Wild Encounters
Over the years Peggy and I have taken many walks together which have usually been pleasant and uneventful, but about two summers ago Peggy and I were out for a walk in our neighbourhood. We had reached Guilford Drive, which has four lanes of traffic, when Peggy said “look there’s a bear”. Sure enough there it was on the median after it had crossed the two lanes of traffic on the opposite side of the road. At that point we were still feeling quite safe because the four lanes are divided by a railing, so we stopped to watch what it was going to do. Much to our surprise the bear squeezed itself through the railings and started to cross the street almost directly in front of us. The traffic came to a halt and the bear proceeded to cross the road. Peggy and I looked at each other and the question was “what should we do now”. Our decision was that we should turn around quickly and go back the way we had just come ……..I have known Peggy for over fifty years and it was the first time I had ever seen her run!
When I caught up to her we both just burst out laughing because when we turned around the bear, who was obviously neither concerned about us or the traffic, slowly crossed the side walk, that we were on, and disappeared into the bushes.
Another time, years ago when I lived on the Saanich Peninsula, we were out for a walk along a wooded trail by the ocean……..I’m even more terrified of snakes than I am of bears so when we came upon, what I considered, a fairly large snake sunning itself across the trail, my immediate reaction was to panic but Peggy told me she was not afraid of it and picked up a stick. From a safe distance I watched as she waved the stick at it for a bit. The snake, like the bear, was totally unconcerned with her brave efforts and refused to move. Once again we were forced to backtrack because even if Peggy had been prepared to step over it there was no way I would have followed.
Fun memories.
Love,
Val
