It was the sixth day of the trip to China and we went from Beijing to see the Great Wall . It was a very cold day, in fact the next day it snowed and they closed the roads. Not too many people braved the cold weather which was great for us, we didn't have a crowd to contend with. I won't say we had the entire 2,000 miles of the wall all to ourselves, but there were very few people at the section of the wall that we visited. In fact when we first got on top of the wall we were all alone. Mr. W said, "This is great let's take some pictures. First they took one of each other. Then Mrs. W said, "How about one of Kerby sitting on the Wall?" Oh great...wait until the Bears at home get a load of this shot. There I was perched on the railing...behind me was the Great Stone Wall Of China, snaking up and down and around and over for as far as the eye could see. We're talking Hollywood here, this is a production. Mr. W was both director and camera man. Mrs. W was in charge of keeping me from blowing off the wall, as there was a cold breeze blowing and I for one sure didn't want to see me fall. Mr. W said, "O.K. I'm ready... let go of Kerby and be sure to get your hand out of the picture." He had been so busy with the camera and getting things just right that he hadn't notice that a group of thirty or more "locals" had gathered behind him to watch the proceedings. When he told Mrs. W to let go of me my legs were so stiff with the cold that they came uncrossed and caused me to flip backwards. Behind me was nothing but space and rocks below...a loud startled gasp went up from the crowd of "locals" which startled Mr. W who up to then had been unaware of their presents. He was so startled that he almost dropped the camera. Quicker than you can say "Look Out" Mrs. W reached out and grabbed me just as I was about to go over the edge. She had saved me from fall fifty or sixty feet to the jagged rocks below. The crowd that moments before had let out such a gasp, now broke into a cheer and started to applaud my rescue by Mrs. W. I was speechless, really I couldn't say anything. When Mr. W regained his composure, he turned to the Cheering Section of locals and gave them a polite little bow. One of the group spoke a little english and asked all sorts of questions about me ... I was still speechless from the experience, so Mr.W answered his questions. Mrs. W asked the young man if he knew of a shop where she could buy a coolie hat for me. The young man asked the girls in the group who all giggled and pointed to the little village below us ...(There's more to the story about what happened when we got to the shop, but I'll save that for later.)

In the meantime, send us your Teddy Bear Story.

Respectively yours:

Sir Kerby.

If you like to smile read on ... If you don't like to smile this is not for you, but thanks for reading this far.

To those of you who are still here ... First of all this is not a travel club or anything like that, so relax. It's kinda like a "psychological phenomena," (Try that without a spell checker)

Do you want to have more fun when you travel? Do you want to meet fun interesting people when you travel? The answer is the same for both questions.

"NEVER LEAVE YOUR BEAR BEHIND WHEN YOU TRAVEL"©

Those of you who have a Teddy Bear friend, have a jump on those who don't, but they can get one I'm sure. (Bear that is) Teddy Bears are found in every country in the world and they are recognized by everyone.

"Recognition" That's the what makes this work ... maybe the people in your neighborhood know and recognized you as a fun loveing person, but who knows you or anything about you when you walk up to the airline ticket counter? or when you board the plane? or sit on a bench in Paris? Ah Ha! Nobody ... but if you have a Teddy Bear Friend sitting along side of you or whos head is sticking out of your bag ...

YOU ARE RECOGNIZED BY EVERYONE AS A FUN PERSON. I'll guarantee you'll get a smile and a comment from another fun seeking person. (You might get a few weird looks, but not from fun lovers)

The whole purpose of this web site is to share those fun encounters with each other. Drop us a line and tell us about a "fun thing" that happened to you while traveling with your Teddy Bear Friend. If you like, have your Teddy Bear Friend write the story. (Though you may have to help with the typing as their paws hit several keys at once.)

Hi Sir Kerby here .... and lucky to be here I might add. This story ends with a smile so I guess it's O.K. Well, Mr.and Mrs. Wood had gone to a party at Clovie and Leroys in Redondo Beach and they stayed at a real nice Best Western hotel right on the beach. Well the party was the greatest, as usual, but when Mr. and Mrs. W returned to Pleasanton, It was after midnight when they unpacked, Mrs. W let out a sickening sound as she found that I was not in the suitcase ... I had been left behind. For them it was ...PANIC, PANIC, PANIC, ... CALL THE F.B.I. ... For me a feeling of total loneliness ... there I was under the bed in Redono Beach where no one could see me. wondering if I would ever be found. Meanwhile back at home there were several frantic phone calls to the hotel. Because of the hour no one could give them any information. The next day it was more of the same, until they received a phone call from the hotel that I had been found and that I was on my way home via Fedex. They were elated, and me? well of course I was glad that I had been found, but being sent home in a Fedex plastic bag, I mean really.

Mr. W sent a rice letter to Mr. Brent Shilling of the Best Western hotel P.R. Department and another to Mr. Smith, the CEO of Fedex. Two days later Miss Debbie Suddut Mr. Smiths assistant phoned to ask if Sir Kerby made it home all right. She asked if we would be home next Tue or Wed. As "Fedex" is sending Sir Kerby a letter and a little something for his inconvenience. (I guess Mr. W must have said something about my mode of travel coming home.

Then Mr. Shilling of Best Western, sent Mr. W an Email message and said the hotel would like to do a story about the affair. ..... Wait! it gets better ...

The next day, A Fedex Truck stopped in front of the house and brought us a BOX which contained a FEDEX BEAR ... what a guy ....Leather Flight Jacket, with white scarf, helmet and goggles and on the back of his jacket the FEDEX logo. I was beside myself, first because of the thoughtfulness of the two companies and secondly I had some brand new friends and of course the fact that I got home safe and sound.

All my best to you and to, Best Western and Fedex

Sir Kerby

"Remember Never Leave Your Bear Behind When You Travel"

(Most of the time it's fun.)