#1
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Obstructions
Some recent obstructions remind me not to complain too much about that
annoying traffic light on my daily ride. Most them expand in Explorer if you click on the lower right. None of them are squirrels or dogs. Absolutely limp, motionless, and hoping that it won't be noticed, stretched across the path: http://i11.tinypic.com/52fvkno.jpg Obviously, it _was_ noticed, but my first attempt at one-handed photography is embarrassingly fuzzy: http://i15.tinypic.com/4utq8mh.jpg This unharmed idiot was sunbathing on the path a few days later. The one-handed focus is better, but a more intelligent photographer would have checked that his automatic shutter had opened all the way: http://i15.tinypic.com/6ccz2iw.jpg Another unharmed idiot, caught a few minutes later, also sunbathing on the path: http://i10.tinypic.com/673ty4n.jpg This poor foot-long devil was still alive, but couldn't rattle, coil, crawl, or hiss, so I had to put it out of its misery. (Handling this kind is foolish--most fatal bites in the U.S. involve the head or neck and a bizarre religious belief that rattlers won't resent handling.) At first I thought that a car had hit it, but it was almost undamaged. The fatal wound, an ugly, unseen gash on the far side of its neck, probably came from a beak: http://i13.tinypic.com/53rtreu.jpg These two camera hogs were too big for one-handed photography. The first is about three feet long, the second about four feet long: http://i6.tinypic.com/4ztygba.jpg http://i18.tinypic.com/4xqogfs.jpg This nitwit was playing why-did-the-chicken-cross-the-road, as they often do, and finally ran over my shoe. They have a disconcerting habit of near-sightedly charging at you instead of fleeing: http://i16.tinypic.com/5z6l5y8.jpg Here's his little brother, next to a bottle of bug repellant: http://i9.tinypic.com/4uxcfa1.jpg These three adults just stood there, while the two recently born kids ran happily back and forth past them. The second kid is just visible between the middle and right hand adults: http://i13.tinypic.com/6g1xe1s.jpg One kid has already zoomed past the left edge of the picture. The other is following: http://i14.tinypic.com/5z20k09.jpg If you look closely, you can see the other kid, now running back the other way, its head just past its sibling's tail: http://i7.tinypic.com/4muhbbl.jpg And now it's raced back the other way, past all three adults: http://i7.tinypic.com/4yhvh42.jpg These two versions of four horns have already been posted, but you might as well see them again if you've browsed this far: http://i8.tinypic.com/4yjyjvn.jpg http://i7.tinypic.com/4y7cbgx.jpg Finally, here's about ten pounds of expectant mother, a bit bigger than a bike helmet. Inflamed by a thunderstorm, she foolishly dug a nest this afternoon at the edge of a sandy but poorly drained two-rut road, fifteen feet from her marsh: http://i12.tinypic.com/6gxpi1g.jpg Tails are often broken or truncated, but this tail is pristine, ready for the show ring. (Yes, I once kept them as pets, but no, there are no formal best-of-show competitions.) http://i13.tinypic.com/4zvf9nb.jpg Excellent shell, little moss, no leeches, no holes: http://i17.tinypic.com/6434ia9.jpg The tail has been moved to one side to show to advantage, while the eye catches the camera flash: http://i8.tinypic.com/5y9huds.jpg Cheers, Carl Fogel |
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#2
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Obstructions
On Jun 3, 2:13 am, wrote:
