The books say that red flowers might not be offered. Still today the garlands had white snapdragons and red roses. Mango,yellow and blue. The shade of blue that Gandharvika would choose for herself. A long sleeve choli.
The usual route today. Along the beach's opalcliff around the metephysical book store past the old movie theater that is now more like a playhouse featuring mostly live acts. To the overlooking of sunny cove behind the radio station past the tennis courts and off to the asrama.
The orange pannelskirt this evening. Giridhari has a vest and sash while Mahaprabhu has a thin belt. Yeah, the flower back drop stayed one more night.

"Are those new bangles Giridhari has?" asked the seamstress. "No,he's had them for years." i answered. "Who made the crowns?" Was someone else's question. "I've not seen such a flower dress before". "Stunning isn't it?" A third said. "Look Giridhari isn't wearing a shirt" A young girl said as she showed one of her young friends. Everyone was taking pictures in a happy mood. This day is the tenth anniversary of the installation of the Deities.
Vyau must have been celebrating today too. There was much less of his influence today. The memorial day holiday brought out many pedalers. Some out for seeing the scenery others doing errands and some were pedaling hard to see if they could fit all they wanted to pedal into the time they were aloted.
This evening i opted to leave the flower backdrop. A long day with celebration..prasadam, speeches, kirtans and reading the pastimes of Mahaprabhu. After this the Deities wanted to be put to bed early.

The watercolor lotus flowers grow and by Gurudeva's mercy they overflow with Gaura prema. Yes, this dress is painted silk. i'm sure it's not really water color it's light and airy like a teacher i had in elementary school used to describe to us. Very summer like for this first of the season.
Still the wind keeps it's presence. Still we pedalers are going on. Today i saw four tandems. i don't see so many of them but there they were. Along the beach and by the harbor. One was on the block of the Harley shop and another was at the roller skating rink. Some wave one called out "Hello there".
This evening's dress see Giridhari in red with Gandharvika has deep blue and Mahaprabhu is wearing the colors of a peacock. That is a royal blue and lime green. Their hair hadn't been done for a few days but today it happened. They had many flowers scattered throughout. But only the hairdresser and i know for sure.

"I found the true red for Radharani" that's what the garlnad maker said to me today."I made her an all rose garland." Giridhari's had interesting flowers mixed in with the roses. It went down to his feet where it had followed the curve in his leg. Mahaprabhu's was to his knees with a variety of flowers also. It was dark moon day so they wore their honey bee, Madhuvrata, dress to go with these garlands.
Another day of vyau. From the arama to the bike trip for a couple of tubes. Returning via the road to the trader for parama ana ingredients. Then back the winding road to the asrama door to cook up the parma ana.
Such opportunities that come unsaught are certainly the most blessed event, this evening's night dress.

"Wow, that's dazzling" One person said as they saw Giridhari's purple coat with gold sequins sewn on. Pink dhoti and turban like a dancing actor charming the whole of creation with the sound of his flute. Mahaprabhu and Gandharvika have mostly pink. Gandharvika wore pearl earrings today to go with her rhinestone nose ring and chain. Mahaprabhu's chodder is narrow and there are pearls sewn onto his kirta with purple flowers in the boarder of his dhoti. Okay,enough is enough, shut up kid.
The wind was strong today. Vyau was having some fun with us pedalers today. Pedaling into the wind was like going up hill. It probably will make me stronger for the calmer days. Still the challenge always increases joy of completing the errands in the same time.
Once upon a time i called this evening's dress "Peacock persuasion" since the colors were those of the peacock. i could have called it so many other things with some of the gifts that people gave Mahaprabhu on that Gaura Purnima it was offered. But as i may have said before to explain the names i would have to have told them lies.

"This outfit is the best! It's so flashy! I love it" that's what my fine assistant had to say about this one. "Is this called parsely,sage, rosemary and thyme?" He asked. "Yes" Giridhari's coat and chodder lift and show the motion of dancing. Today Gandharvika's silver grey pleats in the front of her skirt are part of the plan and not just to make for the lack of cloth aloted for her sari.
Today the kala rupa played another trick on me. It arranged for me wake the Deities in time to pedal past the bicycle trip make a hairpin turn back along the east cliff beach to the asrama and then take the ocr1 in for a check up. Then catch a ride to the asrama for the sandhya arati.
Then after that sandhya arati and the sayana bhoga help the Deities on with their night dress. That i've been allowed such service, it's a miracle mom, an outfit that of course was made so well and so fast for Srila Prabhupada's vyasa puja that it made our heads spin

