My wife is a smart aleck.
Our first trip, when the '90 4x4 Westy was brand new, was to the northern parts of MI, WI & MN. In the far reaches of the penninsula of MN near the Boundry Waters area, we were exploring some remote Forest Service roads. As we crested a hill, I saw a pretty fair sized black bear down near the bottom. It didn't appear to notice us.
From our several trips into AK & NW Canada, we had often seen cases where animals would continue their activites IF you could get stopped and quiet soon enough. I stopped the Westy and shut off the engine.
Sure enough, the bear acted like we weren't there. It shuffled along the road towards us on my side without even glancing our way. I had the window down and camera at the ready.
Then, just as it pulled even with my door, it wheeled around and reared up on his hind legs. Both paws came down right on my window sill. I'm now looking at bear claws just inches from my arm and bear breath about a foot from my face!
Now the new Westy has all those bells & whistles -- like electric windows! That don't work when the ignition is off. You ever try to get rid of the camera, start the engine, roll up the window & clean out your britches all at the same time? Especially to the cackling of a wife who thinks this is the funniest thing since the 3 Stooges. Smart Aleck!
There is justice in this world, though. I finally got the ignition on and window going up. The bear just dropped down, wandered off a few feet and sat in the road watching us. With the engine going, I was a little braver and waited. Eventually the bear wandered around behind the car and up onto the passenger side bank.
Now Missy Smart Aleck says, "Give me the camera," and started to roll her window down. As soon as the bear heard that electric window, he come charging down that bank heading straight for her side of the car. After the initial shriek that deafened me and the bear, her next comment was a very unladylike version of "Gentlemen, start your engines."
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