{"id":6486,"date":"2019-12-18T15:33:30","date_gmt":"2019-12-18T10:03:30","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.padayatra.com\/?p=6486"},"modified":"2019-12-18T15:33:30","modified_gmt":"2019-12-18T10:03:30","slug":"the-bruce-trail-in-canada-2","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.padayatra.com\/padayatra-new\/the-bruce-trail-in-canada-2\/","title":{"rendered":"THE BRUCE TRAIL IN CANADA"},"content":{"rendered":"

by Bhaktimarga Swami<\/p>\n

The image was so vivid – autumn leaves spiraling down from the heights of hardwoods.\u00a0 Our eyes were widened to the stark reds, oranges, and yellows.\u00a0 It was captivating.\u00a0 A magical descent.\u00a0 Prettier than snow.\u00a0 Beauty reigned for sure.\u00a0 We saw it also in the lichen, fungi, and mushrooms.\u00a0 David sees it in the wild ginger.\u00a0 He forged some for the dhal to be cooked up for later on.\u00a0 For snacks along the trail, Oksana brought her baked muffins.\u00a0 Jaya, ambling in pace, was quiet, focused on japa meditation.\u00a0 Gyan is more talkative, and while in queue\u00a0 behind me, repeated the mantra, ‘be careful’.\u00a0 At one point along the rocky trail I had to say, ‘please don’t mother me’.\u00a0 Gyan means well.\u00a0 His consistent smile redeems it for me.<\/p>\n

And, there was Christopher, his first day with us.\u00a0 He resembles Jesus somewhat, with his full beard.\u00a0 During our trek today, he lost balance twice, slipped and fell.\u00a0 So did I, fall, but not like the leaves.\u00a0It was my first fall since starting the Bruce Trail in the summer of 2018.\u00a0 I’m able to make the time when available, on which occasion I bring friends.\u00a0 One day, a group of southeast Asian students came along, numbering 35.\u00a0 They LOVED it – ‘it’s all green!’ said one (it was summertime).\u00a0 New to them, also, was the frivolous water fun.\u00a0 After 10 kms walking in grand Lake Ontario, ‘isn’t that an ocean?’ asked another.<\/p>\n

Challenges:\u00a0 The Bruce Trail is a 900 km path along the Niagara Escarpment, where the terrain is mostly angular.\u00a0 At one point the trail, a creek the rocks and leaves all merged.\u00a0 It is tough to gain a foothold. But, for the most part, the day is one of rhapsody.\u00a0 There are plenty of waterfalls to calm any nerves.\u00a0 I take it back – no challenges.\u00a0 I’ve done 1\/5th of the trail.<\/p>\n

The greatest reward of a day like today on a Sunday October morning, 2019, is the culmination of our walk – a visit to a god-brother, Giri Jadhava, my former\u00a0sankirtan<\/em>\u00a0leader of my early monkhood days.\u00a0 He prepared a great meal for our walking group.\u00a0 The apple cider was a big hit, even after a mere 9 km hike.<\/p>\n

And let it be noted that a walk like this builds up gratitude.<\/p>\n