We had just started back down the river after our lunch when we saw a bear on the beach heading our direction. We were floating in a large blue and yellow raft. Wildlife here aren't used to humans as so few of us visit Aniakchak. When it first saw us it wasn't sure what we were then it charged down the beach at us. It was huffing and growling. We watched with amusement as we were in the river and it was on the beach. When we didn't run with fear from the bear it stood up on its hind legs and looked at us. Movies make this move look dangerous but in real life this stance helps a bear get a betterview and smell of the things, us in for instance. Agian the bear charged towards the water as we were even with it in the river. when we didn't run it decided that maybe it should run. It ran inland about 25 steps and turned to look at us. Of course we were still there which totally confused the bear. With one more huff it ran off into the brush. We all had a good laugh at its antics.
The afternoon passed slowly without much danger but whole lot of fun. It was also nice and sunny so we all got our Alaska tans. You have heard of farmer tans? Well in Alaska, your tanned if your hands and face turn brown. Since we were all in dry suits, that is the only thing that got tan on all of us. By evening everyone was ready to turn in. We unloaded the boats and set up camp. I can tell you that unloading and loading the rafts is a pain. Each time we did it we took less and less gear off the rafts. One more day until we reach the coast.
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