Benjamin Posted November 20, 2012 Posted November 20, 2012 Last week came round a corner on a section of single track by a river, one times large size leguaan lying in the path. My partner rode past, and I stopped , no chance was I riding past that thing, going to bite my leg off. Eventually he got tired of waiting and rode back to my side of the beast , so we could turn around and go back the other way. I ain't winning any bravery prizes I'm afraid. Frogs about my limit.
Guest The Bushpig Posted November 20, 2012 Posted November 20, 2012 Why were you leopard crawling? Where was your mtb? This was long before I discovered Mountain Bikes; in my largely misspent youth. I was stalking a Bushbuck which had been crippled by a wire snare in order to put it out of it's misery; had my rifle over my elbows and my head down. My cap peak prevented me from seeing Mr. Mamba until I was on top of him. In hindsight, I think I could have prevented the face to face with him if I had just stayed on the ground instead of jumping to my feet when he reared up. Anyway, he had the grace to not bite me; damn grateful for that!
jcmeyerSS Posted November 20, 2012 Posted November 20, 2012 Judging by its colour I'd say Rinkhals. Did you see the colour on the underside?+1
Weight Weenie Posted November 20, 2012 Posted November 20, 2012 I was trailrunning in Groenkloof some time back and went right past a Mozambique Spitting cobra. Heard a rustle and looked back to see him/her reared up about a meter behind me. I screamed like a little girl . Never had such a fright in my life ! Bianchi 1
Lexx Posted November 20, 2012 Posted November 20, 2012 The Problem with us here in the Lowveld is, we live like 140km away from the nearest Hospital. So, once you get bitten, its better to take your cellphone, and phone all your loved once and say goodbye. Because, there's no chance that you'll make it in time to Hospital.So wifey is telling me to Rather Become a Roadie. Not Cool....
Paul Ruinaard Posted November 20, 2012 Posted November 20, 2012 Talking of which the guys tell me that the hippo is back a Northern Farm at Fish Eagle Lake. Allegedly the bunch ahead of my mate saw it 3 weeks ago. I am much more *** scared of a hippo than a snake. And to add to your woes I have seen plenty leguvaan down at the jukskei single track below lanseria on N Farms as well as the occasional Rinkhals. The snakes and lizards are always there. You are getting faster so they are not able to get out of the way as quickly, Consider yourslef lucky if you spot them. But any of them that bite you - you are in deep dwang. Especially if alone....
SeaBee Posted November 20, 2012 Posted November 20, 2012 Maybe I was lucky thus far... but Sunday in Paarl mountain was my first (offroad) snake encounters as well. One small brown with darker brown markings, struggling uphill to suddenly find the freakin branch I'n about to ride over in 5-4-3... starts flicking out a tongue! Then going downhill at a pace (for me...) around a blind corner and one big black one slithering away "dat die stof so staan". Surprised my saddle is still white(ish). It was a really big SOB. Two to many for me - I risked the cars and headed back via main road! I won't kill them, but I seriously do not like them. Of all the creatures put on the earth, they really give me the heebees.
RockCoach Posted November 20, 2012 Posted November 20, 2012 So wifey is telling me to Rather Become a Roadie. Not Cool.... The biggest snake I ever saw was on the road near Maitland in PE area. I wondered why this dude was walking down the middle of the road. Over the next rise I saw the mother partly on the road in my lane. Girth was similar to my good sized calf. I overtook right on theoher side of the road at a speed I usually reserve for long downhills. Adrenalin rush of note.
No Hare Posted November 20, 2012 Posted November 20, 2012 saw 7 puffies in the west coast national park during the past weekend. But this little f****r had me seriously worried!
tombeej Posted November 20, 2012 Posted November 20, 2012 The Problem with us here in the Lowveld is, we live like 140km away from the nearest Hospital. So, once you get bitten, its better to take your cellphone, and phone all your loved once and say goodbye. Because, there's no chance that you'll make it in time to Hospital.So wifey is telling me to Rather Become a Roadie. Not Cool.... I hear you. But you don't have to be so far away from civilisation to be in the same ***. In a lot of SA trails - esp. very hilly country - you can be a couple of kay's from town and there's no cell phone signal. I often ride on my own. If I'm bitten I know I'm finished. If you try to ride for help, all you do is send the poison quicker through your system - you just die faster. Only way to survive is to lie down in the middle of the trail, lie as still as possible, and hope another rider comes round the corner very soon. Lexx 1
madmarc Posted November 20, 2012 Posted November 20, 2012 (edited) We found the same snake a bit earlier, and surmised a mongoose had killed them and was scared off by bikers while eating the one. actually odd to find 2 dead snakes 10 m apart in the same path. I believe it was a rhinkals (spitting cobra) then a bit later in the week we got this pic of the same snake taken a bit earlier which explained everything. 2 snakes to be carefull of when cycling in da bush "mamba" & "cobra" if startled the will attack you or your bike, this time the bike won. Edited November 20, 2012 by madmarc
Greggvdw Posted November 21, 2012 Author Posted November 21, 2012 Nice website with info on our local snakes.http://www.africanreptiles-venom.co.za/rinkhals.html
jcmeyerSS Posted November 21, 2012 Posted November 21, 2012 The Problem with us here in the Lowveld is, we live like 140km away from the nearest Hospital. So, once you get bitten, its better to take your cellphone, and phone all your loved once and say goodbye. Because, there's no chance that you'll make it in time to Hospital.So wifey is telling me to Rather Become a Roadie. Not Cool....Just keep some anti-venom at home then.When I was living up in kasane ( Chobe) Botswana. My housemate and I used to be the local snake wranglers for all the locals and lodges. Kept anti venom in the fridge as the nearest hospital that could treat us was francistown a good 6 hrs drive. The most common snakes we caught where puffies, Af rock pythons and a lot of Anchietas cobras ( formally angola cobra)
AndrewF Posted November 21, 2012 Posted November 21, 2012 saw 7 puffies in the west coast national park during the past weekend. But this little f****r had me seriously worried! WTF is that?!?!
tombeej Posted November 21, 2012 Posted November 21, 2012 Just keep some anti-venom at home then.When I was living up in kasane ( Chobe) Botswana. My housemate and I used to be the local snake wranglers for all the locals and lodges. Kept anti venom in the fridge as the nearest hospital that could treat us was francistown a good 6 hrs drive. The most common snakes we caught where puffies, Af rock pythons and a lot of Anchietas cobras ( formally angola cobra) That's something I've thought about - keeping anti-venom at home. So where do you buy it from, and how long does it keep in the fridge before it expires. Can you get for mamba, vipers, etc? Only problem again is that cell signal is pretty much zero in the hills just outside Ballito. I'd need to carry a satellite phone or something...
Recommended Posts
Create an account or sign in to comment
You need to be a member in order to leave a comment
Create an account
Sign up for a new account. It's easy!
Register a new accountSign in
Already have an account? Sign in here.
Sign In Now