"Oh yeah" The seamstress said as i reminded her of why Mahaprabhu's sash was a little lower than usual in this dress. "There wasn't any cloth for his kirta and so you had to use something from a chodder". "And the orange pannels in Gandharvika's skirt are there because otherwise it wasn't big enough" That's all part of getting outfits made in India where they are used to deity clothes. That's why people pay them big rupeees (hahaha)
Well it was a different kind of pedaling today. In the afternoon i went out to get a new tube and no sooner had i done that then i had another flat. Then in the evening i wasinvited to the young people's class. That took me down toward town but up in the highway's direction following the street to the end and into the apartment complex where it was a little out of the way but by the sound of mrdanga and karatalas it was easy to find.
Giridhari's long coat with thread that looks one color from one direction and another from a different.. Gandharvika's sari is quite well done looking like the real thing.

Have you seen the Deities? This dress has all the colors of the rainbow. That's one reason why they wear it on Ekadasi. With all the colors no matter what day Ekadasi comes that day's color is somewhere in the dress. Today the garlands were made with flowers that were picked from the asrama land.
Even though each day i have a plan of which way i'm going to pedal some days Krsna plays with them. Today was like that. i started one way but the flow of cars sent me in another direction. Of course that increases the fun of pedaling and the Gaura smaranam
Tonight's dress may be a little heavy for the spring nights, but then again the temperature does go down at night here so it's best that whatever the time of year they have a night dress or two that's extra warm

When the seamstress descibed this dress to me she talked about the belt but she emphazied the chodder. That's how it became the amazing technicolor dream chodder. But the belt is just as impressive. Made as good as the jari kind they sell in India and with just as imaginitive design. Gandharvika has a pale blue sari that was the first to have the veil attached. A nice feature.
With bike to work week over things got back to a usual pace today. At least this one was dry. i think there were fewer pedalers today. i went down from the asram and through the village then back past the sunny cove past the windmill bike shop. Between the twin lakes accross the bridge and back along the road with the animal hospital and the people one too. Then back to the asram
The greatful dvip this evening. A quiet end to a quite type day..

The lime green and purple. Silver trims complete this one. The jewelry made by a couple of folks features necklaces, bangles, and earrings. Gandharvika has a short skirt with a piece on the bottom of her slip that is made to finish the skirt. There are flat silver balls that have beads glued on one side. The seamstress insistis that the beads show. On a few there aren't beads she didn't know that and seemed surprised.
The rain was back today but there was a train ride to a town a few miles up the road which took everybody so they could pedal down highway 9 back to the place from which they began. Quite a hard trip there must have been over one hundred pedalers. Brakes squealed tires fish tailed pedalers laughed and worried their ways back.
The touch that kills is the night's dress. One of the most stunning ones with it's chinese silk and satan.

No doubt about it. Havirbhu gets my vote as the most elegant outfit. The Chinese silk is super rich and embroidered, soft and lovely. Still this one with it's small designs the bells on Gandharvika's skirt, the sheer chodders and sash for Mahaprabhu and Giridhari make this a dress fit for a king.
Today was supposed to be like yesterday, but there was no rain and the pedalers didn't hide. They took advantage of the overcast to sunny day to get out. There were a couple of teams and pacelines. Also there were those like me out for the fun and to do a few errands. Then out of nowhere the rear tire went flat. But in just a few minutes i'd fixed the puncuture and was off again. past the geese and through the harbor and back again to wake the Deities and offer the sandhya arati
Certainly days without rain are blessed events as the night dress suggested and reminds of the vyasa puja of Srila Prabhupada, the most blessed event,for he has taken a hick from the southern Indiana and made a pujari. Who says you can't make a silk purse from a sow's ear?

There she is Gandharvika in a white sari with different colors of beads designs of flowers of sorts. A belt with seed beads and concentric stones and pearls forming drapes. Giridhari has a deep purple velvet coat and chodder of the sane shade. His dhoti is also purple but a lighter shade. Mahaprabhu has a smoky blue with silver “coins” on his chest.
And weren’t those raindrops that covered your glasses today? Well, sometimes you gets wet. Still there were those pedalers that braved the weather.
This evening it is the one that was offered along with a curly wig for Mahaprabhu that reminded me of the days of black power. If i told that to anyone though they might like it so i’d have to tell them lies

Green, yellow with just a himt of both red and black. The way to re-establishing our lost relationship with Mahaprabhu, Gandharvika and Giridhari is by following the devotees, the angles, who are in touch with that plane of consciousness. This dress was offered on the appearance day of the guardian of devotion, one of the chief angles in the camp of Rupa Goswami, Srila Sridhara Maharaja.
Even though there was a fog this morning, still the pedaler's apprentice wanted to take me to a pedal to work breakfast. So we took off down the road to one of the places that were offering. But since we were going to a point at the beach the fog must have been just too much for all concerned and when we got there so evidence of such things going on was present.
The lion on the chase, mostly purple with green. The silas have all purple with gold trim. Mahaprabhu has multicolored chodder and sash, Gandharivka has a purple panel in the front of her skirt and a purple veil. Giridhari has a purple dhoti his coat is long and green while his chodder is purple and gold. Made to be offered in the twilight time,at the apearance of Nrsingha deva.

