Summer Holidays

[Athers]

Jesus your heart must have been going at about 200!

[Lost Leopard Spot]

Jesus your heart must have been going at about 200!

I take beta-blockers, so my heartbeat was steady. My guts were lurching though.

[mummywhycantieatcrayons]

I can say without hesitation that usually when I turn a corner and come across scenery worth capturing that my first thoughts are to whip out a camera, but at no point during my confrontation with Mr Bear did it cross my mind to go for the camera.

And that's where the power and beauty of the story lies for me!

[bobo the clown]

Unthinkable. The temptation to run, or to freeze must be very strong indeed. Great experience, but horrifying as well. Once you survive it then it can become a great tale.

[Lost Leopard Spot]

Unthinkable. The temptation to run, or to freeze must be very strong indeed. Great experience, but horrifying as well. Once you survive it then it can become a great tale.

I keep on reliving it, and thinking what might have been. I was very lucky insofar as I didn't come round the corner and be nose to nose with the bear. I know that in that situation you are again supposed to freeze and not make any sudden moves, but I fear the flight instinct would be too strong to overcome. I was also lucky that he didn't rush me - apparently that's what males do to assess the size of their opponents: in that situation you are supposed to stand your ground quietly and hope they pull up, if they don't you are supposed to drop to the ground, roll in a tight ball with your hands behind your neck and your backpack upppermost and play dead no matter what. Again, if he had rushed towards me I think I might have panicked and fled, which is the fatal thing to attempt as bears can outrun you over short distances.
When he did rear up though, that's when I realised fully that I had no control over the situation whatsoever. It was at that point that I just froze. The only other time I've had anything like that was as a very small child and I froze towards the top of a tall ladder and nothing could induce me to move another inch. Sheer terror, but not in my head, in my body. My body just refused to do what my brain was pleading with it to do. The relief when I managed to step off the trail and I realised he was just going to amble past me was transcendental.

[Harry Genshaw]

I keep on reliving it, and thinking what might have been. I was very lucky insofar as I didn't come round the corner and be nose to nose with the bear. I know that in that situation you are again supposed to freeze and not make any sudden moves, but I fear the flight instinct would be too strong to overcome. I was also lucky that he didn't rush me - apparently that's what males do to assess the size of their opponents: in that situation you are supposed to stand your ground quietly and hope they pull up, if they don't you are supposed to drop to the ground, roll in a tight ball with your hands behind your neck and your backpack upppermost and play dead no matter what. Again, if he had rushed towards me I think I might have panicked and fled, which is the fatal thing to attempt as bears can outrun you over short distances.
When he did rear up though, that's when I realised fully that I had no control over the situation whatsoever. It was at that point that I just froze. The only other time I've had anything like that was as a very small child and I froze towards the top of a tall ladder and nothing could induce me to move another inch. Sheer terror, but not in my head, in my body. My body just refused to do what my brain was pleading with it to do. The relief when I managed to step off the trail and I realised he was just going to amble past me was transcendental.

I seem to remember being given the helpful advice that it was best to play dead if it was a black bear, and run for it if it's a brown bear. All well and good until our guide added "some brown bears are actually black, and some black bear are actually brown!"

Agree with Mummy on this wholeheartedly. Seeing Grizzlys in BC a few years ago and on our little skiff were folk armed to the teeth with cameras, clicking away. True, they must have had some great photos afterwards, but the real beauty for me was just watching them and drinking it all in

[Annoyed Grunt]

I finally finally got to see a bear up close and personal. (A proper bear, Monty, not one of your town dump bears)!
I was way off the main trails out behind the back of Mount Temple south of Lake Louise, and the shouts of wandering Amuricans shouting ‘Yo bear’ and ringing their bloody bells had disappeared hours previously. I was in the woods just below the tree line before the big pines peter out to scrub and as I came around a large boulder I came face to face with an enormous bear. He was coming down the trail walking on all fours and was about twenty feet in front and slightly above me.
We both stopped dead, I don’t know who was the most surprised. I was mostly in shadow in the trees and he was out in the open in full sun – he was magnificent, and more ginger than Megson. He started waving his head about sniffing, and then he stood up on his back legs. (I managed not to shit myself at that point). I had it all planned – I was supposed to start talking in low friendly banter whilst backing away down the trail. But when I opened my mouth to speak I just sort of croaked and I was frozen to the spot. After what felt like endless minutes I finally managed to persuade my legs to move and I eased up off the trail and back around the big rock. He just casually trotted off down the trail, went past me no more than ten feet away and then went crashing down through the woods. That was the most intense experience of my life. I will not attempt to repeat it again; having done it once it gives a very visceral insight into how badly it could have turned out.

You should've just given him your picnic basket........

