Looking for Bears on the Rocky Mountaineer

(Jasper to Kamloops - August 2012)

As the sun starts to rise

We rub sleep from our eyes

And we check-in our luggage with care

We wave Jasper farewell

What stories we’ll tell

Of the day that we spotted a bear.

As the train pulls away

And the carriages sway

There’s a definite buzz in the air

Sure, the Rockies are cool

And the trees in the fall

Are real neat. But we want to see bear.

Our guide* says black bears

Like to hang around moose

Though the truth is that moose are quite rare

So far we’ve seen trees

And Jill saw some bees**

But we’re hoping that soon we’ll see bear

We glimpsed a black dog

And a duck in a bog

And a rock that was shaped like a hare***

And passing Mount Cheadle

The tracks of a weasel****

But sadly, as yet, not a bear

By Pyramid Falls

Where the bald eagle calls

And the mosses that that grow are quite rare

Said our guide, “Yesterday

A bear came out to play

And posed for some photos.” Oh yeah?

There’s a man! By the track!

He waves, we wave back

And we laugh like we haven’t a care

And there are trees, and more trees

Trees, trees and yes… trees

But we’d quite like a glimpse of a bear

We’re approaching Kamloops

Where the bald eagle swoops

But of one thing you should be aware

We’ve seen many great things

With legs***** and with wings

But we haven’t seen one blessed… wait!

Is it? Yes… no…. yes… No… 

It's not a bear.******

* Brandi

** Well, one bee actually

*** Very amusing!

**** Not actually true. I used my poetic licence here

***** Not a great line. Because birds also have legs, obviously

****** It was a black bin bag.