Let Us Spray

       More Letters From Paradise
            Let Us Spray

The use of pressurized cans to spray everything from hair products,insecticides, and cooking oils, plus many more,are widely  used and accepted. But it has not always been so. In the 1940's, before pressurized cans,it was still possible to spray. Let me illustrate.

It was sometime during my early elementary   school days, when a friend confided in me, that he knew where there was a skunk hole. This had to be investigated, and so we two skunk hunters left school, in search of our prey. We found the skunk hole as promised, and were sprayed for our effort. Punishment soon followed. Spankings by both of our mothers, and spankings at school for leaving the building.

But the most interesting story about spraying comes from our friends Gordon and Penny. These two have a goal of visiting every single National Park in America. So far they have visited some twenty-two National Parks. They have just returned from having visited Glacier,Yellowstone, and Yosemite National Parks. They are fond of hiking while in each park.

Gordon told about how while they were in Yellowstone National Park, they were about to go on a Park Ranger guided hike, and the Ranger asked, how many had brought their bear spray? Only two hands were raised, from the fifteen people present. Gordon was one of the two. The Park Ranger proceeded to lecture on the subject of what to do when confronted by a black bear. How to behave towards the bear, and if necessary, how to   use bear spray. The spray contains pepper and will cause the bear to retreat. He cautioned that the user of the spray should determine which way the wind was blowing to avoid getting any in your face. Very irritating, Gordon said that some people not reading directions, had sprayed themselves to be protected from bears. Once again, very irritating and very stupid.

It is interesting to note that bear spray is not cheap. Price paid in the park for a can of bear spray is $47.00, while at Wal-Mart outside the park it can be bought for about $30.00. Gordon said that it was also possible to rent a can of bear spray when going on a hike. Penny said that she talked to a local guy who said that he never went anywhere without his can of bear spray. So we all now what to do when confronted by a black bear.

 I should also point out that if the can doesn't do the job, you only have to  run  faster than the person behind you.

Sadly, neither Penny or Gordon had the occasion to make use of their bear spray, and had to leave the two cans behind. Airlines take a dim view of bringing bear spray home, even if we have no black bears here in Hawaii.

        Aloha
        Grant