I was having a great time today along the Blue Ridge until ...

[Kurt Behm]

I hit the Bear !

 

http://i82.photobucket.com/albums/j279/kurt48/Trips/get-attachment-1aspx_zps94208525.jpeg

 

 

The Day I Hit The Bear

 

The day started out like most days in the mountains. The sky was bright but not entirely sunny. It was a Friday morning at 8:37 when I pulled out of my ‘economy’ motel on the eastern outskirts of Roanoke.

 

I had spent the previous afternoon (Thursday) riding the Blue Ridge Parkway from the Carolina border to Roanoke. It was after 6 and the heavy tree formation along the Parkway had started to darken the road, so I decided to call it a day. Too many animals call that time of night nirvana for me to feel safe after dusk anymore.

 

After a quick stop at ‘Denny’s” it was off to bed in the $41.00 motel I found just off the entrance to the Parkway. I slept great, as I always do on the road, and woke up at seven raring to go. After a gas-up and ‘breakfast’ at the B.P. station, I was back up the entrance ramp onto the parkway, and making the left turn that would take me North all the way to Port Royal Virginia.

 

As I started North, I got to thinking. I was riding my beloved Venture Royale, which I had always referred to as just the ‘Venture.’ Most guys I know after establishing a love affair with their motorcycle, name their bike, like they do their children and dogs. I never had --- it was just the Venture.

 

After 150,000 of the most unbelievable miles anyone could imagine, the bike still had the name it was given by its manufacturer --- ‘The Venture.’ I had always felt guilty about that, but never seemed to be able to come up with the appropriate name.

 

As I left the Blue Ridge Parkway and entered Shenandoah National Park (Skyline Drive), the sky darkened and the posted speed limit dropped to 35. I’ve always wondered why the speed limit was only 35 here yet 45 on the Parkway just below. The makeup and complexion of the roads looked identical, or at least so it seemed. It’s a long ride through the park to Port Royal at 35mph, and if you don’t stop you might make it in about three hours.

 

I was now at a consistent elevation above 3000 feet and the air and shrubbery started to feel and look like the Rocky Mountains. I stopped at a rest stop to use the facilities and drink some water, and then quickly got back on the road because my goal was to make it to the Pennsylvania line before dark.

 

The Bike was running as well as it ever has, and after

22 years of faithful service that’s saying a lot. There are only 2 states we haven’t been to together (Mississippi and Rhode Island), and I’ve got both of them on my short list to round out the lower 48. The Venture, there I go again calling it something so bland, has also been to Alaska twice. It has made 5 cross-country trips and my favorite, a 10-day Odyssey with my son going up one side of the Rockies and down the other. The memories of our times together came flooding back as I rounded a large bend in the road to the left.

 

Then it happened

 

Before I could react, downshift, or even pull the brake lever, it was directly in front of me. I saw it, and my life flashed in front of me at exactly the same time. It was a black bear, and it looked to be full size. Before I could even exhale it was less than a foot from the front tire of the bike.

 

BAMMMMM ! It hit like a sledgehammer. First it sounded like a small explosion just behind the front wheel on the left side. Then the back of the bike lifted up about two feet in the air. I had hit the bear and then run over it as it passed under the bike.

 

We’ve all heard stories about near death experiences that cause your life to flash in front of your eyes in that very instant. Trust me, it’s true, and here’s what flashed through mine.

 

Anyone who knows me, knows about my lifelong love for motorcycles and motorcycling. My first ‘car’ was a BSA Gold Star that I had in High School. My mother never knew about it, because YES VIRGINIA, my Grandmother and Grandfather did let me hide it in their garage.

 

I bought the first 750 Honda when it was introduced in 1970, rode it all through college, and believe me when I say, those Penn State winters were brutal. I didn’t know it was called Hypothermia, but I experienced it every week between November and March. I dated my Wife on that motorcycle and am lucky that I still have it tucked away in the back of my garage today.

 

Combined with my love for Motorcycles is my love of the mountains and the Rockies in particular. I have spent almost all of my vacation time during the past 30 years riding, touring, and exploring the Rocky Mountain West.

 

As a result of spending so much time out West, about 25 years ago I also developed a love for bears. All bears. I love Black Bears, Grizzly Bears and Polar Bears, but if forced to choose the Grizzly would be my favorite. My 2 close encounters in Yellowstone and my 1 in Glacier with large Brown Bears changed my perception of life and what it means forever. I was totally at their mercy. Looking into their eyes, which the so-called experts warn you against, was a life altering experience that I’m glad to have done

 

Now, back to what flashed through my mind when the bear was about to make contact. It all seemed to happen in slow motion but I thought as I hit him that if this was the truly the end --- how lucky I was! YES LUCKY. To end my life doing the thing I love the most, in a place (A National Park) I love most being, and to have it ended by an animal that means more to me than any other, seemed fitting and right.

 

In that instant, I was ready to go, and in a strange and still unexplainable way, almost thankful for it happening the way it did.

 

And then, before I had even blinked my eyes, the rear of the bike was back down on the ground and now sliding to the left. I counter-steered as I was taught when road racing, and after drifting across both lanes the bike ‘JERKED’ straight up and started heading North again. Instinctively I looked in my rear view mirror and saw the bear run off into the tall grass on the side of the road and then collapse.

 

I went about fifty yards further up the road and stopped the bike and got off. It was damaged in the front but not leaking. The radiator cowling was broken off and a piece of the lower fairing was gone. There was organic material all over my left tailpipe which I would later find out was brain matter from the bear. I got on the bike, turned it slowly around, and went back to where I thought the bear was laying.

 

He was right where I had seen him collapse and he had a huge opening in his skull where he had made contact with the bike. As terrible as this made me feel, something else made me feel worse, --- he was still breathing.

 

Two hikers (husband and wife), about my age were walking toward the bear and had seen the whole thing. They were locals and they were concerned that there may be more bears around. They both said that we should probably leave quickly. They told me there was a rest stop about two miles up the Parkway on the left (Western) side, and that they would call a Ranger to come and assist (shoot) the bear. I thanked them as they left, and watched them as they headed down the trail directly across the road from where the bear and I now were.

 

I got back on the bike and hurried up to the rest stop. Just as the couple had instructed the nice woman behind the counter called the Ranger Station and they sent a Ranger named Gary Roth to talk to me. I pleaded with the Ranger to forget about me, (I was fine), and to please go help the bear. I was pretty sure the bear was unconscious, but even then you can sometimes still feel pain.

 

That Ranger spent almost two hours with me, first checking my Drivers License and Registration, Insurance Card, etc. I’m sure he was also doing a backround check on me when he went back to his SUV, and all the while the poor bear was lying in trauma on the side of the road.

 

These Park Officials claim to love their charges, the animals in the park, but you’ll never hear that from me. I would have gladly given the officer my bike keys and identification that he could have kept while going back to help (dispatch) the bear. ‘NO’ was all he replied back when I made that suggestion.

 

Finally, the Ranger left after thanking me for stopping and filing the report. He told me that most people who hit bears (on average one a month) don’t even stop to report it. At this time of the year the bears are very active as they are foraging incessantly for food, trying to gain weight before hibernation. They are more vulnerable to car and motorcycle traffic in the fall than at any other time. He also told me that I was the only one in his memory (19 years in the park), to have hit a bear on a motorcycle and to have walked (ride) away.

 

As I watched him pull away I looked at the sorry state of the Venture. I felt guiltier than ever, still referring to my beloved bike in such an objective way. I decided to ride back to where I had hit the bear but he was now gone and there was no sight of the Park Ranger. However he did it, the Ranger had removed the bear quickly and took him to wherever they take animals that have been killed on the road.

 

I turned the bike around and again headed North. As I passed the rest stop I looked over to see if maybe the Ranger had come back, but the parking lot was now empty, except for one lone moped parked off on the grass to the right of the building. ‘Must be a camper,’ I thought to myself.

 

Looking straight again in the direction of Port Royal, I noticed the ‘Venture Royale’ badge on the dashboard of the bike. An epiphany then happened that had never happened while riding before.

 

THE BEAR / THE BEAR !!!

 

I would never again refer to my beloved motorcycle as the Venture again. The spirit of something primordial had overcome both of us today and allowed us to survive. From that moment on the bike will forever be known as --- ‘THE BEAR.’

Edited September 28, 2013 by Kurt Behm

[lsutley]

Kurt,

 

Great read. Thanks for the inspiring article!

 

It is fortunate or perhaps providential that you were not badly injured, or worse.

 

Good luck with the repairs to your ride. I think I know how you feel about the bike, your mark eventually is on everything and it becomes personal.

[cowpuc]

OH MY GOSH!!!!!! What an amazing - SAD - but still downright amazing motorcycle story, and beautitfully written I might add!!! Brother,, I felt the emotions of everything from sheer terror to pure sadness!! Thank you for posting this!!!

I am one of those individuals who "name" their bikes and its thru instances like this (albeit no where near as extreme - nock on wood) that all of my Ventures have earned their names.. If we ever meet I would love to shake your hand and give you a pat on the back for a survival job well done, and give "Bear" a hug and whisper a thanks to her for performing so well under such extreme odds!!

WOW,,, thankfully you are ok.. Good luck on your repairs!!

Cowpuc

[spike13]

WOW!!!

[Kurt Behm]

I was very lucky.

 

Kurt

[Kurt Behm]

it's meeting (albeit mostly on-line) other riders like you that make this such

a great lifestyle.

 

I hope to meet you someday too.

 

Take good care !

 

Kurt

Edited September 28, 2013 by Kurt Behm

[etcswjoe]

Thanks for the story it put things in perspective this morning and most of all I am glad you are still here to tell about it.

[Carbon_One]

WOW. What a amazing story you've shared with us folks. All quality parts of life - both happy and sad. Certainly sad for the bear and especial your personal connections to those grand animals but ever thankful you survived with minimal damage to you and the Venture (Bear).

Thanks for sharing , Larry

[Woody]

I first seen this story and thought that is to long to read this early in the mourning but once I started I could not stop. great story, very well written and I did enjoy the read.

Thank you

[bongobobny]

First off, glad you survived much less without any injury. You are lucky you killed the bear and not just injured it as the outcome could have been quite different!

 

In your other thread I mentioned about watching out for bears. I was thinking of the time member Mother and OMG and Becky and I were heading down to Asheville. Scott was leading and as he rounded a turn there was a bear just strolling down the highway and Scott missed it by barely an inch! I can remember taking a bead with the bike straight for the bear in case it attacked but instead it ran off the road into the field.

 

Excellent write up, enjoyed the story very much!

[Evan]

Was mesmerised by every word of your story. All the emotions, both bear related and "Bear" related, come through so well. Good luck as you continue to ride and enjoy your life's pleasures.

[Howard B]

Having worked in national parks and knowing many rangers, I must say most rangers do feel very strongly about their charges. I have witnessed the putting down of animals injured by vehicle traffic and concern for the comfort of the animal was always uppermost in their minds. Rarely do the people who hit the animals stop to report the incident. Unless of course the vehicle has been disabled. You were very lucky indeed. Perhaps luck combined with riding skill allowed you to ride it through. Please don't think unkindly of the ranger, he may have been one of two dispatched. I am certainly glad you did not receive any injuries, other than the venture. Ride safe.

[Eck]

You are very lucky in more ways than one.. You are OK, the bear was dead, and mother bear was not around..

[Squidley]

Kurt,

 

Very well written and inspirational story, and I say inspirational in the fact of how you felt towards the bear. Very unfortunate that the bear lost it's life, I can empathize with you and how you felt seeing the bear in that state. As is said in life, the things that don't kill you, make you stronger. It sounds to me from the numerous adventures you have had in your life, that you shared in this story, that your a pretty strong person.

 

It's good to hear the "The Bear" will make it to be ridden again. As you already know, things happen for reasons that make no sense to us. Thank you for the great read, I can appreciate your time into putting down just how you felt

[Trader]

I'm glad you survived the ride!

Sounds like a wild one.

 

Your story touched me deeply....and I too had a similar experience.

 

I'm thinking from this time on.....I should honor the fallen and call my trusty ride.....

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

CHIPMUNK

[darthandy]

Glad you survived that as well as you did. It could have been worse.

 

Andy

[Kurt Behm]

It's amazing that the bike stayed upright and wasn't damaged worse than it was ....

 

The Bear ran headlong into the side of my radiator. Literally he did a header right into

the side of the aluminum trim and the small circular crash bar that sits in front of

my left foot.

 

The damage could have been a lot worse. The impact before he slid back under

the bike broke off a piece of the radiator cowling and a piece of the lower fairing.

 

He bent my left foot back as he went under the bike but fortunately no damage to the

shifter or the exhaust (or my foot). I don't know what kind of plastic Yamaha used on this bike, but it's pretty tough stuff.

 

I had a dream last night that I actually died yesterday, and thinking I didn't is what

the afterlife is all about.

 

49 years (license in 1964) of riding/racing/ and touring on Motorcycles and I hit a bear.

 

Kurt

 

The Damage:

 

http://i82.photobucket.com/albums/j279/kurt48/Trips/get-attachment-4aspx_zps97fdaaab.jpeg

 

http://i82.photobucket.com/albums/j279/kurt48/Trips/get-attachment-3aspx_zps08342c60.jpeg

 

The real bummer as you all know, is that parts for this bike (discontinued over 20 years ago) are almost impossible to find. I may have to buy an entire 'parts' bike to get the new fairing parts and radiator trim.

 

Just a Final Note: I rode all of PA #219N today from Johnstown to Rt #6, and then headed East on #6. I'm in a small motel called the 'Coach Stop Inn' just West of the Grand Canyon Of Pennsylvania.

 

The Bike is running great (knock wood) and after a quick visit to the Canyon in the morning,

it's down RTs 220/42/61 to Reading and then hopping on #422 back to Philadelphia.

 

Eagles/Denver at 4:25. Need to be in my favorite chair with my best friend (90 Lb / 9 Yr. Old Chocolate Lab named Colby) on my lap.

 

Great weekends and thanks to all again. Ride safe !

 

Kurt

Edited September 28, 2013 by Kurt Behm

[bongobobny]

Those grills come up all the time on fleabay and are fairly inexpensive. I used to have a couple of spare ones. You shouldn't have any problems finding a replacement!

 

We were very close to the PA border for dinner tonight,just north east of Bradford PA! Also, I lived around Philly in the late 60's/early 70's! Exactly where are you??

[Kurt Behm]

I'm out on the Main Line.

 

Thanks for the tip. Something to do this Winter.

 

Kurt

[Skid]

Great story. I normally don't read such long posts but after the first couple lines I was hooked. Thanks for sharing your stories, glad you're ok.

[Kurt Behm]

Kurt

[Caveman]

Great story Kurt! Glad you are ok. I lived in Bensalem for about 7 years, had all a southern boy could take and came back home. Good luck with that Eagles game although Denver is looking pretty fired up.

[bongobobny]

I'm out on the Main Line.

 

Thanks for the tip. Something to do this Winter.

 

Kurt

Cool! I worked at Bryn Mawr Hospital for a couple of years. Lived in Devon, then Berwin and finally Paoli before coming back to NY. 1st wife was from Newtown Square...

[Venturous Randy]

This brought back some memories as I t-boned a bear many years ago in a 280ZX Datsun. He ran across in front of me and there was no way I could miss him. When I hit him, he did a slow roll and went off the right side. I was real fortunately that I did not get under the bear, or run over it. I had to go about 50 yards before I could get out of the road and walk back to see if I could see him. I notified the local sheriff's dept and Ranger and they also could not find the bear.

You were real lucky as a few years ago we did have a local fatality on a bike from hitting a bear.

RandyA

[sandman]

Glad you and bear(bike) survived. I hate to see any road kill. It is such a waste of life.