The Russian & the Bear

A few days after the purchase (see post below!) 'the boys' rang up with a plan for some shooting up at the open air range at Beaver Lake (which is east of us, above Winfield).

So Mr R hops in his new truck (oh yes, he has a pick up truck!) with the cowboy hat (oh yes, he had one of them too!) and the Russian ex-military rifle (pet name Ivana, as in Ivanashoother) [that was him, not me!] and heads out of town...okay village...

The range is in the middle of the wood, which is a good thing as there was a lot of noise going on with the chaps generally having a fab old time beating the hell out of paper targets.

But suddenly all the shooting stopped as a black bear just ambled out from the side of the range and meadered across the firing zone.

By way of comparison, back in Christchurch, it was the highlight of the morning if a squirell kamikazed it across the range.....this was a tinsy bit bigger...with teeth...and claws!

Apparently when they went to change the targets, everyone had rifles with them....just in case!

Which does make you think.....here I am, carrying a bear bell which goes 'tinkle-ink, tinkle-ink' thinking 'ooh, that'll scare the nasty bears away' when in truth a bunch of men firing god know's what automatic weaponry doesn't even phase them...might have to upgrade the bear bell/learn a trip and run technique.....!

But it was the first bear sighting we have had in Canada (dead ones on the side of the road excluded) and I am quite happy that Mr R got to see it and I got the story of seeing it nice and safe at home with a glass of white wine!

Ivana....

Ivana & Mr R in action!