DA BEAR !

      I believe the year is 1982...Bob & John are going to "North Cape" grade school...and mom...is a secretary in the office at HyPro Inc....a machine shop located in Waterford, Wi.  She has become friends with Ted & Vickie Shellburg...who also were working there.  Lil & I have been talking about taking a trip to Yellowstone Nat'l Park...and maybe then going up into Canada to Glacier Park/Waterton Peace Park...  Ted & Vickie were over one day at the house on Woodstead...and the subject came up...."Wow...we would like to go too !!!"

     We all agreed that we would try to rent a motor home....and share the trip expenses.  As a result...I set about to finding a suitable sized motor home for the six of us...Ted, Vickie, Bob, John, Mom & I.....Deb had graduated from school and was working in Racine at Twin Disc.

     We finally settled on the dates for the trip...made arrangements for the rental of the motor home....And several months later...it was time to go.  Vickie...is now pregnant...and she is not feeling very good at times.   We talk about whether they should go or not...but it is early in the pregnancy...and they still want to go.   So... we agree....and decide to pack up the groceries, bags, kids and drive over to pick up Ted & Vickie.  On the trip out towards Yellowstone...I warned my children that when we get to Yellowstone...that they must stay close to Mom & I at all times...and to NOT...chase after any bears...if and when we would see any.  The bears are very protective of their cubs....and have been known to attack people that get too close to them.  Matter of fact...the week before we left...a man was dragged and killed...while sleeping in a tent...in the park !!!

     Well sure enough...we get to Yellowstone....driving slowly and stopping when we sighted the bears along the roadside.  They seemed to be quite tame...and many approached the cars...looking for a food-handout.  We saw many Japanese out of their cars....chasing after the bears to get a better camera shot.  OOOhhh My ?!?...

     We continued on down the road...taking in all of the sights..."Old Faithful" geyser, the hot pools...the rivers and waterfalls.  We went into the lodge at the park and had dinner before  

continuing on to our campsite for the evening.

     The next day...we left the park headed for Glacier Park in Montana.  The drive is beautiful and the road was getting mountainous....Ted & I switching the driving chores....Vickie is doing OK...but the ride is bumpy...and the seat at the dining table was not all that comfortable.  The boys are starting to get bored with the long drive....but bless Mom's heart...she is occupying their minds...reading stories....and playing word games.

     Finally...we arrive at Glacier Park...and stop for lunch at a wayside near the lake.  The scenery is magnificent....the trees, the lakes, rivers, and tall...snow-covered mountains.  After lunch we continued on to Many Glacier Lake Camp Ground.  After checking with the Park Warden....we are instructed to a remote camp site on the edge of the Lake.  We drive around a little and noticed a great camp site located next to a fenced-in tennis court.  The warden suggested that we not miss dinner at the Many Glacier Lodge at the other end of the lake...very good meals...with singing by the college wait staff.  So hurriedly we tie-off a rope across the campsite...to reserve it....and drive off to the Lodge for dinner.  We arrive at the Lodge...it is beautiful...big...huge timbers...and the multi-storied atrium lobby... with windows and a large deck overlooking the lake.  The warden was right...the dinner was very good...and we stayed and enjoyed the singing very much...

     Time came for us to go back to the camp-site...we had told our waiter that we had a camp-site next to a tennis court....."Oh No Sir !!!...that is not a tennis court...the fence is for tenters to camp inside from the very dangerous grizzly bears".  I gulped down the last of my meal...tipped the waiter generously and took the family in tow to the awaiting motor home.  Outside...the weather had changed for the worse....we have to run for the motor home....in a downpour of rain and lightening. 

     We head back to our campsite...it is dark...it is raining heavily...it is lightening.  We find the campsite...by the tennis courts???....and "Damn it !!!!"...I tied a rope across the entrance to the site...can't drive in...SOOO...I stop the motorhome...with the engine...and the windshield wipers

going...."SWOOSH SHOOSH SWHOOSH".  Out into the rain I go...to untie the rope.  The headlights on the motorhome....show me the way...the engine is running...the windshield is going..."SWOOSH SHOOSH SWHOOSH"....THE RAIN......I SAY....THE RAIN....IS COMING DOWN !!!...THUNDER & LIGHTENING....THE RAIN...IS COMING DOWN. 

     No sooner do I untie the rope..and was throwing the rope out of the motor homes way....and I hear......"GGGGGGRRRRRRRRROOOAAAARRRRRRRRR !!!!!"  OH MY GOD....I turned around...from where I had left the motorhome door open...and there stands a grizzly bear on his haunches....an 8' grizzly bear standing on his haunches...."GGGGGGRRRRROOOAAARRRRRR !!!"

     I am a gonner'....what to do...Can I outrun him????...NO....Can I climb a nearby tree....NO.....Can I get to the tennis courts....NO....Can I get to the door of the motorhome...that he is almost standing in front of......NOOOOO !!!!

     With that...what seemed an eternity....but truly nanoseconds....I seized the hood of the motorhome with one hand....the motorhome rearview mirror with the other...one foot on the bumper....AND SCREAMED.....LIL....GET ME THE HELL OUT OF HERE !!!! 

      I do not see the bear anymore...because my face was plastered on the hood of the motorhome...Which way is he coming...around the motorhome....to devour me???

     With that....THE RAIN IS COMING DOWN....I SAY...THE RAIN....IS ....COMING...DOWN !!!

The windshield wipers.....SWOOSH SHOOSH SWHOOSH...MY LIFE WILL SOON BE OVER....

     Faintly....over all of the noise....I hear Lil shouting......JOHN....GET  IN THE MOTORHOME !!!

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.............................I swear....I saw a grizzly standing behind that bush........mmmmmmmmmmmmm????

Ha Ha Ha .....after I dragged my sorry wet ....brown butt back into the motor home......John ...says......"GOTCHA DAD !!!!!!!!".

     I should end the story at this point...but to be journalistically correct...I must add...that  our ride home was quite eventful....dropping and dragging the muffler and tailpipe....and getting a flat tire...and the companionship of Ted & "Pregnant Vickie"....wearing quite thin.....