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So in the time I spent in MSF, reading these forums, and talking to friends about motorcycles, this scenario never entered my mind.
This past weekend, I rode up to Skyline Drive in Virginia. It was an awesome trip, great scenery, and my first real road trip. The day's total was 440 miles, of which 110 miles was the scenic drive where speed limit is 35.
The second half of the scenic section was pretty deserted. I hadn't seen another car or bike for about 10 minutes when I came around a corner and found a black bear standing in the middle of the road. I put the brakes on, and came up about 60 feet short of him.
He was pacing back and forth across the road, and as I looked him over, I got to thinking that he definately looked big enough to mess me up, but also small enough that mama might still be around. So here I'm trying to keep an eye on him while I scan around for a possible mama bear. I'm concerned because the road is too narrow (and ditches too deep) to easily whip the bike around if he came towards me, and I've got ear plugs in so I might not be able to hear any growling. I don't feel comfortable that a car coming from behind me would see me in time to stop.
I stayed like that for a couple minutes, hoping some big SUV would come along and scare him off. No luck. So I decide maybe I'll scare him off by flashing my lights at him. Well, that got him to stop pacing and he just started staring at me. Damn. Well, might as well try the horn.
Honk honk.
Damn, didn't get that new horn installed. This wimpy little stock horn is so weak that .....uh oh. Now he's walking towards me. Well that's no good. I start backing up and turning to be able to attempt a quick exit when he stops about 40 feet short of me. Looks at me for 10 seconds, then wanders off into the woods.
So what else could I have done with wildlife that could potentially eat me?
This past weekend, I rode up to Skyline Drive in Virginia. It was an awesome trip, great scenery, and my first real road trip. The day's total was 440 miles, of which 110 miles was the scenic drive where speed limit is 35.
The second half of the scenic section was pretty deserted. I hadn't seen another car or bike for about 10 minutes when I came around a corner and found a black bear standing in the middle of the road. I put the brakes on, and came up about 60 feet short of him.
He was pacing back and forth across the road, and as I looked him over, I got to thinking that he definately looked big enough to mess me up, but also small enough that mama might still be around. So here I'm trying to keep an eye on him while I scan around for a possible mama bear. I'm concerned because the road is too narrow (and ditches too deep) to easily whip the bike around if he came towards me, and I've got ear plugs in so I might not be able to hear any growling. I don't feel comfortable that a car coming from behind me would see me in time to stop.
I stayed like that for a couple minutes, hoping some big SUV would come along and scare him off. No luck. So I decide maybe I'll scare him off by flashing my lights at him. Well, that got him to stop pacing and he just started staring at me. Damn. Well, might as well try the horn.
Honk honk.
Damn, didn't get that new horn installed. This wimpy little stock horn is so weak that .....uh oh. Now he's walking towards me. Well that's no good. I start backing up and turning to be able to attempt a quick exit when he stops about 40 feet short of me. Looks at me for 10 seconds, then wanders off into the woods.
So what else could I have done with wildlife that could potentially eat me?
that's one of the funniest things I've read so far this week! 
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