Some recent obstructions remind me not to complain too much about that annoying traffic light on my daily ride. Most them expand in Explorer if you click on the lower right. None of them are squirrels or dogs. Absolutely limp, motionless, and hoping that it won't be noticed, stretched across the path:http://i11.tinypic.com/52fvkno.jpg Obviously, it _was_ noticed, but my first attempt at one-handed photography is embarrassingly fuzzy: http://i15.tinypic.com/4utq8mh.jpg This unharmed idiot was sunbathing on the path a few days later. The one-handed focus is better, but a more intelligent photographer would have checked that his automatic shutter had opened all the way: http://i15.tinypic.com/6ccz2iw.jpg Another unharmed idiot, caught a few minutes later, also sunbathing on the path:http://i10.tinypic.com/673ty4n.jpg This poor foot-long devil was still alive, but couldn't rattle, coil, crawl, or hiss, so I had to put it out of its misery. (Handling this kind is foolish--most fatal bites in the U.S. involve the head or neck and a bizarre religious belief that rattlers won't resent handling.) At first I thought that a car had hit it, but it was almost undamaged. The fatal wound, an ugly, unseen gash on the far side of its neck, probably came from a beak:http://i13.tinypic.com/53rtreu.jpg These two camera hogs were too big for one-handed photography. The first is about three feet long, the second about four feet long:http://i6.tinypic.com/4ztygba.jpghtt...om/4xqogfs.jpg This nitwit was playing why-did-the-chicken-cross-the-road, as they often do, and finally ran over my shoe. They have a disconcerting habit of near-sightedly charging at you instead of fleeing:http://i16.tinypic.com/5z6l5y8.jpg Here's his little brother, next to a bottle of bug repellant:http://i9.tinypic.com/4uxcfa1.jpg These three adults just stood there, while the two recently born kids ran happily back and forth past them. The second kid is just visible between the middle and right hand adults:http://i13.tinypic.com/6g1xe1s.jpg One kid has already zoomed past the left edge of the picture. The other is following:http://i14.tinypic.com/5z20k09.jpg If you look closely, you can see the other kid, now running back the other way, its head just past its sibling's tail:http://i7.tinypic.com/4muhbbl.jpg And now it's raced back the other way, past all three adults:http://i7.tinypic.com/4yhvh42.jpg These two versions of four horns have already been posted, but you might as well see them again if you've browsed this far:http://i8.tinypic.com/4yjyjvn.jpghtt...om/4y7cbgx.jpg Finally, here's about ten pounds of expectant mother, a bit bigger than a bike helmet. Inflamed by a thunderstorm, she foolishly dug a nest this afternoon at the edge of a sandy but poorly drained two-rut road, fifteen feet from her marsh:http://i12.tinypic.com/6gxpi1g.jpg Tails are often broken or truncated, but this tail is pristine, ready for the show ring. (Yes, I once kept them as pets, but no, there are no formal best-of-show competitions.)http://i13.tinypic.com/4zvf9nb.jpg Excellent shell, little moss, no leeches, no holes:http://i17.tinypic.com/6434ia9.jpg The tail has been moved to one side to show to advantage, while the eye catches the camera flash:http://i8.tinypic.com/5y9huds.jpg Cheers, Carl Fogel Great photos, Carl, thanks for sharing. Lewis. ***** |
#3
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Obstructions
On Jun 3, 2:13 am, wrote:
Absolutely limp, motionless, and hoping that it won't be noticed, stretched across the path:http://i11.tinypic.com/52fvkno.jpg Dr. Fogel: Snake, hope: an uplifting assumption. Many sermons will fall far short of that today. Thank you. --D-y |
#4
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Obstructions
You have more interesting creatures in your neck of the woods than we do
here in the Twin Cities metro. Although in SE MN I have encountered 3 foot long rattlers out sunning themselves, and snappers along the river and the backwaters. No big hairy spiders, though. Dogs are the main form of fauna that bicyclists encounter around here, roaming about the countryside singly or in packs thanks to ignorant owners who saw "Born Free" as children. Had to outsprint a boxer yesterday. Riding on the other side of the river, I note that Wisconsonites tend to be more responsible owners and keep their dogs under control. |
#5
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Obstructions
Carl, I thought you lived in Pueblo not Appalachia or the Ozarks.
