Cats
 

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Run into some big ones at times. Be careful out there, they come out of nowhere.

Cat might have told others the same thing about cyclists!

And I thought I faced real danger in Montana in 2019 when this thing came out of nowhere.


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And there was this in 2020. Barely escaped with my life.


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You know that old adage stating you don't have to be fast to outrun a vicious beast, you just have to be faster than your friend?

Turns out that's not true. Back in 2018 right outside North Bend, Wa, it was the quicker of the two mtn bikers that was killed by a cougar. The other was "just" maimed.

Never run.

Honest, Mom. It grabbed onto my wheel and followed me home!

Ran across a black bear yesterday on a paved U.S Forrest service road. Was finishing a 15 mile all out TT with 300 meters to finish. When I got out the saddle to sprint it out, 30 meters ahead a black bear leisurely crossed right in front of me. I braked and slowly finished the segment after he disappeared into the brush.

The scariest was running a trail with my black lab 2.5 miles from the house when a black bear stepped 30 meters in front of us and just stood there. I thought to myself, so this is how I am doing to die. The dog luckily did not react and the bear just stared. We slowly backed up as the bear watched. We then picked up our pace a bit and he stayed put watching us. After what seemed like an eternity we got out of his line of sight and ran back.

And speaking of ferocious cats:

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The bear pictured above was on a Forest Service road in Yaak, MT. In 2017 I was camping on the edge of the Allegheny National Forest. There were some faded warning signs about bears at the campground which, interestingly, abuts FCI McKean. That’s where actor Wesley Snipes did his time for tax evasion. Got before light the next morning and went to toss some paper trash. Saw the dumpsters had been raided my a bear that had left behind a big pile of scat. Went back to my site and noticed another pile about 30’ from my tent.

Made my coffee and ate my breakfast with my head on a swivel. Packed up and walked my bike to the campground entrance which was close to the dumpsters. As I was putting on my helmet and about to turn on my lights I heard bottles clinking. Looked over at the dumpsters. Out from between the two walked a huge bear. Easily 600 lbs. (It was mid-September so he was fattening up for the coming winter.) We were about 35’ from each other. Not a good way to start the morning. Fortunately, the thing realized what a badass I am and ambled off.

Here’s my beast:


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If you find yourself adventure riding through the jungles of Congo, keep this in mind.

We stopped at a tiny cafe in the mountains and this cat came up and demanded skritches.
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Not biking but lots of black bear encounters. Last night of a six day backpack trip. Reading my book on a log and was casual with cleaning up and putting my food up a tree and cleaning the pots. Sixth sense kicks in and I look around to see a black bear about 15 feet away looking at me. Oh, crap. Put down the book and started suggesting he/she/it walk away. A little louder and some pine cone tossing and it starts ambling away but looking over its shoulder and giving me a look like "are you sure you don't want to visit?" After it was about 50 feet away I quickly cleaned up camp. The next morning, driving out, there's this guy out on the road with some odd-fangled antenna. I stop and he asks if I've seen a dog or any bear. I proudly lied and said I hadn't seen any bear. I did feel sorry for the missing dog.

But better yet, on another packpack it is early morning and we are packing up and a five foot rattlesnake winds its way to our camp site. Now that was adrenaline secreting. We then took turns watching the snake and packing and watching and packing. But I also still have the rattle of another snake I met along a rocky creek in the Sierra. Out fishing. Saw/heard/sensed the damn thing. It strikes out but fortunately misses. I back off and it comes toward me. A grab a stick and strike and it backs off but each time I back away carefully on the irregular surface, it approaches me again. Stick, back, it follows. Stick, back, it follows. I finally landed a blow and beamed it. (my hackles are raised just writing about it again).

Now to figure out what harvested my beets, carrots and even tomatoes the other day!!!! We surmise raccoons.


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:)

That was in Rockwood, PA. It’s a town along the GAP trail. There’s an electrical contracting business out of frame. A worker told me that the cat once got inside and it took them 90 minutes to chase him out. He was a real imp, but a sweetie.

Fredward wondering if the sink makes his tail look fat.


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never had a sub 25lb cat be a problem when out riding. Rabbits & squirrels are a problem, deer too.

They make house pets out of those Lynx's in Russia. Meow.

I ran across a Lynx on a road in Southern Colorado a few years back. Thought that was cool.

Maybe 25 years ago a mountain lion cub ran across the trail where I was riding. A couple miles from Vedauwoo in Wyoming. Only one I’ve ever seen there and I’ve been there a lot. Mama never ended up on my back but I’m sure she watched me ride away.

Have seen 2 bobcats this year. One I chased on the bike for 25 yards along a fenced area on a MUP, and another in the court in front of our house. Which is better than the mountain lion my wife came upon 100 yards from the house.

I had a bobcat run across the road in front of me once while cycling. They like the tall grass in the hayfields around here as that is where rodents hide. They avoid people and are not a threat.

Cats love paper bags. They love making noise

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yikes! yeah don't wanna chase a 4' spider with a little Brownie camera!

This was taken several years ago at a cat veterinary practice I used to go to. One of the doctors noted that the cat was not overweight.


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Maine coons are awesome animals.

When I saw that photo I immediately said “I want one of those!”

And great mousers too.