Bear Tracks

While in Homer, we decided we were going to go on a hike (yet again). We headed out to the Homer Homestead hike which was supposed to be around 8 miles long. Well...we got lost so we forged our own way! As we are crossing this mud creek (which I fell in), we see these.

Bear tracks! So we continued on our way, because it seemed like the smart thing to do. We hiked for perhaps another mile and realized we had been following not a human trail, but an animal trail. Fantastic. So we turned around all the while calling "Hey Bear!" and making Kathryn tell us stories. We reached another starting point in the hike and since we didn't get eaten (too bad right?), we wanted to hike around more. We found another (real) trail and turned and headed down that. We were again not far into our hike when we heard a motor. And boom!! This guy rode up on an ATV with his dog running along side him. He stopped, probably a little bit shocked to see 3 girls hiking around, and said "you guys hiking through?" We responded, "yes." Now I am sure there was a little bit of a conversation but I was totally distracted by the pistol and machete hanging out on either hip. All I was thinking was "gun, gun, gun, machete, gun." Now being from Illinois, here are our gun laws:

It is unlawful to carry or possess any firearm in any vehicle or concealed on or about the person, except on one's land or or fixed place of business.

It is unlawful to carry or possess any firearm on any public street or other public lands within the corporate limits of a city, village, or incorporated town, except when: an invitee thereon or therein, for the purpose of the display of firearms or the lawful commerce in firearms.

Yes, so I am a little naive when it comes to firearms. I am still totally shocked to see people just hanging out with them and not in a crime-related sort of way. Anyway, I come back to the conversation when Gruff McGee goes "there are bear back there." We say we figured and he asks "do you have bear spray or any other...protection?" We reply in a drawn out response, "Noooooo, we are going to head back home now." He says, "Yeah, you probably should" and drives his ATV off into the sunset with his dog following. Ok not really, he didn't 100 yards before he ran into another group of hikers. But the encounter with the real life Bear Grylls went well I thought. I felt a real connection. 

We did make it back to our car and in time to see Oregon lose to LSU! GRRRR!! We met up the Oregon kid, Max, we met at the bar the night before. 

Surprisingly or not so, there were like 20 people wearing Ducks gear! We owned the bar. I mean what are the odds that we ran into the Oregon/Homer crew? 

Upon them losing, all I was thinking about was beer and ice cream. Those bear tracks had me all sorts of riled up for...

OH and...

http://www.moosetracks.com/flavors/detail/12

Clearly not the adrenaline rush I should have felt.