The legend of Hairy Davidson by Paul Shearstone
Many years ago in upper-Tuktoyaktuk, or Tuktuyaaqtuuq (Inuvialuktun: it looks like a caribou), there is an Inuvialuit hamlet located in the Inuvik Region of the Northwest Territories, Canada. It is commonly referred to simply by its first syllable, Tuk.
The settlement lies north of the Arctic Circle on the shore of the Arctic Ocean. Formerly known as Port Brabant, the community was renamed in 1950 as part of Canada's new trend at that time, changing community names to those originally given by the Native inhabitants.
One day, a French Canadian Adventurer / Explorer by the name of Jean Claude Bigarder arrived in the village on an old Harley Davison motorcycle. It was a 1940 Knucklehead that Jean Claude had modified to navigate through snow – and in that part of the world, there was a Lot of Snow!
On the forks, JC had fashioned a set of small skis that turned in the same direction as the front wheel. He had two smaller foot-skis attached to his boots he used to stabilize himself in deep snow.
The villagers were amazed by what they saw; amazed even more to find out that Jean Claude Bigarder was on a mission to be the first man ever to ride a Harley to the North Pole and back!
JC spent the day loading up on all the supplies he would need to accomplish his trek when a wise elder from the village warned him of an approaching winter storm. “It not wise, the elder said, to go, until bad weather pass!”
JC was an adventurer but not a fool. The following day and a half brought more wind and snow than the adventurer had ever seen in his life. He waited and he remained safe.
Twenty miles north of Tuk, however, the storm was so bad that even the creatures of the Arctic – those who had not found shelter – were not safe!
A mother polar bear, Wutnxt, found herself out on an ice flow, in the middle of the storm trying to keep her two boy-cubs, Mitoque and Mikote in her sight. Sadly, she was unsuccessful.
Being the youngest and therefore the weakest, Mitoque became separated from his family. After hours of searching, he came upon a little shelter created by a snow drift where he curled up into a ball to wait out the storm.
Two days later, alone, scared and hungrier than he’d ever been, Mitoque wandered aimlessly looking for his family. He did not find them.
A week later, near death from starvation, Mitoque lay quietly in the snow – but not for long. Suddenly, the sound of low-pitched growling and snapping of teeth caused him to open his eyes to see he’d been surrounded by four large and hungry wolves!
He was done for!
But then...there came an unusually loud and frightening noise. Mitoque had never heard it before and judging by the looks on the wolves faces, neither had they. Instantly, they turned and ran in fear.
Mitoque was too weak to run, he just lay there.
Experts know that a polar bear’s expression never changes but one can only imagine Mitoque’s thoughts when he caught sight of Jean Claude Bigarder’s noisy Harley Knucklehead coming over a three foot snow drift.
JC saw the bear too and got off his bike. He cautiously approached Mitoque to see it was in peril. Quickly, he took some hot tea from a thermos, mixed in some fresh snow and a splash of his favourite beer, Cinquante [Labatt’s 50].
The white beast showed no fear of Jean Claude and quickly lapped it up. JC went back to his bike, pulled out a big knife and a large chunk of seal jerky he’d bought in the village. He cut a piece off and gave it to Mitoque. He ate the whole thing in one bite – and sat up.
Jean Claude patted the bear on the head and said, “You weil be good again my friend.”
He then made camp and for the next few days, shared his food and nursed Mitoque back to health.
Early on the third morning, Jean Claude packed his things and kick-started the Harley Knucklehead. The sound startled the bear from his sleep. “Take care my friend!” Bigarder yelled as he disappeared behind a large mound of snow.
Mitoque was about to be abandoned again! He took chase. Although Jean Claude was nearly out of sight, he could still hear the sound of the Knucklehead; sounds travel a long way in the North. That is, however, until you find yourself abandoned and alone for a second time!
Six months went by and although Mitoque was never reunited with his family, he had grown and survived. Spring was in the air and while still a lot of snow, there were grassy areas and rock finally starting to show through.
As Mitoque rested on a dry piece of grass soaking in some sun, his ears suddenly perked up. There was that sound again! The sound that he’d never forgotten. The sound of the man on that thing that moved him across the snow. ‘patato-patato-patato-patato’. It was the Man!
Mitoque ran to the sound. As he crested a hill he could see the man in the distance. But something was wrong. The man was lying on the ground; not moving. The sound from that thing was still making a noise, but the man was motionless. Moreover, Mitoque saw something even more threatening. Wolves!
They too had been watching the man and the noise no longer frightened them. They were hungry.
Without hesitation, the bear, now fully grown, was in full flight to save the Man.
Seeing his approach, the wolves turned their attention to their charging nemesis. They leaped at him with teeth bared only to feel the powerful swat of Mitoque’s mighty paw. He drove them off! The man was saved... but he still was not moving.
Mitoque licked his face. His eyes remained shut. And, after some time, the ‘patato-patato-patato-patato’ sound stopped.
Mitoque stayed by the man. When the sun set and the cold winds began to blow, the bear crawled onto his sleeping friend to keep him warm and shield him from the elements.
It worked!
In the morning Jean Claude awoke and was excited to see his old buddy. “You saved me bear from da wolves! I fell and hit my head!”
JC again shared what little food he had with his hairy friend and then attended to his bike. “Sacre Bleu!” he yelled when he discovered he was completely out of gas. “Ow weil I make it back to da village?”
He looked at the bear and said, “Too bad you are not the horse!” and he laughed. After a while, though, an idea came to him. He pulled a rope from his backpack, tied it to his Harley and fashioned a halter around the bear. Once again in the saddle of his Knucklehead, he said, “You may not be the horse, but now you are the Husky Dog... Mush!”
Almost as if he had done it before, Mitoque moved forward, pulling the Harley and Explorer behind him. Later that afternoon the villagers of Tuk were first frightened and then amazed to see the Northern Biker-Explorer returning to their village being pulled by none other than a real polar bear. Remarkable!
As they gathered round, Jean Claude told the tale of his ride to the Pole and his adventurous encounters with Mitoque and the wolves. Later that night the villagers made a huge bonfire in the town square and everyone feasted.
The village Elder stood in front of Jean Claude and announced to the people, “This explorer, is a great man!” After that, he pointed to the bear and said, “This animal has the courage of a great Northern Hunter!” Whereupon, two village children brought something to the Elder. It was Jean Claude’s bike helmet but with two great Viking-like horns now attached to it. He took it, looked at Mitoque and said, “Mighty hunter, you bring us honour and now we honour you as our tradition demands!”
“Wait!” Jean Claude shouted. He got up and ran to his bike. He retrieved something from his pack. It was a French Fleur de Lis;
.....................................................................
As the story goes, the Adventurer / Explorer Jean Claude Bigarder stayed in the North for the rest of his life. Some said he was hypnotized by the Northern Lights. Others, however, knew, he just couldn’t leave his best friend Hairy Davidson.
Whatever happened to Hairy Davidson, you ask? After Jean Claude Bigarder’s death, the white bear disappeared into stories, tales and folklore never to be seen again.
Today, a replica of Hairy Davidson – now the Patron Saint and Protector of all Two-Wheeled Adventurers – can be found in Paul’s Harley HideAway.
How apropos it is that Hairy Davidson still stands vigil over those who perhaps need him the most....
The UnEasy Riders!
Fin
Hairy Davidson
In Paul's Harley HideAway
Home of the
UnEasy Riders
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