Put yer hand on the radio - now shake that snake... That looked like a prairie rattler, the kind that I accidentally ran over on my bike. I was surprised the first time I saw a tarantula run across the road in front of me. I had never known that they were native to the SW. Chas. wrote in message ... Some recent obstructions remind me not to complain too much about that annoying traffic light on my daily ride. Most them expand in Explorer if you click on the lower right. None of them are squirrels or dogs. Absolutely limp, motionless, and hoping that it won't be noticed, stretched across the path: http://i11.tinypic.com/52fvkno.jpg Obviously, it _was_ noticed, but my first attempt at one-handed photography is embarrassingly fuzzy: http://i15.tinypic.com/4utq8mh.jpg This unharmed idiot was sunbathing on the path a few days later. The one-handed focus is better, but a more intelligent photographer would have checked that his automatic shutter had opened all the way: http://i15.tinypic.com/6ccz2iw.jpg Another unharmed idiot, caught a few minutes later, also sunbathing on the path: http://i10.tinypic.com/673ty4n.jpg This poor foot-long devil was still alive, but couldn't rattle, coil, crawl, or hiss, so I had to put it out of its misery. (Handling this kind is foolish--most fatal bites in the U.S. involve the head or neck and a bizarre religious belief that rattlers won't resent handling.) At first I thought that a car had hit it, but it was almost undamaged. The fatal wound, an ugly, unseen gash on the far side of its neck, probably came from a beak: http://i13.tinypic.com/53rtreu.jpg These two camera hogs were too big for one-handed photography. The first is about three feet long, the second about four feet long: http://i6.tinypic.com/4ztygba.jpg http://i18.tinypic.com/4xqogfs.jpg This nitwit was playing why-did-the-chicken-cross-the-road, as they often do, and finally ran over my shoe. They have a disconcerting habit of near-sightedly charging at you instead of fleeing: http://i16.tinypic.com/5z6l5y8.jpg Here's his little brother, next to a bottle of bug repellant: http://i9.tinypic.com/4uxcfa1.jpg These three adults just stood there, while the two recently born kids ran happily back and forth past them. The second kid is just visible between the middle and right hand adults: http://i13.tinypic.com/6g1xe1s.jpg One kid has already zoomed past the left edge of the picture. The other is following: http://i14.tinypic.com/5z20k09.jpg If you look closely, you can see the other kid, now running back the other way, its head just past its sibling's tail: http://i7.tinypic.com/4muhbbl.jpg And now it's raced back the other way, past all three adults: http://i7.tinypic.com/4yhvh42.jpg These two versions of four horns have already been posted, but you might as well see them again if you've browsed this far: http://i8.tinypic.com/4yjyjvn.jpg http://i7.tinypic.com/4y7cbgx.jpg Finally, here's about ten pounds of expectant mother, a bit bigger than a bike helmet. Inflamed by a thunderstorm, she foolishly dug a nest this afternoon at the edge of a sandy but poorly drained two-rut road, fifteen feet from her marsh: http://i12.tinypic.com/6gxpi1g.jpg Tails are often broken or truncated, but this tail is pristine, ready for the show ring. (Yes, I once kept them as pets, but no, there are no formal best-of-show competitions.) http://i13.tinypic.com/4zvf9nb.jpg Excellent shell, little moss, no leeches, no holes: http://i17.tinypic.com/6434ia9.jpg The tail has been moved to one side to show to advantage, while the eye catches the camera flash: http://i8.tinypic.com/5y9huds.jpg Cheers, Carl Fogel |
#6
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Obstructions
On Sun, 03 Jun 2007 10:26:35 -0500, Tim McNamara wrote:
You have more interesting creatures in your neck of the woods than we do here in the Twin Cities metro. Although in SE MN I have encountered 3 foot long rattlers out sunning themselves, and snappers along the river and the backwaters. No big hairy spiders, though. I don't know... I've seen three bald eagles in the middle of town: one along the Mississippi south of Franklin Ave. and two near Lake Nokomis. Also four egrets (three near Lake Nokomis and one at Battle Creek) lots of turtles, and two wild turkeys (on the top of the bluff near the East Bank of the U). And ducklings! Lots of ducklings. My favorite was when I was stopped on the river path not far from Franklin Ave. (Bridal Veil Falls?) and I heard thumping and clunking coming down the wooded slope that towers a hundred feet or so over the path. Obviously a rock... but no, it was a large, grizzled turtle! He gave me the hairy eyeball. Reid |
#8
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Obstructions
* * Chas wrote:
