Sometimes it is difficult, not only to figure out what to say, but many times, how to say it–this is one of those times. Just like the free online translators have several different versions of how to say ‘Let the Good Times Roll’ in French, it becomes necessary to decide on a blog version and run with it. Just so everyone will know, ‘hairnt’ is still ‘hairnt’ in French. I actually had designed a flashy, pretentious introduction, but there is a lot of stuff to talk about, so let’s get right to it.
So what’s been happening? Well, first I had a rather incredible black bear encounter while in North Carolina. There was a ‘momma bear’ with at least one cub. As it happens, I was paying attention to the trail ahead, and since two large, wild turkeys had just flown off a short while earlier before I could get to my camera out to get a photo of them, I was ready with my antique camera as I crested the rise and heard the rustling brush ahead. ‘Momma Bear’ was paying attention too, and heard my boots as they dragged through the grass. Curious, I suppose, she raised up and stood upon her back legs about 30 yards away, partially obscured by some tall sedge grass, to see what was going on. I estimate that she was about 6 1/2 feet tall, and weighed over 250 pounds, not that I have ever weighed and measured a bear before. I do, however, know ‘large’ when I see it. While not the largest bear I have ever encountered while hiking, she was still ‘quite big’…big enough, anyway.
