The sandy path is strewn with stones of all sizes. Sunlight streaks the way with yellow, almost illuminated patterns that spread like an artists work across the slightly rough terrain, trees lining both sides of the eight foot wide road stand pasted close together bidding me on. The barks grey and old, yet more beautiful than any pictures I have seen are carved by natures artistic hand. Treetops touching and entwining form a beautiful shady canopy, as if this must be hidden for only the very special to see. I am glad I have discovered its beauty, happy I wandered off the beaten track.
There are a hundred textures and shades of green to the leaves that rustle and whisper as if secretly knowing, I am a newcomer to these jungles and certainly a slightly cautious man, for even as I walk along this path that's straight out of a Walt Disney movie, I am quite aware that dangerous animals roam through this wilderness park, free spirited and untamed searching for plants, berries or ripened fallen fruit for their next meal.
Don't get me wrong, I love being in the midst of nature, untouched my man's hands...yet, the wilderness here does give me a strange mixture of goosebumps and, an adrenaline rush.
You see, you can't be too sure of safety if you choose to walk along hidden paths, forbidden or through what is known as, prohibited areas.
I clutch my phone as a lopsided grin spreads across my face at the thought of me disobeying the laws of this land. I have always been the black sheep of the family. Going that distance runs in my blood. I am aware, I probably come across as reserved, quiet and introvertish...all of which I am but, the 'but'...Yes! Is that...unknown to most I secretly love pushing the metal whenever I can.
The trees move about fifty feet in front of me. I raise my binoculars, strung around my neck to peer through them with intense concentration. Its a black bear. The rather cuddly if not also scary large animal ambles onto the path from behind a large bush. He must have been in the thicket of trees just beyond the path.
Wow! I think, bears do really amble.
My first time witnessing a real live bear. Part of me, the hidden extrovert wants to throw my hands up in the air and yell in glee at this first. My tongue unconspicuously runs over my lips, wetting them...for a second there my thoughts sneaked off to re-live another first. One that did involve a luscious bush quite untamed and some ambling in and out of it by me.
That was quite a first...not just for me. I grin...a grin, that certain people say transforms me into this boyish character I know lives deep inside of me. But today I must be the man I am and follow this bear.
My view through the glass tells me the bear is unconcerned with me walking behind him or else, the scent of me has not as yet reached his nostrils.
The animal is beautiful and looks much smaller on all fours from this distance.
I turn on my iPhone and start filming on 'extra zoom.' This is awesome. It looks like I am about ten feet away, not fifty. I can see the fur and the bears eyes as it turns halfway towards me for a few seconds. Its only a few seconds, not even minutes yet, I can't tell you just how fast my heart starts beating. It sounded like an express train on an old worn-out track.
Phew! Close call but, the bear looks back ahead of him again. He hadn't seen me or smelt a human being daring enough, to walk behind him. He sways his big butt from side to side as he continues on sunlight catching his rounded frame ever so often as it peeps through the trees. I love bears. I love wildlife. But I never thought that one day I'd be on the same road to what looks like nowhere with a bear.
I get enough footage to use for my facebook and instagram accounts, so its back to aimless thoughts and feelings I often cling to whenever I am in pure unadulterated solitide.
I recall a joke, a tease before I left..."What if a bear eats you?"
I grin. Well this bear sure isn't interested in 'eating me'...but that said, lets just thank God for that.
