Okay, okay.... I never finished my trip reports from my 2021 week of camping with the Katmai Bears. Once I got home, I hurried to get all my photos up to share with others, and I totally slacked off on my trip reports (the lack of any forms of communication or electricity while camping at Katmai while surrounded by bears is wonderful, but made stting down to write real trip reports while in the moment more difficult). The 2021 trip photos are all available here.
COVID was still hanging around, so I figured I should do something with all my non-work related time other than talking to my cat. I had planned to get up my other trip reports to help others making the trek out to Katmai, but instead I used the bears to inspire me to get a small business license and start selling bear photography and little art projects! I bought a domain name and set up my own little website at https://www.betsybearcreative.com/
The business has been a fun diversion and has made me brush up on my business skills while giving me a creative outlet. It kept me busy throughout the year, and then I managed to score another six nights of the highly-coveted camp permits at Brooks to visit the bears again. It was great to see Katmai at a different time of year, as I was there from 6/28/22-7/4/22. There was a different vibe as momma bears were appearing with their new spring cubs, the boars were chasing single sows around looking for mating opportunities. There was less bears, but still LOTS of bears.
I was concerned I would be too early to get to see my favorite bear of all time, Otis Bear 480. But he didn't let me down and showed up to camp a day after I did!! Katmai is my happy place, my personal heaven. There are bears wandering right past you, totally uninterested in you as they continue doing their bear stuff. There are juvenile and adult eagles flying overhead. The beach is so peaceful to just sit and reflect on life. And almost every day had a rainbow or two. The 2022 trip photos are available here.
Somehow we have entered yet another year, but 2023 is looking really promising as I am clawing my way back to normalcy. I am looking forward to my first international trip since cancelling both my France and Mexico Day of the Dead trips due to COVID in 2020. Currently researching for my upcoming trip to Greece. There are all these travel blogs of Instagram-ing women in pretty dresses posing in front of beaches... you can fully expect MY photos to look more like Homer Simpson in a food-coma over a polished-off plate of lamb, cheese, and olives :). And my good bear-luck continues, and I managed to get another permit for seven nights of camping at Katmai this summer!! Otis, I am coming for you! I hope to get back in the swing of updating my travel blog... stay tuned.
