Your bike is operating with an incorrect-but-jury-rigged-so-it-works derailleur, and you need to get up this road unless you want to climb some additional serious altitude way out of the way that could blow out the bike. (For the 2nd time.)
Oh. Yes... The bear is COMING TOWARD YOU.
Then, just as you are wondering if you should set off your "banger" (kind of a firecracker-type thing), pedal madly in the opposite direction, or curl up in a fetal position, the bear moves off.
What Bob Did
Bob was ready to do all of the above, plus he had his bear spray handy. I can't believe he took this photo, actually. Then he waited awhile to see if anyone would come his way so they could travel in a group. No one showed up. Then he proceeded up the road, clanging his bear warning bells the whole time.
He also sent me a note (see previous post) about the bears ahead, completely unaware that text messages were delayed up to 36 hours and he was no longer transmitting his location to anyone.
A Question
Does anyone think this sounds fun?