Wednesday ride

[art.robinson]

Oh Mr. Jim!!

I trust the camera wasn't too damaged and that your leg isn't either.
Petersen Road is bliss, but it's never far from my mind that the bush is
very close to the road and if anything trips out you really have nowhere
to go. 

You were very prudent regarding the baby black as Mom's can get pissed
really fast when they think their offspring's are in jeopardy.... I've
been there and was fortunate that "Mom" didn't get too upset when I
moved out of the way fast. Having my tribe of dogs around helped too.

I think you would need at least an Aerostich to withstand a bear attack.
The owner of Aerostich is something of a wit and I'm sure he'd love to
put a "bear attack" rating on his suits.

I once got hit full force (120kph) in the chest by a grouse and ended up
with egg yolk all down my suit.. Me being a vegetarian too.... Yuk!

Art 

-----Original Message-----
From: gpzlist-bounces at micapeak.com [mailto:gpzlist-bounces at micapeak.com]
On Behalf Of Marilyn Mason
Sent: 30 April 2010 10:22
To: GPZ List
Subject: Wednesday ride

Wednesday it was 12C (53F) and sunny so I rode the bike to Eganville and

brought my licence sticker for the year.
 I then continued through the back country and stopped at Crooked Rapids

Chute (a rebuilt log raceway near Combermere, a lot of wedding photos
taken 
here) and had my picnic lunch beside the chute.  I left there went to 
Maynooth and took the Peterson Road to Harcourt (It is the Elephant Lake

Road at the Harcourt End).  Art the road made it through the winter ok,
some 
frost heaves about 8 km from Maynooth and some sand just east of the 
Halibuton county line. Just before I got to the top of the hill at the 
Hastings/Haliberton County line I saw a small black bear on the side of
the 
road.  I was thinking of taking a picture and just about had the bike at
a 
stand still when a thought occurred.  What if this little guy is not
alone? 
What if his momma is nearby?  What if I have my engine running,side
stand 
down with camera out and she shows up?
 In may haste to escape I drop the camera ($250.00 shot), shift into
gear 
with side stand down,  the engine dies, bike falls over trapping my leg.
  The Joe Rocket motorcycle clothing people would be interested to see
how 
well their Kevlar suit holds up in a bear fight.
I turned east at Harcourt to Bancroft then home on 28 and 515.
Around Quadeville I had to brake hard twice, once for a ruffed grouse
and 
then for a turkey.  There's a truck at the local body shop waiting on a
new 
grill, hood, radiator and supports after doing a little turkey hunting. 
According to shop owner Bob Coulas its a $2300.00 bird.

Jim