I saw a bear! I saw a bear!
It may seem silly, but I got so excited I actually danced up and down on the spot. Those who know me are rolling their eyes and saying yeah, yeah, so what’s new? But somehow spotting a bear (we saw three in total, all black) is a Great Big Hairy Deal. (Well, of course it’s hairy.) It makes the whole trip real and important. We were on the Rocky Mountaineer, a train that travels through the Rockies. (Duh!) Looking back, I truly believe it was one of the most special days of my life. But more about that in another post.
I was very very proud, because I was the first to see the bear checking out the railway tracks for grain dropped from freight trains. Unfortunately, it’s not such a clever thing for a bear to do, especially if the grain swells with rain and ferments. Drunk bears and big trains are not a good combination, sadly.
I don’t have a photo - I was too busy leaping about and squealing, and anyway, my little camera isn’t up to bear-size objects a looong way away. And My Beloved had the wrong lens on his big boy’s camera. Huh!
So here are some other photos. This morning I was sitting on the patio of a winery overlooking the magnificent Okanagan Lake and it was baking hot and generally gorgeous. All the locals are falling about fanning themselves or hastening into the lake, where they dive in and just keep going.
Half an hour down the road, we drove into a hail storm, accompanied by heavy rain and much cursing from My Beloved. You see, he insists on doing all the driving. I’d like to think it’s because he’s a Hero, but it’s really because he’s terrified of me getting behind the wheel, especially in the wrong side of the road.
However, I digress. We drove back to Vancouver (where I am now, and on the world’s slowest Net connection) through what I’ve come to believe is the real Canada - the one that’s hidden her face from us in the freakishly beautiful weather. I was almost grateful to have a taste of the real thing. I was beginning to believe it was Paradise!
You see? These are the clothes the mountains must wear most of the time.
Tomorrow we’re off to Alaska. Three flights, which is going to stretch my nerves more than somewhat. Fingers crossed!
Hi Denise!! I’ve only saw the bears in other people’s yards on the news here
They can stay there 
I’d be too terrified to even take a picture! Beautiful pics here! Especially love those clouds in the last picture that looks like your driving towards a storm that is brewing too. Have a good trip to Alaska on the plane. Hope you have plenty to read then! Its a long ride! My uncle goes there for part of the year at another home he has there. I always want to go some day but I don’t fly so its quite a distance!!! So I’ll be looking forward to your pictures!
THe pictures are beautiful Denise! Have a great time in Alaska. My Aunt and Uncle along with my cousin and her husband went to Alaska in June and loved it. They’re ready to go there again too. LOL!
Hi Caffey! Actually, although it was a long day - three flights in total, everything went very smoothly with Alaska Airlines. And Alaska is beautiful and the indigenous culture so interesting. We’re having a great time, even went out on a crab boat! More about all that later!
Thanks, Dani! and yes, a few days really isn’t enough. There’s so much to see and do. But we’re trying our best!
How wonderful of you to share your travels with us…
Am loving the journey.
Went to the ‘Clayton’s Conference… ‘ Soooo much fun.
It’s been great.
Back to normality somewhat(;)
Enjoy!
Maryde{:>}
Hi Mary. Home now, finally, and I’m trying to cope with “back to normal”. It ain’t easy. *sigh*
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