The General Chat Thread (2025)

[Barriehie]

We have venemous rattlesnakes and copperheads here, and I am not a fan. The problem is they are so well camouflaged that you usually don't see them until you are about to step on them. I've almost done that a few times, and in fact have stepped on snakes twice, though we both went our own ways so fast that I wasn't able to confirm what kind they were. One of the few things I like about winter is that I don't have to worry about them when I'm out hiking this time of year.

So you know then to step ON logs and not over them... If you step over you could put your foot right in ones face whereas if you step ON the log your other foot will land aways away, and you're leaving so present less of a threat.

 

[Gone Hiking]

So you know then to step ON logs and not over them... If you step over you could put your foot right in ones face whereas if you step ON the log your other foot will land aways away, and you're leaving so present less of a threat.

Absolutely. It's very rocky here, too, so when hiking around ledges and dense understory, I always try to step so as to give myself a little buffer from places snakes might be hiding; which can very very difficult on narrow hiking trails like the Appalachian Trail.

 

[Barriehie]

Absolutely. It's very rocky here, too, so when hiking around ledges and dense understory, I always try to step so as to give myself a little buffer from places snakes might be hiding; which can very very difficult on narrow hiking trails like the Appalachian Trail.

True around here too.

 

[JAS_OH1]

Me too. If really small I can cope. I've told the tale somewhere of how I nearly sold my car due to a spider.

My brother's wife wrecked both of their cars (in the driveway) due to a spider.

 

[Morning Glory]

My brother's wife wrecked both of their cars (in the driveway) due to a spider.

Perfectly understandable.

 

[JAS_OH1]

Perfectly understandable.

At the same time! One was parked and she had just gotten into her van (behind my brother's truck), started it, was in the process of putting it in reverse, and the spider crawled onto the steering wheel...she screamed, put it in drive instead and hit the gas pedal. No one was hurt but the front end of her van and the rear of my brothers vehicle were both damaged...

 

[Wombat457]

She would certainly have had my sympathy ...

 

[JAS_OH1]

She would certainly have had my sympathy ...

My brother was less understanding!

 

[karadekoolaid]

And the spider didn't care either way!

 

[SatNavSaysStraightOn]

OK - behind a spoiler just in case.

for reference that is a king sized bed! And whilst I allowed the one in the bathroom to remain where it was, I did not follow the same approach for the one on my side of the bed. It was escorted off to the woodshed.

Spoiler: spiders

 

[TastyReuben]

OK - behind a spoiler just in case.

Thank you!

 

[SatNavSaysStraightOn]

Oh and there is one - the first one I encountered that I have no photo of.

Whilst driving at 100kph (60ish mph) one of the above spiders decided to walk across the windscreen of the car (I was driving with a friend as passenger at the time). We both watched in amazement as it stayed on the windscreen and didn't detach. We were left wondering where it would turn up at our destination and it did not disappoint. It made it all the way to the rear of the car and down the tailgate.

We caused quite a commotion in the car park because I refused to close the tailgate until we had removed it - because if I had we would have squashed it and killed it which I was not happy about. Eventually we managed to convince it to retire to somewhere it would not get hurt and it was rehomed in the woodshed at home after staying on the car (outside) despite me travelling welll over 100km with it there.

 

[SatNavSaysStraightOn]

also behind a spoiler just in case... I was standing on the other side of the electric fence throwing sticks at my bantam chook who has most indignant about the visitor to her water supply. She won ! (and lived for a few more years)

Spoiler: snake

 

[Barriehie]

OK - behind a spoiler just in case.

for reference that is a king sized bed! And whilst I allowed the one in the bathroom to remain where it was, I did not follow the same approach for the one on my side of the bed. It was escorted off to the woodshed.

Spoiler: spiders

View attachment 137888

View attachment 137890

View attachment 137889

I've got spiders in my house but they stay along the crown molding and I'm on the floor.

 

[SatNavSaysStraightOn]

I've got spiders in my house but they stay along the crown molding and I'm on the floor.

I was not going to sleep with one in the bed. I have no issues with them in the room, but sharing my bed is taking it too far!