The aruna har posse rides again. It's been a month since they wore this dress. But the gang came back today. The beads hanging from both Giridhari's chodder and Gandharvika's veil also make a rainbow effect the clear beads of pink and white color with the light shining through surrond them with color.
"Isn't terrible to have to stop for a red light at the bottom of a hill like this?" That's what a fellow pedaler asked me as we did just that. "Yes," i replied, "After you've gotten the speed built up and everything" he added. "Yes", i agreed, "Now we have to start all over again and this time it's up hill". Then the green appeared and we were off again. He did go on up the hill but i went to the left which went down another little hill before going up again. i went on by the harbor over the bridge to the road that the bike trip is on and rounded the block before turning back up to the asrama.
This evening a Radhastami dress was the night dress. While i was dressing them in it for the first time the reader of the Caitanya Caritamrta had come to a verse where some devotees were searching for Krsna. They came upon some female deer and asked "Oh dear doe have you seen Krsna?" the reader made a point of spelling the word d-e-e-r so we'd all know what he was saying. That became the name then, i couldn't resist.

Gandharvika wore her beautiful blue sari today. Mahaprabhu mango orange and Giridhari yellow with a purple sash and chodder. Mahaprabhu had green sash and chodder. The garlands of fragile flowers growing here on the asrama's land gave a finishing touch. The flowers of spring are in their season now and offering themselves at the lotus feet of the Deities who make the flowers more beautiful.
Wow what a day for pedaling! Twice around the usual loop. From the seva asrama past the animal hospital to the east cliff and around the natural bridge and back.
The orange panel outfit this evening a delicate ending to quite a day

You can't have it your way and the crowns showed that today. Mahaprabhu's needed a pujari pin to keep itin place which wasn't so bad. Giridhari's was a whole different thing. His top knot was too far forward so it took quite a tussle to get it just right. And even though i did the best i might i'm not certain quite that in the end i had it right. The red, cream and teal are a unique combination.
There was a fog again today, but the pedalers just didn't lose their way. Around the bike shop across from the harley place back by the roller rink and between the geese at twin lakes. Onto east cliff where the sufferers had all gone home. Up wharf road back to the asrama for the sandhya arati.
They were greatful this evening when i got them ready for rest on time unlike some nights recently. Laid on the bed decorated with aromatic flowers to allow them to happily engage in their pastimes.

A warm day today and what a day for the Cutty Sark. A short skirt would help keep Gandharvika cool. But as Srila Prabhupada once said, “It’s better to have a cool head then cool legs” so Gandharvika has a longer skirt to wear under the short one. The deep blue of Mahaprabhu and the Yellow of Giridhari make a contrast to Gandharivka’s deep red.
Quick was the pedaler today. Following behind a training team pulled me along . That’s what happens when the common pedaler follows in the tire tracks of the great ones.
And in the ninth, the love he gave was equal to the love he made. Guru Maharaja gave us his own coin which he spent his whole life minting.

White on purnima and this white dress was ordered by SGM himself. Chinese type silk with the gold trim. Giridhari has a turban with beads and broches. His cape has a yellow back and white front. Since it was offered on his vyasa puja it'c called across the universe.
The pedalers were out in force today. Some listening to music and those that weren't sang to themselves. It was that kind of afternoon. Onederful, twoderful, it was all the way to threederful!
The festivalis over now. Quite a couple of days so much opportunity for increasing our serving captial, it's no wonder tonight's dress is the most blessed event.

A new dress today for Nrsingha Caturdasi. Sikhi picca camara. Peacock fan. This dress is burgandy with teal and a little green and peacock feathers. All the folks said it was one of the most beautiful they've seen. Made in Vrndavana and assembled here.
Pedaling along today i saw several cars that would pass me but later they would pass me again. They must have been somewhere on errands that just happened to bring them past me a second time. i don't think i was pedaling that fast. Hahahaha.
Even though i could have taken the easy way out, that is to leave them in the new dress on for the next day too. Somehow or other i just had to tell them lies to get to change the dress again tonight.

