Rattlesnakes aren't good for traction... who knew?

[Kaiser Soze]

So like everyone here, I'm pretty careful to watch for hazards on the road while riding. I've made a quick manouver to miss rocks, etc... but this weekend was the first time I've ran into 6' rattlesnakes.

I couldn't avoid the first one, and pretty much gutted him right in the middle of his body with my tires. He was sprawled over my half of the road. It was either the water truck in the left lane, the ditch full of wood on the right, or ripping through the snake. Going hard on the brakes would have been interesting as I lost front wheel traction, so I didn't bother. This thing was pretty thick.

I went back and the poor thing was done for. Guts popping everywhere. I had to put it out of its misery.





After doing this, I passed another one in a corner, and just managed to get out of its way. The second one covered more than half the width of the road.

Then a friggin' bird swooped down and hit me in the foot. I'm glad I wear boots.

Oh, and then I found a killer bat at work this morning.



This last photo was snapped moments before the bat attempted to rip out my jugular. Luckily I was able to avoid a quick and painful death by carrying Thor (I named him) to a dark corner behind a building and putting him down for a nap. I'll definately be keeping my eyes open once the sun drops tonight though!!

I think the Joe Rocket gloves saved my life. Check those fangs. heh heh

I think mother nature has a hit out on me.

[asiantay]

YOU might be on to something...

we definitely need to notify the U.N. of these matters.

[Z (fka Sweet Tooth)]

I also ran over one this weekend, freaked the crap out of me it came out of no where...poor little fella never knew what hit him

[kellanv]

Man, you must have done SOMETHING to "pee" the animal kingdom off today

Those are pretty big rattlers, even by Tx standards.

Be careful with bats tho, especially ones that are found laying by themselves...you never know what kind of diseases they are carrying. Rabies is pretty prevalent in their populations because there are so many in close proximity.

Sounds like an interesting ride though for sure!

[Bachstrad37]

This post is beginning look and sound like a Wild Kingdom episode.

[CNF2002]

A Bats fangs are very thin and sometimes they can bite without much feeling at all...you may have been bitten through your gloves. I would get a rabies shot if I were you

[kellanv]

or he could find the bat and get it tested..however that means the bat would have to be killed

BUT by the looks of it, the gloves have a leather palm so he should be fine

[younggun]

great story... I would get checked out also, you never know

[Kaiser Soze]

Oh, I forgot to mention the spider bit in the face last week. My eye is just going back to normal.. cheek was all swelled up.

The bat didn't actually bite me, he was just faking me out. heh heh

[Sev]

Welcome to Alberta!