Re: [RC] [RC] spiders are childs play..how bout tree snakes.. in VA? - Flora Hillman
I was riding the Old Dominion
two years ago, sponsoring a junior and his friend in the LD, which was the day
after the 50 and 100 miles rides. We were about the last ones on
the last loop heading back to the finish at basecamp, so we were
booking along to make up time, cantering along a narrow tree-lined path
beside a lovely creek, heading towards a large, open farmfield. At the end
of the path one tree had stuck a large, thick branch --right smack at eye
level-- directly across the path. Being first, I merely ducked under the
branch, and had already gone a number of strides when I heard this terrific
whooping yell from one of the boys.
I pulled up immediately
and turned around, expecting to see one of the boys either on the ground or
in some type of calamity. What I saw was an enthralled teenager -- my
junior's friend -- cantering up to me, my junior right behind him, looking
back over his shoulder at the path behind us. Both boys were really
excited.
"Wow!!" my junior's friend
exclaimed, totally energized as only a teenaged boy would be. "Did you see that
snake in the tree??!!"
"What
snake?"
They both pointed back to
the tree in unison.
"That
snake"
I stared up and
down the tree, seeing nothing unusual, until my gaze traveled out to the
branch. I did a double take, almost falling off my horse.
There, sprawled out of that thick limb, enjoying the view of everyone going
past, was the biggest, hugest, tree snake I'd ever seen in my life --
including all those stuffed specimens you only find in the museum. I'm
talking anaconda here -- I could see it from where we stood more
than 50 feet away, it was so big. It was also very well camouflaged, it's
coloring the same as the green leaves -- so it was well hidden, even
in full view. It had been less than a few inches from my head
as I had ducked under the branch.
I have no fear of snakes, but
this one was big enough to raise the hair on your head.
To this day, I don't know if
anyone else on the ride ever saw it ... but we sure
did. :-)