Carl, I thought you lived in Pueblo not Appalachia or the Ozarks. Put yer hand on the radio - now shake that snake... That looked like a prairie rattler, the kind that I accidentally ran over on my bike. I was surprised the first time I saw a tarantula run across the road in front of me. I had never known that they were native to the SW. Chas. They are in California and Arkansas that I know of. The California ones will let you pick them up and the ones in Arkansas will rear up for a fight. Completely different temperaments. Bill Baka wrote in message ... Some recent obstructions remind me not to complain too much about that annoying traffic light on my daily ride. Most them expand in Explorer if you click on the lower right. None of them are squirrels or dogs. Absolutely limp, motionless, and hoping that it won't be noticed, stretched across the path: http://i11.tinypic.com/52fvkno.jpg Obviously, it _was_ noticed, but my first attempt at one-handed photography is embarrassingly fuzzy: http://i15.tinypic.com/4utq8mh.jpg This unharmed idiot was sunbathing on the path a few days later. The one-handed focus is better, but a more intelligent photographer would have checked that his automatic shutter had opened all the way: http://i15.tinypic.com/6ccz2iw.jpg Another unharmed idiot, caught a few minutes later, also sunbathing on the path: http://i10.tinypic.com/673ty4n.jpg This poor foot-long devil was still alive, but couldn't rattle, coil, crawl, or hiss, so I had to put it out of its misery. (Handling this kind is foolish--most fatal bites in the U.S. involve the head or neck and a bizarre religious belief that rattlers won't resent handling.) At first I thought that a car had hit it, but it was almost undamaged. The fatal wound, an ugly, unseen gash on the far side of its neck, probably came from a beak: http://i13.tinypic.com/53rtreu.jpg These two camera hogs were too big for one-handed photography. The first is about three feet long, the second about four feet long: http://i6.tinypic.com/4ztygba.jpg http://i18.tinypic.com/4xqogfs.jpg This nitwit was playing why-did-the-chicken-cross-the-road, as they often do, and finally ran over my shoe. They have a disconcerting habit of near-sightedly charging at you instead of fleeing: http://i16.tinypic.com/5z6l5y8.jpg Here's his little brother, next to a bottle of bug repellant: http://i9.tinypic.com/4uxcfa1.jpg These three adults just stood there, while the two recently born kids ran happily back and forth past them. The second kid is just visible between the middle and right hand adults: http://i13.tinypic.com/6g1xe1s.jpg One kid has already zoomed past the left edge of the picture. The other is following: http://i14.tinypic.com/5z20k09.jpg If you look closely, you can see the other kid, now running back the other way, its head just past its sibling's tail: http://i7.tinypic.com/4muhbbl.jpg And now it's raced back the other way, past all three adults: http://i7.tinypic.com/4yhvh42.jpg These two versions of four horns have already been posted, but you might as well see them again if you've browsed this far: http://i8.tinypic.com/4yjyjvn.jpg http://i7.tinypic.com/4y7cbgx.jpg Finally, here's about ten pounds of expectant mother, a bit bigger than a bike helmet. Inflamed by a thunderstorm, she foolishly dug a nest this afternoon at the edge of a sandy but poorly drained two-rut road, fifteen feet from her marsh: http://i12.tinypic.com/6gxpi1g.jpg Tails are often broken or truncated, but this tail is pristine, ready for the show ring. (Yes, I once kept them as pets, but no, there are no formal best-of-show competitions.) http://i13.tinypic.com/4zvf9nb.jpg Excellent shell, little moss, no leeches, no holes: http://i17.tinypic.com/6434ia9.jpg The tail has been moved to one side to show to advantage, while the eye catches the camera flash: http://i8.tinypic.com/5y9huds.jpg Cheers, Carl Fogel |
#9
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Obstructions
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#10
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Obstructions
On Sun, 03 Jun 2007 19:45:50 -0400, Luke
wrote: On Sun, 03 Jun 2007 01:13:09 -0600, wrote: Some recent obstructions ... snip Great pics Carl. Were you riding through a preserve? Or does a casual ride through your neighbourhood involve such encounters with (to me anyway) exotic wildlife? Dear Luke, I just ride up the bike path along the Arkansas River to the dam at the Pueblo Reservoir, then up to the top of the ridge west of town on the highway: http://i19.tinypic.com/4kynamo.jpg I start and end at the tiny red tail on the far right. All the housing on the south side of the river is up on the bluffs. The houses on my side of town line the bluffs above the river, but there's practically nothing on the river bottom, so thirty seconds from my unremarkable suburban driveway I turn down a gully and am in the countryside, but still about four miles from the city limits. Technically, parts of the path are a riparian area, but the wildlife isn't too sure about the distinctions and happily wanders into traffic. Deer, foxes, and the occasional black bear or elk wander into the city, following the river. (No antelope--they prefer the open plains on top of the bluffs.) Beavers, muskrats, raccoons, badgers, rabbits, skunks, and prairie dogs are common. Oddly, I've never seen coyotes in my neighborhood, though I heard them singing this evening out by the reservoir. The only creatures that I noticed today were a crow, a hawk, and a great blue heron, none close enough to justify hauling out a camera. Cheers, Carl Fogel |
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