2025 Bear Hunt Days 10,11 - Post Hunt Scramble

I was up early and with almost everything, especially my now frozen bear, packed up, it was a quick shower and I was ready to go.

I walked down to the bay to say goodbye and was struck with an absolutely astonishing moonlit goodbye.

But all things really, really must come to an end.  I jumped in the Maverick and headed out.

There was some fog as I made my way through Manitoba, but it was never bad enough that I had to slow down very much.  In a few spots the temperatures had dropped to well below freezing.

I stuck to paved roads and made my way through the two towns, before the final stretch toward the border.  Traffic was light and the final goodbye to Canada was once again stunning.

The border took a few minutes to fill out the form to import my bear.  The form was different from the example they gave me to follow, but I did my best.  The rather bored-looking border guard said, "Perfect!" and I was on my way.

I was listening to Cormac McCarthy's The Road.  I don't read much fiction, but I've heard several references to this book recently to the point I felt I had to listen to it.  It was good, but only good - brutal, dark.  The end was predictable.  It was worth listening to.

I made my way to my sister's in Wisconsin.  It was a long 12 hour drive to get there.  Because I left early, we had quite a bit of time to catch up.  It was great to see her for a bit.  Around dark we called it a night.

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After coffee with my sister, I was back on the road for the final leg home.  I was out of books, so I was just listening to podcasts.  Hidden Brain was oddly refusing to hold my attention.

I have planted several paw paw trees as well as given away seedlings.  I knew there was a Paw Paw in Michigan, but I did not know (more realistically did not remember) that there is one in Illinois as well.  I didn't stop...

Traffic was tolerable most of the day.  I timed Indianapolis well.  Working my way toward and down the familiar roads near home, I was looking forward to the familiar.

Once home it was a scramble to take care of the bear and get it in the freezer.  It was a late night (by my standards) and there was still much to do.  But work starts in the morning.

As I went to sleep, I relived many of the past week's amazing moments.  I thought back to bears and fish and the people I hung out with.  I am truly fortunate to be able to pursue my outdoor interests.