Storm by the Missouri River

Some of the more meaningful conversations happen when people are striving, yearning, preparing, or prime and ready for a pivotal change to occur. Then during that conversation, a serendipitous crux happens and both are saying the same thing though from different approaches. Such is the case with Dennis and I. It was December 2017 during the spiritual retreat at The Temple of The Presence, (TOP) in Tucson, AZ.

Monroe Shearer had just concluded another in-depth discourse on Cosmic Law and it was time for a break. We walked by the sculpture of Pallas Athena (Goddess of Wisdom from ancient Greece) and he asked me what else I did besides being El Morya’s Head Gardener at TOP?

The conversation quickly turned to the influential power films can have. That it has always been my desire to one day make films which will help transform the world into a “Good” place for us all. Fortunately, Dennis was a filmmaker with years of experience and a Masters in Filmic Arts from the University of Southern California. Perfect because nestled in the bosom of my heart are the steeping impact of many Ascended Master related films.

The first narrative film screenplay I wrote is about introducing the violet flame to a broader audience. Realizing such a movie, because of the storyline, and Computer Generated Imagery of Archangel Zadkiel transforming from a little bird flying through and involved in the lives of the various characters to then becoming the magnificent, resplendently winged-angel-being that Zadkiel is would be complex and costly to do.

Dennis agreed. Non-nonchalantly he said, “how about doing a documentary on the book, Zen and The Art of Motorcycle Maintenance (ZMM) and its author Robert Pirsig?” Oh, a documentary? Oh, I’ve heard about that book! That’s a great story! My heart clicked on, and it said, YES!

ZMM, what a perfect story about a philosophical bridge crossed over by the eyes and heart of a man who broke himself striving to realize his own dharma (divine plan). Then went on to contribute his own philosophy, the Metaphysics of Quality (MOQ) to the classical philosophical canon. The seed idea had been planted.

After the Spiritual Retreat, Dennis, a native Tucsonian (born and raised), returned back to Montana near Bozeman where he lives with his family. We stayed in touch. The research phase for the project began. We learned that, unfortunately, Robert Pirsig had passed away on April 28, 2017, at 87 years young leaving behind his second family, a beloved wife and their only child, a daughter and her three children.

TOP holds Spiritual Retreats every quarter and Dennis returned for the April 2-week Easter Retreat and stayed on afterward to focus on the project and also to prepare for the upcoming scouting trip. During this time we came up with the documentary’s title, Pirsig’s Journey because Robert Pirsig not only went on a physical Journey but more importantly he underwent on an inner spiritual journey. Eventually he raised himself out from the ashes like a phoenix bird to fly ever higher and by his genius writing about his discoveries which merged the east and west philosophical divide.

Pirsig overcame his stint in the mental hospital and five years later in July of 1968 went on this 2,700-mile motorcycle road trip with his 11-year old son Chris and his friends John and Sylvia Sutherland. They left from Robert’s home in St. Paul, Minnesota and 17 days and 8 states later, the trip culminated for Robert and Chris in Casper, California. We did the same route for the scouting trip and annotating great filming locations along the way, etc. Now we too are ‘Pirsig pilgrims’ a moniker given to those who have done that route.

We left Tucson, AZ at 7 pm on Wednesday, May 30th, beginning to make our way northeast to St. Paul, Minnesota 1,650 miles away. It’s from St. Paul where we begin the actual scouting trip. Thank goodness Dennis has family along the way who we’ll be staying with because we are on a tight-tight budget.

We drove late into the night stopping at a rest stop just before Albuquerque, New Mexico. We got some very uncomfortable zzzz’s because the jeep is packed full and the seats can’t recline. A few hours later it’s going to be another beautiful day in the Southwest of the U. S of A.

We are off to visit our friend, TOP Torchbearer Gregory. What a lovely-lovely B&B he has (https://bnbnomad.com/brinkley-house-sunny-mellow-villa/). We enjoyed a delicious home-cooked breakfast made by his beautiful wife and chef Robbie. An awesome place to hang out for a few days of beautiful privacy close to Santa Fe!

Thursday, the first day of this grand adventure. First, we must visit the scenically beautiful city of Santa Fe, NM and afterward some of Dennis’s friends who live in the area.

Santa Fe, NM is home to the famous spiral stairway at Loretto Chapel which miraculously stands despite having no discernible means of support.

Prior to setting off for the scouting trip, we had exchanged emails with the Pirsig scholar, David Buchanan who lives in Denver. He had agreed to be interviewed for the project and he was available on Friday, June 2nd at 2 pm. David had met Robert Pirsig at the first-ever Conference about MOQ held in Liverpool, U.K. in 2005 and thereafter kept in touch with Robert and his wife Wendy.

