Well, my husband is my superhero. He recovered, and was discharged and the cardiologists all said he could continue on with our vacation. Vincent had the courtesy to have the problem and have it fixed, all in the 4 days of allotted camping time....he's so considerate and thoughtful. In all seriousness, it was a harrowing 4 days...but we made it through....in a much more reflective way of our lifestyle and habits. We now eat all of our meals off of a small salad plate...and limit all the no no's....because we want to be healthy and happy for many years of RVing and sinfully happy marriage years to come. I don't have any nice photos of this new park yet, but we ARE at a new one. Blue Springs State Park. Unfortunately, I don't have a lot of photos of the old park either. I did see a family of turkeys on my way into the park one early morning and stopped to take pictures of them...and I think I took a photo of the entrance sign, but that's about it. I have more photos of the hospital than the park, actually.
Here is one thing I wanted to talk to you about today. In every park, the idea of there being black bears was always a reality. The first camp we were at, there were little signs that listed it as one of the possible animals in the park. Way in the corner was a teeny tiny black bear. The next camp we went to, there was also only minimal suggestion of them. The third place we went to, there was a "be bear aware" poster in the ranger station and special garbage containers that were "bear proof"....apparently, they don't know how to push a lid side to side, just up and down....and this new place we came to now has a serious handout that is given to all campers with all kinds of bear information.
OK, so yes, obviously you don't feed wildlife, because when you do, the animals associate people with food, and when people don't come with food to make the animal happy, the people ARE the food....got it....but read the encounter and safety tips.....
Never approach the bear..... OK, I think I can manage this.
Leave the area if you are blocking a food source....or travel corridor..... do bears have fast food restaurants and highway signs in the woods to help me figure this out or am I on my own here?
Keep your eyes on the bear..... OK, if I encounter a bear in the woods, you can be damn sure I'm gonna keep my peepers on that puppy!
Remain standing upright....so curling into the fetal position and crying isn't an option then?
Avoid eye contact with the bear....Why? Does it have self esteem issues? I was just told to keep my eyes on the bear...so look at it, just don't look AT IT, at it. Got it. Look coy. Check.
Speak in a "calm, assertive, assuring voice".... Hello, bear. You are looking lovely tonight. I have never seen a more delightful bear, not that I'm LOOKING at you, I just happened to notice and I was just thinking how good it would be for me to leave the area in case I'm blocking a food source or a travel corridor...can you point me in the direction of the bear's version of I-4?
Back up slowly.... Yeah, right.
Make sure the BEAR has an escape route....I don't know...I think I'm gonna do me first, the bear probably has better mastery of the bear highways in the woods than me.
Do not run from the bear..... No, I'll just back up slowly, looking coy, and telling it things it likes to hear and try not to step into its dinner or block its roadway.
If the bear is not aware of you, leave...... but, how will I get to look coy and speak in a reassuring way to it? AND if I do have a problem, and need to report it to the ranger, should I clean off the blood and stray pieces of flesh before hand or just go as I am?
So, now I am fully expecting to see a bear in my immediate vicinity...and I have been practicing on the cat and Vincent...with them playing the role of black bear. So far, I've only been mauled twice. I should do great on the trails tomorrow. It's kind of like walking the trails at the prairie with the un-exploded bombs...but with bears. This should be GREAT!
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