Snakes on a plane... err... trail

[Weight Weenie]

Now that is a cocky snake(in my limited experience). I followed a really spectacular specimen once while out hunting, at a distance(about 3-4m) which I thought was safe and wouldn't spook the snake. As soon as he became aware of me, I got a very brief warning flare of the hood, followed immediately by a full jet of venom which fortunately fell short and sprayed my neck, jacket and hands. I guess he was just having a bad morning and got a fright; always a possibility.

 

The burning question for me still is: Would I have been able to pee in my own eyes to flush that venom if it landed where it was supposed to?

 

Well I'm 99% sure that was what it was. Too light in colour to be a Rinkhals I think (though snake colour seems vary varied), could have been a snouted cobra as they look similar, but from reading on the web, other people have also seen and taken pics of the moz cobra there so that's what I'm going with.

 

https://community.bikehub.co.za/topic/110741-snakes-at-groenkloof/

[The Ouzo]

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....

a hippo will give you more than enough warning. Respect it's space and it won't be a problem.

[Benjamin]

Ok, now I'm unhappy. It's one thing finding these buggers on the trail or in the bush. Yesterday I arrive home and the chap doing some tiling for me proudly tells me he nailed a PUFFADDER cruising on my front stairs, headed inside...... I don't live in the boonies either. Told CW we moving to a 12th story flat.

[Reg Lizard]

And you know what they say, if there's one, there's two and there might be three

[Benjamin]

And you know what they say, if there's one, there's two and there might be three

Anyone know an Estate Agent ?

[bj horn]

Coming back from Koeberg Nature Reserve yesterday,near derdesteen saw a cape cobra trying to cross the road .Lucky to be on the tar ,if i had been in the single track next to the road I would have seen him to late.Must have been 2m .Lucky no cars around as I did some quick swerving.

[_David_]

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.

 

I came across this guy suntanning at NF last year.

 

 

saw 7 puffies in the west coast national park during the past weekend. But this little f****r had me seriously worried!

 

Found one of them on me after the Hakahana race, luckily I did not get sick.

Edited November 22, 2012 by d@vid

[bikekid]

Ok, now I'm unhappy. It's one thing finding these buggers on the trail or in the bush. Yesterday I arrive home and the chap doing some tiling for me proudly tells me he nailed a PUFFADDER cruising on my front stairs, headed inside...... I don't live in the boonies either. Told CW we moving to a 12th story flat.

 

Where in Durbs are you? At my old house in Glenmore we had a smallish puffy in our garden which our gardener took to with a spade. We had pets and the neighbours had small kids so yeah..

 

We also had a compost heap and our gardener said he saw a big black snake slithering around...he refused to get compost for a while (I would too!!)

[bikekid]

Anyone know an Estate Agent ?

 

My girlfriend is an Estate Agent

[RodTi]

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.

 

I've said it before, and I'll say it again... I used to play around in the singletrack warren at the bottom of where the DH guys ride, below the Taalmonument - until one morning, coming round the bend where many of them cross over the tar - I saw a Geelslang, sailing off the road...

 

The screen grab from Google Earth doesn't really do justice to the distance from the yellow line to the culvert on the side of the road there, but it's head was through that culvert and coming up the other side, and its tail had not yet finished crossing the yellow line... It gracefully slid off down the singletrack to the left - and I have never been back in there... It was an absolute monster of a snake - and beautiful too...

 

[Weight Weenie]

I came across this guy suntanning at NF last year.

 

 

 

 

Found one of them on me after the Hakahana race, luckily I did not get sick.

 

For a second there I though it was a croc!

[Benjamin]

 

 

Where in Durbs are you? At my old house in Glenmore we had a smallish puffy in our garden which our gardener took to with a spade. We had pets and the neighbours had small kids so yeah..

 

We also had a compost heap and our gardener said he saw a big black snake slithering around...he refused to get compost for a while (I would too!!)

Cowies Hill

[Benjamin]

Ok, now I'm unhappy. It's one thing finding these buggers on the trail or in the bush. Yesterday I arrive home and the chap doing some tiling for me proudly tells me he nailed a PUFFADDER cruising on my front stairs, headed inside...... I don't live in the boonies either. Told CW we moving to a 12th story flat.

Okay, false alarm. Found the bugger, actually a night adder and not a puffy. Feel slightly better. At least compost heap and garden rubbish got cleared after CW put her foot down

[tubed]

Darren Lill, winner of Tour of Rwanda - mole snale handler

 

guess thats how they raise them in the south peninsula - tough

[Vetseun]

Saw this puffy on my night ride tobight. I think he may have been dead

[tombeej]

Out in my garden this morning bare foot and realised I was standing on something. Looked down and nearly jumped a foot in the air before I realised the cat had got to it earlier and it wasn't alive. Nearly had to change my shorts though.

 

Spotted bush snake: