MET FOUR BEARS IN HOLIDAY OF LIFETIME

Chronicle (Levin), 30 December 1947, Page 2

MET FOUR BEARS IN HOLIDAY OF LIFETIME

Al'CKLA.Nl), Lice. 2'J. An ail venture vvith a quartette of rt'ild bears at a lonely spot in the Rocky Alountfiins near BaniT, Albertu, was oue of tlie highligiils oi' a 15,000milo tour in a second Inuul car, of tlie l'nited States and Canada by t'our young New Zealanders wlio retunied from San Franeisco by the Manne Phoenix. Tlie partv eonsisted of Mr. and .Mrs. R. G. Wakelin and JN1 isses Margaret and Florenee h'atweJI, aJi ot Raumati South, Wellington, who iiiianced tlie •'holiday of a liietime ' J bv pooling their resoujves in order to overcome tlie Government 's restrivtions on taking money out of che eountry. Leaving New Zealand by the Rangitata in May, tlie party disembarked at Panania and flew to New OrJeans where they bought a seeond liand motor car.' They drove to Tucson, Texas, and were joined by tlie Misses Eatwell's sister, .Mrs. Jonet Lope/., vvlio married a ineniber of the l'nited States Marine Gorps early in the Seeond World War. From Tiicson the tourists travelled up the vvest c-oast ot tlie L'nited States- into Canada and after visiting most of the notable sceaie resorts, ineJudnig Vaneouver, BanlT and Niagara Falls, set out for New York. The tour coneluded with a drive dowu tli rough tlie niiddle oi' Ihe L'nited States baek 'o Tueson. "Our most exciting adventure was with four bears at Bauff, " saul the Misses Katwell. " Lots of ]>eoi)le have been uiauled by bears in this locality but being a little green, we left.our car to view the scenerv. Wlien we retunied tlicre was a bear in tlie baek seat and three others were eating the food which was in a box on the Juggage carrier. They had had a wonderful time aml had brokcn all the croekory. It was very nice until tliey had eaten all the food. Then they started to g.e1 rough and oue of tliem stood up ou its hind legs and hugged oue of us. Even the babv ones were biggey tlian we were. We managod to get into the car, rolled up the windows and drove oif with the four bears cliasing after us. We did not see ihe warning notices about bears until afterwards. "