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The Carolina Bear Lodge hosted their
annual run July 30 - August 1, in Raleigh for the first time, with attendees from as far
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The Raleigh Downtown Holiday Inn
away as Colorado and Florida (where it was cooler).
The host hotel was the downtown
Holiday Inn, a short walk from Flex, the host bar, and other family businesses.
Despite balky elevators and 100 degree temperatures that exceeded the capabilites
of the hotel's and bar's air conditioning (gets the bears down to the bare essentials...)
Bear Trap V was a big success.
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The "mess hall" at the welcome party
The run had a (mostly) military theme, which started at the Friday evening welcome
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CBL President Bill Harrison takes time out for watermellon
uniform party. Many wore various kinds of camoflage clothing, but a few had military
uniforms that had been their own... WOOF! (even with a few extra pounds).
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Cool salsa and a hot cigar
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Bear with a bear talks to bears
The party continued on at Flex, until Midnight, when the boots and boxers after-hours
party started at the hotel. The temperature was certainly right for skivvies, and
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Bears get comfortable
about 3:00 a.m. it got really hot (or so I hear).
Eye-openers Saturday morning was at Innovations, a nearby leather store, conveniently lasting from
10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Bagels, sausage balls and Bloody Marys helped to work the cobwebs out.
And, oh, the smell of leather!
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A lot to apply sunscreen to...
Other than the vendor fair, bears had two choices for daytime Saturday. One group
headed out to a local lake for 'clothing-optional' fun. Others tried to keep cool
at the hotel pool.
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Bears crowd the shady side of the pool
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Loading up in the buffet line
Saturday evening began with cocktails and a banquet, followed by the "USO Show."
[TOP]
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Baby Bear and his bear bed
The entertainment began with a unique version of "Goldilocks and the three bears,"
featuring bear-beds, bear-chairs, bear-bears, and even bear-Goldilocks.
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Goldilocks???
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The "Goldilocks" cast takes a bow
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Best Butt contestants line up for inspection
Next came
the Best Beard, Belly, Butt and Box contest.
Contestants participated in one of the 4 categories, and were first given an
opportunity to "strut their stuff,"
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Best Box, Belly, Beard and Butt winners
then shown in comparison to the other
competitors. The bear that received the most applause was named the winner.
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Tim Stroud in his "Mr. Bear Trap" sash
New this year at Bear Trap was the "Mr. Bear Trap" award. Each run registrant
was given a ballot, and asked to select a person for their recognition and dedication
at all club functions and events.
Bear Trap V Chairman Tim Stroud was named "Mr. Bear Trap."
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Ready for the "Full Monty"
The entertainment ended with a surprise
performance of "The Full Monty."
It was so good, they put their clothes back on, and did it again.
Bears then headed off to a packed Flex for a few hours, before returning for the
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A variety of togas
after-hours party, "a Roman Toga Party for which we have received two dozen reports
of individual acts of perversion so profound and disgusting that decorum prohibits
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Bacchus reincarnated?
listing them here." Well, not quite, but it was great fun.
Those that made it up by 11:00 Sunday morning were treated to a delicious breakfast
buffet in the scenic, but very warm, hotel restaurant on the top floor. Good-byes were
said, elevators waited on, and the bears returned to their dens across the country.
Congratulations to the Bear Trap V Committee, and the Carolina Bear Lodge
for a fun, well-organized weekend.
dwc
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