My very first trip on the Venture took us to Rocky Mountain House and Sundre in Alberta and then on to Revelstoke, Nakusp, etc., in British Columbia. Both areas are great riding country.

This was the "close" bear trip. To close. I was following my cousin Dwayne, who was on an '84 Venture Royale and I was on my '86 Venture - remember this is my FIRST trip on this bike and the first one that took me more than two hours from home base. We were just into BC and a bit west of Field BC, when a full grown, shiny, good looking black bear came from nowhere blasting in full gallop out of the woods and was bent on crossing the road still at a full gallop, whether we were there or not. I had just a few weeks earlier finished the Alberta Safety Council motorcycle course and knew Dwayne would be pulling out all stops to not hit the bear. I knew he had taken the safety course too, so he'd not be go down he'd do an emergency stop or avoidance manoeuver (if you have time to out your bike down you have time to do an emergency avoidance). Thus I was on very hard on my binders too. Dwayne went from 100 km hour (65 miles an hour) to first gear. He missed the bear but it could not have been any more than by just a few inches. All Dwayne could see was the top of the bears back as he/she went by - much to close for comfort. As I said, he missed the bear or should I say the bear missed him. The bear never showed any hint of looking, being concerned about the bikes, nor slowing down nor any hint (none) of altering the course or speed of travel. I was travelling my "one second" behind and was a few feet farther from the bear than Dwayne but let me tell you I was more than thankful that I had the Alberta Safety Council experience to draw on, as it saved an accident for both of us, I am sure.