33 Comments
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David W. Zoll's avatar

Love it! Awesome trip and tribute.

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Dave Wise (Neoteric Wood Art)'s avatar

WOW!!! Lois, I think you are made of tougher stuff than me, that was quite a tale! FWIW, my last post to Substack was in honor of my dad, a Korean War vet and music lover.

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Lois Thomson Bowersock's avatar

Never underestimate the power of Canadian Texas Gal wearing designer combat boots when a good challenge calls her name! Watch for my upcoming Substack - Bill of “Rule of Three” has requested I share some bear stories. Most of my bear stories are boring, ordinary, run-of-the-mill accounts of encountering bears in their own habitats. However, I do have a few that are very memorable!

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Craving Ratio's avatar

Hey Lois, it's me, Ratio. I'm back. Glad to see you are still at it. Sorry to hear about your Dad. I will salute him too. Missed your stories.

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Lois Thomson Bowersock's avatar

Hey Ratio,

Check out my Substack. My last posting was # 100. I haven’t written anything this week… but I’ve got several stories roaming around my head. So happy to have you back. I genuinely missed you!

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Fauhn Schierer's avatar

Words cannot express🥴. You are one crazy lady ❣️❣️

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Lois Thomson Bowersock's avatar

Do ya think???

D

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Bill Southern's avatar

I look forward to the grizzly bear stories, Lois - it doesn't matter to me whether or not they're true.

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Lois Thomson Bowersock's avatar

Oh my goodness. I have enough true Grizzly stories to tell… I don’t need to make them up. You’ve got it! I’ll work on it. It’s a bear of a project, but I can do it.

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Jeanine Kitchel's avatar

Well, Lois! You did your dad and your travel DNA proud! What w trip! Literally! And I love your Can-Do attitude re clouds parting when you arrive. (are you a Leo, haha). Nice tribute to your dad and a great Fathers Day story. Saludos, amiga.

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Lois Thomson Bowersock's avatar

Thank you, Jeanine. I’m an Aries. The clouds “miraculously” parted when I visited the Matterhorn in Switzerland and Peña de Bernal in Queretaro. I appreciate your kind and encouraging words, Jeanine.

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Jeanine Kitchel's avatar

Maybe not so miraculously?? Bird man was no doubt surprised (and impressed)!

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Renato Zane's avatar

Another great story and amazing photographs!

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Lois Thomson Bowersock's avatar

Thank you so much, Renato. Your feedback is very appreciated.

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Renato Zane's avatar

To see Denali from so close and from above the summit must have been unforgettably spectacular. I think the Alaska experience from that perspective is a rare thing. Lucky you!

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Opmerker's avatar

As someone who also inherited a deep wanderlust from a parent who's departed to explore beyond life's veil, this resonates. Thank you for sharing.

I'm down to only three states I haven't seen some portion of. I hope to catch North Dakota and Rhode Island still, but I absolutely MUST get to Alaska someday. Our son spent nearly three years stationed on a USCG cutter based at Kodiak. The photos he sent home are like a siren's song pulling at my heart!

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Lois Thomson Bowersock's avatar

Thank you for your kind words. I appreciate your feedback.

Rhode Island was one of the final states that I had to cross off my list as well. Eventually, I had a window of opportunity when I was on a business trip in Boston. Newport, Rhode Island, is an easy drive from Boston, so I made a specific point of visiting the lovely seaside town for a few days.

I wish you safe travels as you achieve your goal of visiting all 50 states.

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Opmerker's avatar

Thanks so much! It was years ago that I had a week-long trek through New England. I looked hard at going to RI, just to say I'd been there, but I couldn't swing it then. If I go, there's a restaurant I'd like to visit. It's purportedly the oldest, continuously operating house of hospitality in North America.

Do you have more adventures planned this year? I've got a trade show in Chicago next month, and--the big trip--10 days in Peru to see the factories and fields of one of the companies I represent.

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Lois Thomson Bowersock's avatar

I really like Peru. It is a fascinating country.

I’ll be traveling around the USA this year and I’m thinking about going to Mexico again. However, at the moment I don’t have any plans to leave the North America continent.

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Opmerker's avatar

Well, I'll look forward to your posts.

This will be my first trip to South America. So, just going with an open mind to soak up all I can. Also, it's for work, so my agenda is already set. Next time, I'll have some ideas about what you explore.

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Lois Thomson Bowersock's avatar

I really like South America. Did you read my article on Cusco? I have also written an entire series on Argentina. Check it out if you get a chance.

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Opmerker's avatar

I don't know that I read that one. I'll make sure to check it out before I get down there, late next month.

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Sandy Shaller's avatar

Lois,this almost broke me down. There was something about your starting off with your dad and his passing that made this a very special travel entry. When I read that you were flying in a Cessna, I immediately though of the great Gary Paulsen book, "Hatchet," but happily you did not suffer the fate of the boy, Brian, in that story. I love the photographs (as always) and the great picture of you.

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Lois Thomson Bowersock's avatar

It was a special memory, for sure.

The stones I picked up from that rocky beach traveled with me in my backpack to 20 different countries around the world. I left them in a safe, secluded spot along the Camino de Santiago in Spain, as a spiritual gesture representative of things I “let go of”.

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Ken Macko's avatar

Great story, greater adventure. Thank you for taking us with 😉

A wonderful way to remember dad.

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Lois Thomson Bowersock's avatar

Thanks, Ken. It was a fun adventure and it was very impactful. Best wishes to you.

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EpicGonzo's avatar

Thanks for the adventure and tall grizzly bear tales! Awesome tribute.

Cheers

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Lois Thomson Bowersock's avatar

Oh yes… the grizzly bear stories. Hang around the Canadian Rockies long enough and you are bound to have a few grizzly tales of your own to share. Those mountains are BEAR Country.

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Boris Doyle's avatar

It doesn't sound like a feminist wrote this

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Lois Thomson Bowersock's avatar

Not sure what your definition of a feminist is, Boris. However, it isn’t a title that I claim for myself. Tried that hat on in the 80s and it was too radical, extremist and unbalanced at the time. I prefer to seek a balanced approach.

I decided my position was to be the best I can be, respect others, and receive the respect I’m worthy of. It’s been an approach that has worked well for me.

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Boris Doyle's avatar

It hasn't changed, it just put better clothes on along with expensive handbags.

Feminism has always been a toxic hate ideology.

We're of the same mind regarding respect, it's earned.

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Wendee otto's avatar

Another good one Lois!

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