Re: birds
Posted: 2017/08/26 08:19:31 UTC
So with about a half hour or so before C1 a complication rears its ugly head.
We're parked on the SE side of Idaho 22 on the dotted line pointed back towards Dubois. There's another sedan similarly situated two cars ahead at about 75 yards.
Couple from New York had stopped and a Western* Rattlesnake had discovered the best above ground source of shade and cover he (?) had seen in his entire life.
She spread a blanket out along the starboard side of the car, took a lie-down, heard "TZTZTZTZTZTZTZTZTZTZ" from a foot or so away, decided against a nap.
Word spread, I arrived on the scene, got buzzed at by the critter coiled near the starboard edge about halfway between the front and rear wheels.
Need bag and stick. Pulled the plastic BugsGear ukulele out of the sleeping bag stuff bag (its case had been separated from it at his parents' house back in Northern Idaho (somewhat fortunately - given the current circumstances)) but the stick...
http://c1.staticflickr.com/5/4431/36801050345_39984c825d_o.png
Good freakin' luck.
Went into the trunk of the Toyota, found the crank handle for the scissors jack in the spare compartment, returned to the problem area. Was a bit worried 'cause there was an official looking guy in an orange highway safety vest a bit downstream from us and I didn't want him doing anything ugly in the interest of public safety.
Was also a bit worried 'cause it had been many years since I'd picked the previous snake that had the potential to seriously fuck up a day for me (Northern Pacific Rattlesnake, Cascades up from Stehekin, Washington the better part of two decades ago) and this would be a really bad day to have fucked up - for lotsa reasons.
Rattler had moved aft of the rear wheels and center - which made things a bit easier. I instructed the driver to move the car forward at a reasonable good clip. He did, Rattler started taking off down the shoulder, I arrested him by pressing the jack handle about a third of the way back with my right hand, grabbed the body a safe distance aft with the other, worked the handle up the neck with the left hand following until I could get a safe grip on the neck, lost the handle, scooped him up.
03-7113 - 09:47
http://c1.staticflickr.com/5/4421/36744535026_a7b70b5921_o.jpg
Rockstar status at E09 Village. Had to let people take pictures for a bit while pretending to be cool and relaxed with my heart trying to pound its way out of my chest.
04-7114
http://c1.staticflickr.com/5/4341/35982955973_82e2a57f61_o.jpg
05-7115
http://c1.staticflickr.com/5/4356/35987834323_7ea2d0a62f_o.jpg
After everyone had gotten his fill I lowered Snaky into the bag, buzzer first, and quickly lost the hold on the neck and got my left hand outta there.
Drew up the cord lock tight, added a Clove Hitch for good measure.
Had a teaching moment with the crowd about what a pit viper was and why one should never allow a loaded bag to come into contact with any body part one didn't want loaded with venom.
Took Snaky back to the rental car, used the tripod stool...
http://www.walkstool.com/sites/default/files/ws_comfort_45_screen.png
...in stowed and bagged configuration to push the heavy end of the stuff bag under the center of the car from the port side for maximum comfort and safety of all concerned. (Got a few buzzes out of the operation nevertheless.)
Our rental car shading snake bag about thirteen minutes prior to start of total:
06-7135 - 11:18
http://c1.staticflickr.com/5/4366/36626702272_4358292a95_o.jpg
Next episode... The fuckin' eclipse. (Remember?)
---
* - 2017/09/10 16:45:00 UTC
Make that a Great Basin (Crotalus oreganus lutosus).
We're parked on the SE side of Idaho 22 on the dotted line pointed back towards Dubois. There's another sedan similarly situated two cars ahead at about 75 yards.
Couple from New York had stopped and a Western* Rattlesnake had discovered the best above ground source of shade and cover he (?) had seen in his entire life.
She spread a blanket out along the starboard side of the car, took a lie-down, heard "TZTZTZTZTZTZTZTZTZTZ" from a foot or so away, decided against a nap.
Word spread, I arrived on the scene, got buzzed at by the critter coiled near the starboard edge about halfway between the front and rear wheels.
Need bag and stick. Pulled the plastic BugsGear ukulele out of the sleeping bag stuff bag (its case had been separated from it at his parents' house back in Northern Idaho (somewhat fortunately - given the current circumstances)) but the stick...
http://c1.staticflickr.com/5/4431/36801050345_39984c825d_o.png
Good freakin' luck.
Went into the trunk of the Toyota, found the crank handle for the scissors jack in the spare compartment, returned to the problem area. Was a bit worried 'cause there was an official looking guy in an orange highway safety vest a bit downstream from us and I didn't want him doing anything ugly in the interest of public safety.
Was also a bit worried 'cause it had been many years since I'd picked the previous snake that had the potential to seriously fuck up a day for me (Northern Pacific Rattlesnake, Cascades up from Stehekin, Washington the better part of two decades ago) and this would be a really bad day to have fucked up - for lotsa reasons.
Rattler had moved aft of the rear wheels and center - which made things a bit easier. I instructed the driver to move the car forward at a reasonable good clip. He did, Rattler started taking off down the shoulder, I arrested him by pressing the jack handle about a third of the way back with my right hand, grabbed the body a safe distance aft with the other, worked the handle up the neck with the left hand following until I could get a safe grip on the neck, lost the handle, scooped him up.
03-7113 - 09:47
http://c1.staticflickr.com/5/4421/36744535026_a7b70b5921_o.jpg
Rockstar status at E09 Village. Had to let people take pictures for a bit while pretending to be cool and relaxed with my heart trying to pound its way out of my chest.
04-7114
http://c1.staticflickr.com/5/4341/35982955973_82e2a57f61_o.jpg
05-7115
http://c1.staticflickr.com/5/4356/35987834323_7ea2d0a62f_o.jpg
After everyone had gotten his fill I lowered Snaky into the bag, buzzer first, and quickly lost the hold on the neck and got my left hand outta there.
Drew up the cord lock tight, added a Clove Hitch for good measure.
Had a teaching moment with the crowd about what a pit viper was and why one should never allow a loaded bag to come into contact with any body part one didn't want loaded with venom.
Took Snaky back to the rental car, used the tripod stool...
http://www.walkstool.com/sites/default/files/ws_comfort_45_screen.png
...in stowed and bagged configuration to push the heavy end of the stuff bag under the center of the car from the port side for maximum comfort and safety of all concerned. (Got a few buzzes out of the operation nevertheless.)
Our rental car shading snake bag about thirteen minutes prior to start of total:
06-7135 - 11:18
http://c1.staticflickr.com/5/4366/36626702272_4358292a95_o.jpg
Next episode... The fuckin' eclipse. (Remember?)
---
* - 2017/09/10 16:45:00 UTC
Make that a Great Basin (Crotalus oreganus lutosus).