We hit the road mid-afternoon driving the 400 miles to Denver, CO. It was way past 11 pm when we made it to our host’s doorstep, a weekday and past their bedtime. Do not trust GPS without first checking that the inputted info is correct otherwise you’ll land who knows where, and arrive later than anticipated.

The next day, Friday, we met with David and were really pleased. He was an excellent source of insight on Pirsig's philosophy and to boot translated really well on camera. Overall a great person and interview subject.

After, we went for a picnic lunch at the Confluence Park on the shores of South Platte River in the heart of downtown Denver. Sweet!

Once upon a time on PBS I saw the most beautiful amphitheater. Wow! While looking where to visit while in the Denver area, lo-n-behold that venue is the Red Rock Amphitheater. A must to visit.

We stayed on at Dennis’ sister Sheri’s house for those few days of working, visiting, working. That brand-spanking new, work-in-progresswww.pirsigsjourney.com website, learn as I go ——- is —— ???? Don’t get me started but hey months later it’s looking good.

Arrivederci, Denver! It’s mid-afternoon on Monday, June 4th getting on to the I-25 heading north - destination St. Paul, Minnesota

We drove past Cheyenne, Wyoming, onward and onward until hanging a right on to HWY 18/20 going through Nebraska for about 40 miles thus we can say we visited Nebraska. Actually, it was a beautiful 40 miles and we got some awesome photographs, and b-roll used at the end of our Indiegogo video.

We kept on keeping on. That night we tent camped for the first time on the trip. It was at the KOA near Hot Springs, South Dakota. The tent has a mesh canopy and from our respective air mattresses, gazing at the stars we slept soundly. The old part of Hot Springs, SD is that quintessential, American touristy for real place and well worth a visit.

It is Tuesday, June 5th and we decided to veer off the direct route to St. Paul and bee-line it to Mount Rushmore, SD. Majestic and awesome it is. If you’re anywhere near, goooooooo visit with the Presidents Washington, Lincoln, Jefferson, and Roosevelt who loom large, very-very large. On the way there we passed by the still under construction, powerfully magnificent, enormous once completed, Crazy Horse sculpture.

Now, the sunset is fast approaching and St. Paul is hours of driving away, we stopped for the night just west of Gettysburg, SD near the Missouri River at Forest City (not a city at all but a few scattered homes along the river). We signed in to the South Whitlock RV Resort and went to find our camping site.

There was some cloud cover but eh! We had just finished setting up the tent then this incredible show began, a dazzling, lightning display of flashing bursts seemingly hovering just above us in the most spectacularly and powerfully electrifying beauty ever. After about what seemed like 40 minutes or so, raindrops began to fall. We ran for cover and gawk at the storm from the safety of the tent.

Then the wind began menacingly howling as it whipped the trees about. The rain got harder. The wind stronger. Within an instant, bucket size drops poured down. The trees bending to and fro crackling as the snapped off branches hit the ground loudly. Then, the tent fly blows off. Now, all that’s between us and the ferocious elements was the screen canopy and the rain poured in.

The immediate impulse was run to the car. No, go! We were concerned the tent, air mattresses, sleeping bags would get blown away landing who knows where? So we stayed anchoring the tent down with our weight.

I had my newly acquired purple blank over my shoulders to stay warm so I placed it over both our heads and shoulders as a type of umbrella to ward off some of the rain as Dennis and I huddled there in complete stillness.

Miracles of miracles the purple blanket kept us dry. It was as if an overshadowing presence surrounded us in a dome of protective energy. We huddled under that small, thin fleece blanket which barely covered the both of us. Yet, it was surprisingly warm under that purple blanket. Not once did we feel threatened or in danger. In fact, as odd as it might sound, we enjoyed the excitement of the ferocious winds and downpour.

The magic purple blanket kept us dry from the waist up. Our wet legs and feet in several inches of water were shivering. For certain, the sleeping bags were out of commission until further notice.

Finally, the wind and rain stopped and we felt safe enough to venture out from underneath the magic purple blanket, stretch our stiff bodies and run to Pegasus, the trusty jeep. The rest of night was spent in the upright seats, drier after changing into some dry clothes and had an uncomfortable but a -dry- sleep nonetheless.

The mess left behind by the storm was obvious but thank goodness we saw no serious damage and there were no reports of injury to people or property besides fallen trees and branches. Wow!

While the camping gear was drying out somewhat , we had breakfast then later got going,  happy but not much rested. 

Today, Wednesday, June 5th  we will make it to Saint Paul, MN.