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We had a storm system come through yesterday, and temps were relatively low (high of like 92) today, with clouds this evening...so I did what any self respecting field herper would do. I went out! I planned to both hike and road cruise, and did in fact do so, startin around 8. Temps were in the 70s, and there were clouds and some thunder.

About 10 minutes into the hike, I spotted what lookedl ike a night snake. These aren't terribly uncommon overall but they're not that often seen here (Amarillo area). It was a little off the trail, on a rock. I tried to snap a camera shot, but my camera...didn't go. It moved a bit, but still hadn't tripped to me, so I tried to get closer. I squatted down, near a clump of grass and tried to line up a second chance shot. TO do this I tried to push some grass aside since it had moved further...and the grass seemed very prickly. I pushed a bit more and realized it was *very* prickly. It was in fact a prickly pear, and I now had spines in my left hand. Lots of them. Cursing I stood up, the snake took off and I started picking out the spines. Injury one.

Completed the hike (about 2 miles round trip). Saw one baby (like 4" TL) collared lizard but never had a chance to photograph it.
Did see and photograph a massive millipede:

At this point it was about 9...picking cactus spines had cost me some time.

So we road cruised and lo and behold: Freaking long nose!! First one of the season, and got 2 so/so but useable shots. Freaking AWESOME 2 target species in one day

We continued road cruising. We came to a water crossing, with running water...and a large (big big big) desert king snake swimming...I stop the car, jump out, take one step and fall on my ass off the side of the road. I dunk my camera, bang my head pretty good, bust up both forearms.

3 snakes, blood from three locations, and one or two so/so but not great shots of one species :lol: after that accident I decided to bag it. I was soaked, I'd choked on water, my head hurt and my camera is out of action. I saw but did not manage to photo a 3rd target species that I really like.

Upsides: three target species, plus some deer. Also, I know my memory card is OK at least.
Downside: owie. I still have spines in my left hand, my head hurts, and I don't know my camera is alive. I managed to play the role of all three stooges. I'd do it all again though.
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We wouldn't have 6 and a half billion people if you had to be beautiful to get laid.
6.6 African House snakes
3.2 reticulated pythons
.1 corn snake
4.2 Florida Kings
1.2 speckled kings
1.2 ball pythons
0.0.1 Argentine boa

two Stooges perhaps... unless of course your camera is dead... then maybe all three

I've often considered myself a poster child for the old adage "If it weren't for bad luck I'd have no luck at all", but yeah, yours was a bad day.

Gerry

It turned on at least, and I took a test photo of my dog on my lunch break. So I'm just larry and curly, not moe
It was actually a real fun trip, I just feel like hell today (bruises from my thighs to mid back, egg on the head, left hand red and swollen from spines).
I plan to go out again tonight...hopefully with more pictures and less blood.
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We wouldn't have 6 and a half billion people if you had to be beautiful to get laid.
6.6 African House snakes
3.2 reticulated pythons
.1 corn snake
4.2 Florida Kings
1.2 speckled kings
1.2 ball pythons
0.0.1 Argentine boa

>>It turned on at least, and I took a test photo of my dog on my lunch break. So I'm just larry and curly, not moe
>>It was actually a real fun trip, I just feel like hell today (bruises from my thighs to mid back, egg on the head, left hand red and swollen from spines).
>>I plan to go out again tonight...hopefully with more pictures and less blood.
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>>We wouldn't have 6 and a half billion people if you had to be beautiful to get laid.
>>6.6 African House snakes
>>3.2 reticulated pythons
>>.1 corn snake
>>4.2 Florida Kings
>>1.2 speckled kings
>>1.2 ball pythons
>>0.0.1 Argentine boa
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We wouldn't have 6 and a half billion people if you had to be beautiful to get laid.
6.6 African House snakes
3.2 reticulated pythons
.1 corn snake
4.2 Florida Kings
1.2 speckled kings
1.2 ball pythons
0.0.1 Argentine boa

varanid wrote:
>>... So I'm just larry and curly, not moe

I went out a week ago to a local creek with my daughter. We caught two water snakes and a big female midland painted turtle. On the steep climb back to a roadway i slipped, put my hand down to catch myself, and knew right away i hadn't executed the move with grace. I had on work gloves but even through them i knew things weren't pointing the right way. 20 minutes later we got back to the car and removed the glove to see the "damage". It was a little grotesque and a lot funny: I couldn't really complain much because my daughter's got a 10" scar on her thigh from four leg surgeries (a bone cyst led to two femur fractures, a 10" plate still in place).

A couple hours later it was x-rayed and determined there were no bone chips, and popped back in place. Next time (if i remain Moe on occasion) I'll know just to fix it in the field, but this was my first time.

I couldn't help thinking of Bruce Willis in the Die Hard movies, if i've got the reference right, where he dislocates his shoulder and pops it back in place by slamming it against something hard. Ahh, cinema.

And this last note: Sitting in the emergency room, again fully aware my plight's insignificant compared to others' dilemmas, i ended up talking to the woman next to me...a woman, it turns out, with no sweat glands. Only in kentucky. Sadly, two of her three sons inherited the condition, she said, and those two, at 5 and 8 years old, already have full dentures as just one side effect of the illness. There's always--always--someone to remind us how lucky we are. And, varanid, i hope there's always (this) someone to remind you you're not the only stooge out there.

I'm amazed that wasn't just broken to hell and back. yuck
My take on the nights misadventures was supposed to be more comical (hence the stooges reference).
Speaking of people less fortunate...my wife's uncle's on life support and they're taking him off tomorrow. :-/ I don't know the guy myself, and neither does my wife but she's worried about how her dad's taking it.
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We wouldn't have 6 and a half billion people if you had to be beautiful to get laid.
6.6 African House snakes
3.2 reticulated pythons
.1 corn snake
4.2 Florida Kings
1.2 speckled kings
1.2 ball pythons
0.0.1 Argentine boa

I feel your pain. I killed my main camera caving last summer. Forgot to bring a carrying case.. DUH. Mud & water & dead batteries..
And I'm a klutz too! LOL

Matthew

Are you sure there wasn't alcohol involved

Because what you described sounds like a fun day to any of us.
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Mark