Well finally something started to go our way at last.....It all improved quite a bit later that evening, unfortunately
not Dr Freds knee but I had been whinging on about seeing a bear and he agreed
that driving wasn’t a problem so a little unenthusiastic and a tad reluctantly
he agreed to go for last drive down to Lake Maligne at dusk just so I could at
least say we had tried our best…
I know there should be plenty of other chances of spotting a
bear but I really wanted to see one up here.
So we headed out as the sun went down. First just outside the campsite we got some glorious sun setting pictures,
enhanced sadly by the smoke still lingering as the fires still burned up the
country – slightly better in control but still not good
– then just as we were
about to turn off the main highway we came across a lot of cars parked and
admiring a herd of Elks ( well i think they were elks i need to check)– this was worth
turning out for. After a few snaps of
Elks we drove at a very leisurely pace down the lake road.
It was getting dark, and nothing was to be
seen and we had just decided that if we didn’t want locking out of the campsite
we had better turn back soon - when I declare there was a BEAR!!!!!! A lovely little black bear not very big
sitting on the verge eating bushes – I was so excited….
We stopped – there was
another car there and soon a couple more cars joined us and we just watched
this little fella having his supper he was totally unconcerned until a car
revved up a bit and he retreated up the bank and was lost to sight. Now I was fired up – we decided to drive for
another ten minutes and turn round when we found a turning place – we were just
about 200 yards down the road when this much bigger bear started out of the
bushes and was walking on the verge alongside of us… again totally unconcerned
as we kept pace in the car, he stopped and looked around played with a bush for
a couple of minutes, Fred was trying to get a decent picture with the window
down when the bear looked up and just ambled down the bank towards the car, we
buzzed the window up kinda quick just in case, but he wasn’t interested in us. He walked
right by the car and right in front and then just started to lead us down the
road…
we let him get a way ahead and then very slowly we followed him hoping he
would turn around and we could get a good photo – he quite happily lumbered
along the highway shaking his woolly behind in a very laid back style – very
jungle book - but he wasn’t posing for
anyone that night and eventually he sashayed down the bank and into the trees,
leaving me very excited and with a load of blurry pictures!!!
Cracked it I thought,
ok, let’s go home or else we will be leaving the car outside the camping and
that is difficult as you have to put everything in the car at night all food,
cooking, cool box anything that might attract a bear even cosmetics so it’s an
awful lot easier to have the car at the tent – so we head off down the road to turn
round at the next turning spot and as we turn round lo and behold another big black
Bear coming across the road
– wandering down the middle with out a care in the
world – we just sat there as it walked towards us wondering when we would put
it off – it got quite close before it gently clambered off the road and down
the bank into the bushes and as we slowly drove past we couldn’t see hide nor
hair of him… more blurry photographs as by this time the light was very poor
and the distance was greater but a very exciting encounter – three bears, no
porridge involved – very satisfying experience, even Fred was glad we had
turned out!!! We made it back to the campsite just in time, and had a little
beer, wine and crisps party in the car – even put on a few tunes to celebrate!
So the day improved greatly and we went to bed feeling much
better in some ways, in the morning we got up and Fred’s knee was no better, he
is very down about this and it is difficult.
I don’t blame him – it couldn’t have happened at a worse time – and it
doesn’t seem to be improving at all, on a good note it doesn’t seem to be
getting worse either, but the poor man can hardly walk so its not nice at any
level. I leave him to hobble to the loo
and by the time he’s back I have the tent down and packed up and we have a
quick breakfast and leave for Banff – out next stop.
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