[Gary the Enfield]

I finally finally got to see a bear up close and personal. (A proper bear, Monty, not one of your town dump bears)!
I was way off the main trails out behind the back of Mount Temple south of Lake Louise, and the shouts of wandering Amuricans shouting ‘Yo bear’ and ringing their bloody bells had disappeared hours previously. I was in the woods just below the tree line before the big pines peter out to scrub and as I came around a large boulder I came face to face with an enormous bear. He was coming down the trail walking on all fours and was about twenty feet in front and slightly above me.
We both stopped dead, I don’t know who was the most surprised. I was mostly in shadow in the trees and he was out in the open in full sun – he was magnificent, and more ginger than Megson. He started waving his head about sniffing, and then he stood up on his back legs. (I managed not to shit myself at that point). I had it all planned – I was supposed to start talking in low friendly banter whilst backing away down the trail. But when I opened my mouth to speak I just sort of croaked and I was frozen to the spot. After what felt like endless minutes I finally managed to persuade my legs to move and I eased up off the trail and back around the big rock. He just casually trotted off down the trail, went past me no more than ten feet away and then went crashing down through the woods. That was the most intense experience of my life. I will not attempt to repeat it again; having done it once it gives a very visceral insight into how badly it could have turned out.

You should've just given him your pic-a-nic basket........

Sorted for you.

[Lost Leopard Spot]

Pic-a-Nic basket? Have I missed something?

[Lost Leopard Spot]

Pic-a-Nic basket? Have I missed something?

Don't bother... the e-smokers in the corner have enlightened me. Yogi. Of course. I'm obviously not smarter than the av-er-age bear.

[Annoyed Grunt]

I finally finally got to see a bear up close and personal. (A proper bear, Monty, not one of your town dump bears)!
I was way off the main trails out behind the back of Mount Temple south of Lake Louise, and the shouts of wandering Amuricans shouting ‘Yo bear’ and ringing their bloody bells had disappeared hours previously. I was in the woods just below the tree line before the big pines peter out to scrub and as I came around a large boulder I came face to face with an enormous bear. He was coming down the trail walking on all fours and was about twenty feet in front and slightly above me.
We both stopped dead, I don’t know who was the most surprised. I was mostly in shadow in the trees and he was out in the open in full sun – he was magnificent, and more ginger than Megson. He started waving his head about sniffing, and then he stood up on his back legs. (I managed not to shit myself at that point). I had it all planned – I was supposed to start talking in low friendly banter whilst backing away down the trail. But when I opened my mouth to speak I just sort of croaked and I was frozen to the spot. After what felt like endless minutes I finally managed to persuade my legs to move and I eased up off the trail and back around the big rock. He just casually trotted off down the trail, went past me no more than ten feet away and then went crashing down through the woods. That was the most intense experience of my life. I will not attempt to repeat it again; having done it once it gives a very visceral insight into how badly it could have turned out.

You should've just given him your pic-a-nic basket........

Sorted for you.

[Abdoulaye's Twin]

Just booked Thailand for a week in October. Can't wait

[Bijou Bob]

Loved Thailand. You staying in one place or travelling around AT??

[Abdoulaye's Twin]

We're parking ourselves in just this place. Tis in the middle of nowhere. After the slog of the summer here, we just want a lie around the pool and room service type break. I believe the temperature will be 26-30 in October with a good chance of rain - sounds great to me We're only 7 hours away, so we'll likely go back and see more of the place next year.

This is where we're staying.

[Bijou Bob]

Looks lovely! I can't wait to go back, but lots of other places on the list first!

[Abdoulaye's Twin]

Our first visit, but my bro in law goes every year to Bangkok and Phuket. Got a great deal on the villa and the flights on Air Berlin were nearly half the price of Emirates

Any recommendations for places for our future visits?

[Bijou Bob]

We had a few days in Bangkok, then did the Bridge over the River Kwai/War cemetary/temple visits at Khanchanaburi (I found it incredibly moving) staying here a few days and hiring a scooter to get around - we found some spectacular places that weren't in any guide book, then on to Petchaburi on the Burmese border (Border was closed - not a great deal to see) followed by rail journey down to Prechupkhirikhan on the coast for a few days R&R. Next time will be the Golden Triangle in the North West and Laos.

[Abdoulaye's Twin]

I struggle to get the missus away from the pool! That itinerary might be a tad ambitious for her

[Lost Leopard Spot]

Can we just ignore the fact that Magalluf exists for 2 weeks or so please?? My 17 year old son is off there next week - first lad's holiday with his mates. Frankly, I'm terrified.

Oh dear, Magaluf in the news again today. Nothing to do with 17 year olds though, just a 31 year old Brit.

[Annoyed Grunt]

1 week to go until ours.....Corfu.