October 11, 2023 Otis Special Report

Otis Special Report for October 11, 2023: Day 6, Katmai Log since Otis’ last appearance on October 5. The answer to the question burning a hole in your pocket is still an unfortunate “nope.” Otis hasn’t been seen on cams today that we’re aware. We imagine that he’s got a big wiggling fish in his paws, is drinking a nice warm Salmon Latte with lil marshmallows floating in it, whipped cream on top, and sprinkled with bacon bits, and is singing campfire songs along the River with our bear friends not seen on cams lately. 🙂

And in his absence, we have a Special Report tonight!

On July 12, 2023 at precisely 12:47 p.m. in the Land of Katmai, 801 (maybe?) climbed atop Alice’s Restaurant, and we declared: If he is ON the rock, no, it’s not Otis. This looks like 801. (And if he’s beside the rock Nap Fishing, then it’s probably Otis!)

While our bear ID skills are lackluster, our Otis behaviors are dead on. Or so we thought.

We’re pretty darned good about being open to the idea we could be wrong about many things. Many. But having stalked Otis for 2 full seasons at this point — not just casually watching like we did from 2016 to 2021… stalking, folks… as in would be arrested if this wasn’t a bear on a screen — and having seen Otis on a rock exactly zero times, we were confident in this declaration. [insert puffy nose emoji here]

Our confidence lasted exactly 16 days. Only 2 days after returning to Brooks, On July 28, Otis sets the record straight. “What do you mean it’s only me if I’m Nap Fish beside the rock?” (Probably.) Jaw drop. Not even a little rock — it’s Alice’s Restaurant!

On August 6, he does it again.

And again.

Some chatters are teasing us. We deserve it! lol

August 13 Otis shows off his profile, so we can better evaluate his technique. Yeah… that’s it. 😉 GIF captured by Marry-M-Otis-2016

August 17, with paws crossed like the gentlebear he is.

And October 1, classic King Otis. ♥ For his Buff Bears of Brooks cover shot, ya know!

If you’re wondering — and we know you are — why Otis was late this year, well, clearly, duh, he was at a Rock Climbing Convention! And if you’re wondering where he went on his two Walkabouts, well, HELLO, Rock Climbing continuing education, of course! 😉 That’s his story and he’s sticking to it, but as Bommy points out, what happens at the Rock Climbing Convention stays at the Rock Climbing Convention, so we shall never know the secrets of the rock… or Otis.

And since we thought the first shot was a fluke and the rest just made us gasp and freeze with the shock of each climb, we didn’t think to count them. There were more in between, for sure, and the Magic Workbook is getting a lil upgrade for 2024. We’ll be ready for you, Otis!

That’s that for today, and it’s time for Wishes for Fishes and Sweet Salmon Lattes for everyone! ♥

—
Bonus Content
Our personal favorite of the Rock Climbing Adventures of Otis: Otis on the Surfing Rock in the Far Pool! We have Merry-Mermaid-Mermaids4Otis to thank for this fabulous capture!