Sheffield to Wyanet Bike Ride

Today's ride was very relaxing.  It was a bit cloudy, but the sun was poking through.  There was some rain in the forecast, so I packed up my bike with camera supplies, rain gear, food, water, etc.  I just got some bikepacking packs from Oveja Negra in Colorado, so I wanted to try these out and get used to riding with gear on the bike rather than on my back.

Specialized Carve Expert

I love the diversity of the canal, but today, it seemed like deja vu of rides in the recent past, but I'll share photos anyway.

A couple of weeks ago, I posted photos of a family of Canadian Geese on my other blog found here.  I'm assuming the family below is the same group as they were in the exact same spot.  Sadly, there were two less in the group of goslings.

Gaggle of Geese

 Northern Water Snake

Spiny Softshell

Mr. Tom Turkey

I had a race with the deer below.  He was bedded down between the path and the canal and bolted along side of me.  He pulled ahead in the race pretty quickly.  The photo below was taken while riding and trying to hold the camera one-handed.  Good fun!

White-tailed Deer

Immediately after the deer drag race, I got hammered with rain!  Luckily I had packed the camera raincoat as well as my own.  I rode the last 5 miles in the pouring rain, but it added to the adventure of the ride:)

Don't Be So Defensive!

1st Line of Defense:  Rapid tail rattling on the ground and coiled position.

2nd Line of Defense:  Quick strikes, and a bite

3rd Line of Defense:  Poop, and poop some more!

I feel it has been a good night when I have been bitten once and pooped on twice:)  I went on a third night hike tonight, but ended up rescuing snakes from the middle of the road along a stretch of canal.  The night air was a bit cool, so they were definitely trying to soak in some heat.  Two fox snakes the length of my arm and a small garter snake were removed from the road before getting run over.  The first one that bit me would have been dead had I not stopped to grab it.  A car was just turning the corner to watch me snatch it up.  He would have been mashed for sure.  I don't blame him for biting me.  I came out of nowhere and just grabbed him.  I would have bit me too:)

Gorgeous Fox Snakes

A Small Common Garter Snake (pooped on me too)

Other Night Time Highlights

Two Rabid Wolf Spiders (Rabidosa rabida)

Leaf Footed Bug (Family Coreidae) 

Oh, and yes, the new headlamp worked out great.  Black Diamond Icon, 200 lumens, etc.  Awesome!

Night Hike Again

At dusk, I was greeted by the best sound in nature....coyote's howling!  I love to listen to them communicate.  Two packs were going back and forth, one of which was quite close to me.  I just turned my headlamp off, sat on the ground and listened.  It sounded like the pack closest to me had some pups in it, but without seeing them, it is difficult to tell.  I would love to know what each yip and howl means.

Coyotes are much better looking!

As stated in my post last night, the reason for going out on night hikes for me is to find snakes, and tonight I did find one!  A gorgeous Western Fox Snake was hunting along the canal path just in time for me to see it.  He wasn't too happy with me, but he posed for a couple of shots and went on his merry way.  Fox snakes are harmless, although they do bite.  When threatened, they rapidly vibrate their tail on the ground or leaf litter.  Mimicking a rattlesnake is a great way to ward off predators, but it is unfortunately a great way for them to die.  People kill them on site, not only because they are a snake, but because they think it could be a rattler.  Very unfortunate, even if it was a rattlesnake. 

I would imagine that this little guy was after the main food source that I am seeing along the path......frogs!  Little bullfrogs are everywhere.  I'm actually surprised that I am not seeing more snakes simply because of this readily available food source.  Here's a couple more photos to add to last night's frog pics.

Until tomorrow night.....yes I will be out again.  I have a new headlamp coming tomorrow, so I can't wait to test it out:)