A patka, that's what it's called. i say that to the pujaapprentice. He couldn't figgure it out for the price of a mana of rice. Gandharvika's sari also had him foxed. It is the orignal one piece that fastens with velcro in the back. Her coli is like the one from the true value of a silk turban. The back has a very intricate design since that's the only part that is seen. Of course Mahaprabhu has the peacock from the backdrop from days long gone by on his chest which makes this the oldest of all, but in a new dress.
Once i've pedaled down the asrama driveway, gotten out on the road, experienced shifting into my normal gear and felt the wind blow through the vents in my helmet, i'm ready to pedal forever. Up 'till then it's been a little bit of a struggle this week. i don't think it's age, it must be more the festival comming tomorrow and the worn out feeling that i'm feeling. But what i feel right now has come and gone before so i'll just pedal the mood out.
Vraja was here at for the madyana kalia arati today and this evening they wore the"i saw Vraja kissing Santa Claus" dress. The Lord works in strange ways, huh?

Mahaprabhu has a turban in todays dress. The only one he does. Giridhari has small roses that bind the pleats in his skirt together. Gandharivka has beads that come from the sleeves of her coli like finge. An outfit the SGM liked very much.
Down the stretch i went today. Around the natural bridge and back along the west and east cliff road. Past the old rail tressel over the San Lorenzo back onto Broadway between the ever popular twin lakes and past the sunny cove. Back to get some fruit and milk for sweet rice and burfy to return to the asrama to ccok.
This evening the diamond that had been lost for some days revealed itself on the sila's cusion as the lotus nails made their way into the night.

There are those who think i should call this dress "red, white and blue" or "9/11" because they see the silver chodders as white i think. But it's silver and the blue isn't flag blue, it's the color of Giridhari himself. At the time she was making it the seamstress was constantly asking herself and even me sometimes if it would look right on him. After they saw it all the people liked it. Giridhari's chodder is lacey and full and flowing. Mahaprabhu's is more solid. Gandharvika's veil is a little toward the lacey also. The jewelry is silver and red with a little blue. i suppose that might also lead to the "red,white and blue" name. hmmmm. no.
Pedaling through the late afternoon the air was cooler than in the mid day and the sun was less intense. The pedalers were still out in force though. Some folks carrying fishing gear, and all their worldly belongings and others who count each and every gram. But all pedalers are the most interesting people out there.
The meeting of the lions club this evening sees that Gandharvika's nose jewel has went missing perhaps it will reveal itself to me in the morning. After all

Giridhari's yellow dhoti with blue stars illuminate his blue body. His cape also has blue stars. Mahaprabhu has orange pants with a royal blue chodder over a multi colored kirta. Gandharvika wears a blue coli and green, blue, red ruffles in her skirt. Her veil is the same multicolors as Mahaprabhu's chodder. They wear this one on the first Ekadasi of each month. The cape with it's jeweled clasp was the first one he had made.
As the gasoline prices go higher one of the folks here told me that soon everyone will be pedaling. Wow can you imagine the streets with no cars? Only pedalers, i don't know if i can. No need for carpool lanes a league of pedalers.
And after an Ekadasi day everyone is greatful to see that the Deities have taken rest for the evening. That way they know the vow is almost complete.

In today's dress Gandharvika's coli goes on in a unique way. That is the left sleeve is sewn together in the usual way but the right side is open to be closed when dressing her in it. All part of the learning of what is the best way to make clothes for people who don't seem to move from one position. Of course the Deites do move but it's only visible to those who they choose. Srila Prabhupada told us that one day if we serve properly we would be able to see the Deities dance on the altar. Then it wouldn't be necessary to depend on how Giridhari's waist coat was lifted and the pleat of his dhoti was raised, will be able to see it happen..
Maybe the sun fried my brain a bit today. It was one of the first days of full warm sun this season and so many pedalers took full advantage. i pedaled my usual route but felt a bit more drained than usual. Blame it on the sunny day. Oh yeah.
This evening as i dressed them i was remembering how any touch of the true service of the Deities can kill all material desire. When will that day come?

Even though the hand embroidery and all the petals were quite impressive, what really wowed out SGM were the multicolored bracelets Gandharvika wore. It was Radhastami and the flower back drop and vases, crowns and were the talk of the town. They stood and took close looks at Gandharvika's wrists.
A double pedal session today. Both went between the twin lakes and up by the public radio. Many single pedalers in their team colors side by side with senior citizens out for a lesurely jaunt. The sun brings all out and makes partners in the strangest ways.
A fitting night. A new dress for Nrshima Caturdasi was ready for fitting tonight. The notes made and then the night dress, the most blessed event was what they wore into their night lila.

