Final Message for 2006

Today was the first day to not ride the bike. We went to Yellowstone to see Old Faithful one more time. Old Faithful is not a quitter and can be relied on to do her job regularly.

We also went to a captive grizzly exhibit. In order to hunt Black Bears in Montana one must pass a test to differentiate grizzlies from black bears as the grizzlies are protected. Here's the system: either bear can be black or brown, grizzlies have ears on top of their heads like teddy bears, grizzlies have a hump between neck and back, and grizzlies have concave faces from nose to eyes (that's why they can hold beach balls in circuses!). Black bears have ears on the sides of their heads, flat faces, always brown fur around their noses, and mostly no hump unless gigantic. Grizzlies are 15% carnivorous, that is they eat about 15% meat and the rest vegetable material. Black bears are mostly vegetarian. Hikers often carry pepper spray and loud bells in grizzly territory. The Grizzly feces is the one that smells of pepper and has bells in it!

I'm already thinking of perhaps trying to finish the bike trip on a section basis. That is, over a several year period. The Trail Boss is going to try to be the oldest one year finisher of the 2168 mile Appalachain Trail next year if his arthritic hip holds up. If it doesn't he says he's driving the Van to Alaska, one of only three states he has not visited (Michigan and Wisconsin). He'll be 85 then!