Of Bikes And Guns...Or, The Best Bike Touring Idea Ever.

Oh, how I miss the alpine meadows of Kootenay National Park...

I've been thinking of the next trip for a long, long, long time. Maybe too long.

With any trip, you can only prepare so much beforehand. There's just too much to know. In the end of the day, the most important facts to know are visa requirements and where to get them. With that knowledge, anything is possible.

Having said that, in my never ending research, I think I've overindulged a bit in surveying the various on-line bike touring forums.

Case in point, I came across this unique post in Bikeforums:

Anyone tour with a shotgun?

I've been thinking about bringing a shotgun with me on more remote areas or areas with lots of bears. Call me crazy but I feel a lot better having a 12 gauge slug as a last resort rather than bear spray. My question to you is how to carry it so it's not super obvious but not inaccessible? I thought of putting a shotgun scabbard on my front rack (it's a Surly Nice Rack) because there's plenty of rail there to attach it to and it's handy to grab in an emergency. Anyone done anything like this? Any ideas? tips? I know it's not as big a deal in the US but here in Canada even a lot of cops think anyone with a gun is a crook so I'm keen on tips involving discretion within towns. Kind of surprised more covert cases aren't available...

Wow. I was flabbergasted to say the least. I think the poster has mistaken a bike rack for one that belongs in the rear window of a pick up truck.

To each their own perhaps.

In the meantime, I need to embark on my own journey soon.

Very soon.