After the first evening I realized that sleep was going to be harder than I thought. I was lying in the tent finishing up reading “Travels with Charley” by Steinbeck. When Manny started with a low and odd sounding growl. I then heard the bushes start moving close by. I quietly climbed out of the tent and put Manny on his leash. Scanning around the area behind the tent I could see the bushes moving. Instead of standing there and waiting for the animal to move I clapped my hands. You guessed it. It was a large black bear that popped its head up to check me out. Easily within throwing distance this bear stood completely up before Manny started barking like crazy. I guess bears don’t like little fox like looking dogs. The bear jumped back making a odd sound and ran fast in the other direction. I have to admit this bear got my heart racing. I haven’t seen one that up and close in the wild before. That was just the beginning of a long sleepless night.

When the bear passed and Manny and I calmed down I finished reading my book. Stoked up the fire and relaxed back in my mummy bag. Soon I heard many Elk bellowing around the creek area. This sound is not a quiet sound. They go at it for hours, reminding me of the sounds the dinosaurs made in the Jurassic Park movies. They below, smack antlers together making all kinds of racket all night long. I know it seems selfish of me to complain but I was really tired. hehe

The 2nd day went great. I finally did catch up on some napping and sleeping through out the day. Gathered up a large supply of firewood to keep toasty and relaxed to a pot of spaghetti I cooked over the fire. Yup a pot! I was hungry and so was Manny! Night came and soon the Elk came as well. I guess I got use to the sound or I was so tired I slept till early morning when a can I had placed in the tree came falling down and a elk cow jumped back from it. If any time I wish I had a good digital camera with me that morning was the time. I peaked out the tent to see what was going on outside. To my surprise the area that I had pitched in was a great grazing meadow for elk. There had to be 15+ in the field within a 100 yards of my tent. I walked slowly around my campsite talking to the elk.
“Wanna go for a car ride mr. bull Elk” I said.
“No thanks little human man and dog, I’m just fine right here”
As you can see it was a short conversation. The largest of the bulls stared me down but made no forward movement towards me. I kept Manny leashed so he wouldn’t go nuts and chase them all away. They didn’t seem to mind Manny’s barking. At one point I walked within 20 feet or less of a couple cows. It was awesome how well they took to Manny and I. I wish I had a camera to show how close and how calm the elk were. I did make an a try at recording them with the laptop but as you’ll see in my next couple posts it turned out like ass.

I’m now back in the town of Orick finishing up some changes for Mark. I’ll be heading back out on the road tomorrow morning, continuing north on the 101. Peace