Today we went climbing at Smith Rock National Park.
Chris set up the top rope and did the belaying.
Julia cleaned.
I also got involved. I climbed.
In fact I on-sight climbed my routes just like that. Because I’m awesome.
Chalk it off as another bonding activity between my bear bud and I.
The whole reason we were up in Bend was to celebrate Julia’s birthday.
I decided as a gift that I’d give a little luck. Even though I’m a lucky bear I wasn’t about to do all the hard work so I outsourced it.
I got her a fortune cat. From Asia.
How can you not feel lucky with a gift like that?
All I expected of my day was a little hiking action with my best bear bud. We were heading out to these lava tube caves near Bend Oregon to have a little look-see, and then we were supposed to head back to the hotel for some hot cocoa and relaxation.
First sign that things weren’t going down the way I envisioned might have been the sound of gunshots reverberating through the area as we stepped out of the car.
For normal sane beings, “sound of gunshots” might have precipitated action to evacuate said area.
Instead we walked towards the sound of guns.
Let me say that again, we walked towards the sound of guns.
We eventually ended up in front of this spot. And since the sound seemed to come from the other side of the big hole of course we went down to investigate.
On the far end of this giant pothole was a small hole. Apparently it was the entrance to a large cave. As we scrambled towards the hole we were hit in the face with a cloud of smoke. And two kids popped out of that hole (left of the picture.)
It smelled a little funky. I didn’t recognize the smell but I started feeling a little funny. My bear bud explained it was 4-2-0. Like I know what that is. It sounds like a brand of cleaner.
Anyway, the kids assured us that guns weren’t being fired in our direction, and actually it was a bunch more kids shooting from the cave out into the other side.
Finding that response satisfactory, we decided to take their word for it and crawl through the hole. Maybe it was all our commotion, or maybe it was this 4-2-0 stuff, but we got through the cave to find the gun-wielders packing up and leaving.
Next thing I know we’re driving to some new location with a waterfall and we’re hanging over the precipice.
And then I don’t remember what else. Just that I didn’t get my hot cocoa.
Nicholas’ sister got married today, and while I didn’t actually make it to the ceremony and reception (Nicholas forgot to bring me to the wedding) at least I got to relax in the cabin that was right next to the main lodge where the wedding took place.
So it’s almost like I was at the wedding.
Except that I wasn’t.
So instead I took a walk.
I walked by some cows.
Aggravated some dogs.
Went back to the cabin and ate all of Nicholas’ chips.
Then did some photobombing for a good measure.
It’s what happens when you forget to take me to the wedding. Jerks.
We hung out.
He was an acceptable companion. For a cat.
I like to think I’m an active well rounded bear, so while we were up in Bend Oregon visiting Nicholas’ sister, we went out to Green Lakes for a morning hike.
They wouldn’t let me take chocolate because they thought it’d melt, so I brought the next best thing. Matching green chips. They were so awesome they nearly exploded out of its own packaging.
Of course we stopped for a family portrait at the lakes.
And then we hiked back.
And that was all.