Tom,
To make a 3 hour story short enough to read, here is the short version Basically, I took off on my mountian bike for what was to be an easy 30 km ride through some fairly rough woods (old mining roads, some old clearings, etc) to see my sister who was camping at a nearby lake. Well, I presumed I knew where I was headed, so after short lunch I headed off. I carried two bottles of water only (I usually have a 2.5litre backpack when I am going for a long ride, but I didnt "need" it I thought) and it was August here, HOT for us (90 F or so) and a nice sunny day. After a while, the trail turned to unridable, so I dismounted my bicycle and started walking... and walking... and walking! I ended up finding myself waist deep in muskeg - swampy mess, and I decided allthough I didnt want to turn back (at this point I still presumed I was going the correct way, even though my odometer and my otherwise good sense told me otherwise. I took a few steps further (remember I was also carrying my 24 lb bike on my shoulders, which were aching like hell by this point) and went down to my chest in water. I got kinda' scared that if I went any further, I was going to get stuck in the mud and drown, with no one knowing where I was... I had no choice but to turn around and start trudging back through the 6 km (according to my odometer - most of the way I was pushing my bike on its wheels) I had just gone through. Oh yes, it was 3 or so hours after my departure, and I had long since emptied my water bottles, and I was getting very hot and I knew I was in trouble (headache, cold chills dry mouth - signs of heat stroke) but I had no choice but to try and return the way I came. Did I feel STUPID!!! Ugh! Anyhow, after I got back to just where I could ride my bike again, I looked up only to be staring a nice young black bear cub allmost face to face! He was startled, and ran up a tree. Anyone knows that a young cub is never near the mom, and the mom doesnt like humans getting in between her and her young. We have had a few black bear attacks here over the last few years (at the time) and I did a quick 360 scan, but didnt see anything. At this point, the young bear was making his way down the tree, and slowly walking towards where I was standing. I have to say, I have never, ever EVER ran as fast as I did that day. I was so tired, so out of energy but I ran like the wind. All the time, thinking to myself that the mom bear was coming up behind me and I was done for. I was scared enough to not look back, just kept running. Finally I got to where I could ride again, and got on my bike. I had at least another 20 km's to get back home. I was so tired, and stuck from the swamp, and every square inch of my exposed skin was bitten up by the deer flies (they take a chunk out of you, quite literally) but I rode on. I finally made it back to the paved road, and I decided I better go to my parents home which was closer than my house. When I got here, I got off my bike, walked into their house (no one was home) and I passed out in the bathroom for 1/2 hour. After I came to, I started vomiting, trying to drink water but I would just bring it up. I should have went to the hospital but I didnt want to go - I ended up being fairly bed ridden for the next few days. I couldnt eat anything solid, and just drank water for the next 2 or 3 days.

That week, my regular riding partner (who didnt go with me that day) bought me a fish and game map, which I use to this day to plan my rides I havent gotten off the right track yet!

SO there you have it... stubborn and stupid, thats what I am!

AJC