Bear McTavish – The Cottage Country Explorer
Some people travel to get somewhere.
Bear travels because there’s always something worth finding around the next bend.
Born in Huntsville, Ontario, Bear McTavish grew up surrounded by lakes, forests, winding highways, and enough backroads to keep a curious traveller busy for a lifetime. Somewhere along the way he developed a simple philosophy: if the road looks interesting, take it.
Like the bear he represents, Bear is big-hearted, dependable, and happiest outdoors. He has the kind of personality that fills a campsite before he even unloads the cooler. His laugh carries across a lake, his stories get better every year, and somehow he always knows where to find good fishing, great pie, and friendly people.
His trusty F-150 has become something of a legend.
There’s almost always a canoe on the roof.
A cooler in the back.
And enough gear for an adventure that wasn’t part of the original plan.
Bear doesn’t schedule trips down to the minute. He points himself in a direction and lets the journey unfold. He knows which backroads avoid cottage traffic, which diners still make pie from scratch, and which lakes are worth getting up before sunrise to fish.
Most of that knowledge isn’t written down anywhere.
It’s earned.
One road.
One campsite.
One conversation at a time.
Traveling with Bear means you’ll probably laugh more than expected, eat better than planned, and discover places you never would have found on your own. He has a gift for turning strangers into friends and ordinary stops into memorable experiences.
He’s not interested in rushing.
He’s interested in experiencing.
Whether he’s paddling across a quiet lake, exploring a forgotten side road, or sharing stories around a campfire, Bear believes the best adventures are the ones that leave room for surprises.
To him, every trip should include good people, good food, and at least one unexpected discovery.
As one of the Animals of Rumble, Bear McTavish represents friendship, exploration, and the belief that the journey is every bit as important as the destination.
If you meet Bear on your travels, don’t be surprised if he invites you to join him for lunch, points you toward a hidden gem, or convinces you to take the scenic route.
He’s usually right.
Bear McTavish’s Motto
“Take the backroad. Stay a little longer.”
Fun Fact: Bear has been known to drive hundreds of kilometres for a famous butter tart—and considers the trip a success even if the bakery is closed when he gets there.
Bear McTavish’s Bio
Born: September 7th, 2009
Hometown: Huntsville, Ontario
Height: 6′ 3″
Weight: Cottage country solid
Measurements: Built for bear hugs and carrying canoes
School: Muskoka School of Good Times
Guilty Pleasures: Butter tarts — will drive two hours for a good one
Favorite Foods: Shore lunch, peameal bacon, anything grilled at a campsite
Turn Ons: Lakes with no motorboats, roads with no GPS signal
Turn Offs: Lineups at Tim Hortons and people who don’t wave back
Favorite Song to Sing in the Shower: “Summer of ’69” – Bryan Adams
Favorite TV Show: Letterkenny
Favorite Bands: The Tragically Hip; Bryan Adams; The Lowest of the Low
Favorite Alcoholic Beverage: Muskoka Brewery Cream Ale
Favorite Non-Alcoholic Beverage: Double-double, always
Favorite TV Sitcom: Letterkenny
Favorite Clothing Company: Bush Pilot — or whatever’s at the MEC sale
Favorite Author: Stuart McLean
Favorite Book: The Vinyl Cafe Notebooks
Vehicle: Ford F-150 — canoe on the roof, cooler in the back, always heading to or from a lake
Event I’d Like to Attend Someday: Meaford Tank Museum Rally
Goals and Dreams: To fish every lake in Algonquin Park before he’s too old to carry the canoe
Ambition: To make sure nobody he rides with ever has a bad time