Bears, butterflies, and Bambi’s bum

Last night we were on Sherando Lake Recreation Area, fairly near Charlottesville, Virginia.  A beautiful location situated in the George Washington National Forest, just off the Blue Ridge Parkway at milepost 16. 

On offer here are two lakes with fishing in one, and swimming and boating in the other.  Set in vast acres of woodland, it is idyllic.  Idyllic, that is if you are comfortable being so close to Mother nature, - and BEARS!

Also on offer last night was a free concert at 8 pm.   “Close Enough” were playin’.  A local bluegrass band were “pickin’ and grinin’ ” (maybe they meant “grinnin’?).

Close Enough bluegrass band

We set off there to hear what was on offer.  It was very mediocre, but had the occasional nice touch to it.  A fiddle, a dobro, and a banjo, etc.  They were very relaxed about their gig.

And it was free.

We Coming back was fun!  

We left after 30 minutes.

Tim’s Story….

It was as black as black could be.  You could barely see one foot in front of the other.

The presence of bears could be felt in the darkness.  In fact, it was scary!  (Apparently).

Getting back to Harvey we played Rummikub one more time before going to bed.

Sleep didn’t come easy, as there was a lot of commotion from the adjacent pitches.  Dogs were barking, people were shouting, and then running hither and thither with their torches.

By now Ruth was totally convinced that there were BEARS. 

Black bears. 

Bears that would tear Harvey to pieces.  Much worse, they would rip Tim (me) to pieces if I stepped outside to have a look.  I was gagging to be out there to join in the fun, but was prevented!

Still the commotion continued.

We went off to sleep, for about an hour.  Ruth woke again at the noise.  I didn’t hear it, even with my razor sharp hearing.

Bears must be lurking in the woods behind us.  People we still moving about with flashlights, and the dogs still barking.

Oh dear!  Don’t move.  Nobody move.

Ruth could see a tree move.  (I couldn’t).  Bears climb, you know!

Then we both saw a female human putting up a hammock, get into it and settle down to sleep!  IN GOD’S FRESH AIR, AT NIGHT, WITH BEARS (allegedly).

Personally, I don’t think anyone would have put up a hammock after midnight, knowing that bears were about.

So you can make your own deduction about the bears.

Personally, I think it was the youngsters outside last night playing tag, in the dark.  Ruth probably had a bit too much sherbet, or had O/D on the Ibuprofen.

What a lot of fun! - But not if there were bears.

On the other hand, Ruth DID see butterflies at the last campsite.

AND Bambi’s bum at the one before that, - just!

Ruth’s Story….

When we arrived at the campsite yesterday we were given very strict instructions about bears.

After the concert, we walked down a road that was VERY VERY dark. The trees created a canopy over the road meaning that there wasn’t even star light.

I’ve always known that working with children was good preparation for me for something. It was! Being Mrs Timothy Parfitt is no easy feat.

Tim took control of the torch which was shone wherever he wanted it to be shone. Fair enough, but it went from left to right, up and down. The woods were full of wild life, we had just read about what was here at this park as we left the concert and I definitely didn’t want to stumble (literally) over anything. My pace was quicker than Tim’s, and I was keen to get back to Harvey. Besides I had to try and beat him at Rummikub.

Around 9.20 pm the following happened;

1. Dogs started barking vigorously

2. Our neighbour shouted twice, - very loudly

3. There was a lot of scrurrying around by the other people on the camp site

4. The neighbours on the other side of Harvey, grabbed their food off their BBQ and ran to the safety of their car  

5. Tim said ‘your turn’.

6. I explained what I had heard and seen and suggested there was a bear around.

7. Tim was surprised, and adrenaline starting pumping through his veins. He went with me to the windows to investigate.

8. We saw several people with their torches pointing towards the woods behind Harvey. The dense woods were less than 10 feet from the van.

9. Everyone around us put BBQs out and removed all that was on their tables

10. Tim said ‘I’m going out’.  Now, with the fact that everyone was going into cars or vans or keeping their distance from Harvey, I suggested it wouldn’t be a good idea. Tim relented, even though he thinks he is experienced with wildlife.

11. So, Tim started opening the windows and suggested I listened to what the people were saying! He was surprised at the fact I didn’t want to put my head on the mesh over the window. I made him close the window, so he went to another and did the same! I had to keep a very close eye on him. It was bad enough knowing there was a bear near Harvey, but having to control Tim’s sheer excitement was something else!

12. This went on for a while until I had to sit him down and explain that it was probably best to follow the example of the Americans who know how to handle situations like this.

Now, I would suggest you compare Tim’s story with mine and consider the facts.

I thought it was obvious, but Tim decided to find out for sure.

Our neighbours were toasting mashmallows last night, when a bear around 5ft tall and weighing around 350 lbs (approx 25 stone) came and snatched the bag from off their table. He then came back for more! It was SO dark that they couldn’t make him out until he was around 5ft away.

In his desperation to see a bear, Tim is now planning to eat outside and have a camera ready to take a picture. He will of course ask the bear to stand still for a moment while he turns the camera and the flash on. And of course, he’ll have to take two, just in case he doesn’t get the first one. He may even try to get a selfie, with the bear, on his mobile.

Now, just to get this straight; I too would like to see a bear, but at a distance.

I don’t want to be sitting at a table with Tim and have a black hairy arm come between us to take our dinner. Tim on the other hand wants to cook up everything we have in the van and invite it for dinner!

Nice bear! No harm from him.