The second outing was to "Ajinkya Tara" fort, a few miles from Satara. Norina and Elizabeth and one or two others rode up the mountain on tonga ponies, the drivers leading their ponies. Baba rode up the mountain with them and walked down. Close to the fort was a most fascinating lake called “The Whispering Lake." You speak on one side of it and the echo is heard on the opposite side, same words and intonation. We sat here with Baba some little while and he enjoyed the fun.

We also went by car with Baba to the Krishna River and picnicked along the banks. I recall what fun Mani's dog had being free to roam at will and eat the scraps! At Mahuli where the two rivers, Krishna and Vena, meet, four miles from Satara, are the most lovely temples and at certain times of the year, thousands assemble along its beaches to bathe in the waters and worship in the temples. Baba had not been there before.

There were, of course, along with the high spots, the low spots where egos became evident, causing a crisis or two. Elizabeth reminds me of the following.

In the ashram, we each had our own plate, cup and spoon which we carried around with us on any trips we made with Baba. Somehow, my spoon got lost or mislaid and I asked for another. I was told there were no more available until we returned home to Meherabad. (We had been absent over a year.) I suppose I got peeved and started brooding, and ate my curry and rice with a little egg spoon. Elizabeth and Norina came over for lunch one day from their bungalow and remarked on this tiny spoon and how slowly it did its job—I no doubt saw to this! They offered me one from their picnic basket. I explained I could only borrow it.

That same evening, Rano and I were called to Baba and asked if we had all we needed, etc., leading up, of course, to the spoon episode, as Baba misses nothing that goes on. Hadn't we been told that we could accept nothing? I explained the situation. Baba replied, "Whatever you need you must both come directly to me and ask for it. Whom else can you go to if not to me?" He knew moods had been stirred. Really, a storm in a tea-cup! Then Baba throws oil on the troubled waters and they clear. Hadn't I written the day before to my brother in England to send me one of the family silver spoons?

"Don't worry," says Baba to all. "I love you just the same. You will overcome your weaknesses by loving me more and more."