Well it's Friday and that means purple. The Easter stoles the priests wear are purple. Saint Patrick was he a super hero? Giridhari is the superest of heros and in this dress he has a cape which at one time was one of the surest thing to be in a super hero's wardrobe. At a the Gaura Purnima festival when this dress was offered, the devotees were waiting for the arati to begin. They were anxious to see the new outfit. But there were some students coming for the celebration so i was asked to wait 'till they arrived. The deovotees grew more anxious. They were so happy when the curtain opened that it seemed that Mahaprabhu may have arranged it all to make the dress seem even more spectacular by making them wait a few extra minutes to get their first glimpse.
This afternoon it was a dash to get some pedaling in. Nothing more than the useal but the kalarupa was racing me all the way i arrived for the arati breathing hard and heavy but some how Mahaprabhu allowed me to getit in on time.
And while dressing the Deities in their night clothes the kalarupa had a little more fun with me. The clock stopped so i couldn't know what the hour was becoming by hearing the chime of the the usually faithfull representation of the the form of time. It seemed to indicate that was the way i was told lies this evening.

So many rushed together to make a peacock feather coat for Giridhari. Beading each feather then sewing them together. Gandharvika has a green sari with pink choli with a peacock feather at each point of the gold trim along the boarder of her skirt. Mahaprabhu has a gold bundi with a pink and green design under the chin. The choli and pants of Giridhari show that it's one of the earliest dresses and the paterns hadn't been quite worked out fully.
The sun was back today. Up, back and round about many pedalers took to the road today. There was one paceliine comming toward the asrama that let me tag along. Otherwise there were the basketball players at the court in the park and joggers on the opal cliffs. The songs of blue jays and turtle doves could be heard along the beach roads and near the asrama too. Spring may be arriving yet.
After this day, It's a miracle mom,that the Deities are in their night dress in time. Gandharvika has another pair of peacocks on her palo. A lighter purple for her and deeper shade of the same for Mahaprabhu

T.Rock today. The seamstress says it's pink and i've always thought it was red. Giridhari's skirt and chodder are the classic great society style, very large, long and flowing. Gandharvika's veil is in the same mold, short and small. Coupled with the big carnation garlands there was a feeling of being transported to another time and place.
An overcast and gloomy day. Chilly but dry enought that the pedalers didn't hide away. The usual from twin lakes down Gateway's i pedaled past the houses, stores, and gasoline stations. On the trek back to the asrama i passed the harbor, boats, and a bicycle/coffee shop. Construction makes the roads feel rougher but in the end i'm sure they'll be smooth as glass.
The one and only silver night dress. Pale green with a grey-silver design of little flowers. Gandharivka has a belt that features a rose in the center. Mahaprabhu's kirta is very short but the skirt and chodder make up for it. Giridhari's skirt is almost as large as the one fromthe day.

Apple blossom garlands today. i think the garland maker stealthily went out to the apple tree and picked the blossoms. The yellow of Giridhari combine with the blue of Gandharvika in the green of Mahaprabhu. Gandharvika's sari has a ganga-yamuna look to it. There are designs of thread that looks both colors depending on the light and the angle you view it from. This is the only dress which all three wear different crowns. Mahaprabhu wears gold jari, Giridhari the peacock and effulgence and Gandharvika a silvery gold with red and blue.
The pedals took me by the hospital, then a muffler shop rolling over the harbor high football field laughing as i'm passing the fiberglass sufferer board store. Slipping under the bridge near the bear up and around fast eddy taking the ralph back to the asrama.
An orange/grey dress tonight. Giridhari has a large vest and Gandharivka a pannel skirt. Mahaprabhu is about the same as most of his outfits, dhoti, chodder and sash. They smiled for the camera on Thursday and showed to a flower merchant who donated a big box of gardenias and roses.

A long sleeve choli for Gandharvika today. It was the first one she had. It's easy to see that it's one of the earliest dresses since this choli isn't divided into two. Giridhari has a belt that hangs down the front pleat of his dhoti. As well as the two big peacocks on her palo, there are several smallones in the sequins on the rest of the sari.
'Cause it was Monday there weren't any radical groups riding trainers and giving inspiring speeches. Just the usual every day pedalers. People riding mountain bikes that have never been on a hill bigger than the ones the road has to offer. Something like suvs and trucks equiped to handle the worst thing that nature can throw at them but never venture off the highway. No matter what all the pedalers are of a unique character.
The blue orange and white of the grateful dvipa. The really real thing in a form so close at hand. Once Srila Prabhupada told us if we knew what we had we'd faint.