3:30 the ladies were up rushing to get ready to go to the boat. I got up and got ready quickly. I was outside ready to go at 4:30 am. Luckily tea was ready. We waiting around on the roadside watching people get into small vans and go to the boat site. Can’t call it a dock.
Sunilji has decided to come in the boat and have a local driver bring the car over to the other side. The driver came at about 5:45an. He dropped us near a small wooden plank bridge. It was still dark. I used the headlamp we had brought. We crossed on the small bridge made of thin 2” slats held together with rope. I was very glad for the headlamp. I had my stick with me and a small bag with water and coconuts and prayer items to offer in the ocean at the spot where Narmada River joins. I was bare feet. Walking on a wet mud path to where the boat was anchored. We had to wait for ten minutes for the tide to come in and raise the water level before we could board to boat. There were about 150 people. Three boats were filled to capacity and then some. Our boat had starting trouble. Sunilji help them get it started. We were off. It was about 6:45 am.The sun was just rising. Weather was perfect.
The next ashram. For the same place we got three different numbers. 9km, 11km, and 15km. I was thinking of walking. But when we looked on GPS the place was actually 14km. I decided to drive. As we got out of the ashram the road went through heavy industrial area. The road was as usual full of potholes. Decision to drive was a good one. We stopped at the ashram in Suva Gaon. But did not feel comfortable to stay for the day. There was no path for walking to the next ashram other than the highway. We continued to drive. We got to Kevat Ashram in Bharbut town on the bank of Narmada River. This the first time I have seen the River in last 5-6 days. We will stay here tonight. Tomorrow I hope to walk. The ashram is small but nice. There is a Ram Sita temple and Narmada Temple. Next door there is a Shiva temple. Each temple does their own prayers and Artis in the evenings. Dinner came around 7:00. Khichadi, Kadi, Chapati and Subbji with sweet Besen Barfi. Way too much good food. I could not finish. And I had to walk after dinner. Let’s see how much I can walk tomorrow.