Mr_Cheeze
September 26th, 2003, 08:40 PM
Got out of work early today, so I decided to grab my bike and squeeze in a ride before dark. I went to Rocky Woods in Taunton. This is a fairly unknown area that is used mostly by locals. During wet seasons, it is generally not ridden very often. In the past, before Taunton Police cracked down on dirt MX'ers and ORVs, they mostly used the trails.
Anyway, today I figured I would check the place out, more of a scouting mission to survey the condition of the trails for possible near-future group rides. The ride began inauspicious enough. Some mud at the start but mostly the trail was in excellent shape. Not much by the way of downed trees or branches. But these trails are pretty narrow throughout, with fairly heavy brush on either side. The unanticipated consequence of taking these infrequently used trails was the disturbing of the multutide of spiders webs which littered the entire area. They were merely an annoyance at first. A couple of time I would find these wierd looking small black spiders carrying these hard, pebbly looking structures on their backs. Perhaps egg sacs? Anyhow, after an initial bout of the heebie-jeebies, I pretty much settled into the ride, accepting the webbed consequences. So I continue on for another 20 minutes or so when I entered an area with a particularly high spider population, as I was suddenly inundated across the face and body with numerous tangles of the sticky product. Skidding to a halt in order to remove the webs and check myself for hangers-on, I stop inches from a large, perfectly formed orb web, and deftly skittering across it, in the midst of building this impressive silken structure, was this rather large arachnid with a bulbous and green abdomen. I could do nothing but stare agape, imagining the horror of this creature crawling across my face had I continued through the trail unabated. The body of this thing was as big as my thumb. Very carefully I maneuvered around the web and it's resident and continued onward. I don't think my goosebumps ever went away after that moment.
For a short time I considered calling it quits, going back the way I came, but once I got rolling again, it wasn't so bad. So maybe another hour and a half of web disturbing riding ensued. My biggest fear was the all too probable chance that I would encounter another one of those big green buggers. My fear was realized when I felt a large web across my handlebars. Upon stopping, there it was crawling up my arm. Not quite as big as the one earlier, it was nonetheless scary enough, and I reflexively swatted it away, not moving afterward until I was sure it was gone. It was and continue I did... for about 20 yards until I broke another web and saw some big, black thing at the left of my peripheral vision. I guess I panicked when my left hand suddenly squeezed the brake and I went over, landing awkwardly in some thick brush. Not even thinking about anyhting other than big, black spiders, I jumped up and checked myself for creatures. Not finding any crawling across my goose-bumped flesh or clothing, I traveled on. Now, at this point I am not enjoying myself. I had had quite enough of f**king spiders! Yet, I could not allow these insects to shorten my mission. This was a test.
I was able to ride for another hour or so, dealing with the constant webbery along the way. But other than a bunch of small, green spiders (the male counterparts to the big green mother?) and one larger black and red arachnid that was promptly swatted away in about .35 seconds flat, the ride turned out ok. In fact, my energy was great and my technical skills were precise, as I had no trouble with anything. Just the spiders.
It was enough. I won't be going back there until first frost.
Perhaps it didn't help that last Sunday I watched a show about poisonous spiders on the Natl. Geographic channel, and then watch the movie Arachnaphobia right after. Some of you might think I am a big wuss... and maybe I am. But that friggin' green spider was BIG, dammit!
I am now showered and slightly imbibed, and I still feel like I have spider webs on me! kjgsglkal;kjglakjsgalk
Anyway, today I figured I would check the place out, more of a scouting mission to survey the condition of the trails for possible near-future group rides. The ride began inauspicious enough. Some mud at the start but mostly the trail was in excellent shape. Not much by the way of downed trees or branches. But these trails are pretty narrow throughout, with fairly heavy brush on either side. The unanticipated consequence of taking these infrequently used trails was the disturbing of the multutide of spiders webs which littered the entire area. They were merely an annoyance at first. A couple of time I would find these wierd looking small black spiders carrying these hard, pebbly looking structures on their backs. Perhaps egg sacs? Anyhow, after an initial bout of the heebie-jeebies, I pretty much settled into the ride, accepting the webbed consequences. So I continue on for another 20 minutes or so when I entered an area with a particularly high spider population, as I was suddenly inundated across the face and body with numerous tangles of the sticky product. Skidding to a halt in order to remove the webs and check myself for hangers-on, I stop inches from a large, perfectly formed orb web, and deftly skittering across it, in the midst of building this impressive silken structure, was this rather large arachnid with a bulbous and green abdomen. I could do nothing but stare agape, imagining the horror of this creature crawling across my face had I continued through the trail unabated. The body of this thing was as big as my thumb. Very carefully I maneuvered around the web and it's resident and continued onward. I don't think my goosebumps ever went away after that moment.
For a short time I considered calling it quits, going back the way I came, but once I got rolling again, it wasn't so bad. So maybe another hour and a half of web disturbing riding ensued. My biggest fear was the all too probable chance that I would encounter another one of those big green buggers. My fear was realized when I felt a large web across my handlebars. Upon stopping, there it was crawling up my arm. Not quite as big as the one earlier, it was nonetheless scary enough, and I reflexively swatted it away, not moving afterward until I was sure it was gone. It was and continue I did... for about 20 yards until I broke another web and saw some big, black thing at the left of my peripheral vision. I guess I panicked when my left hand suddenly squeezed the brake and I went over, landing awkwardly in some thick brush. Not even thinking about anyhting other than big, black spiders, I jumped up and checked myself for creatures. Not finding any crawling across my goose-bumped flesh or clothing, I traveled on. Now, at this point I am not enjoying myself. I had had quite enough of f**king spiders! Yet, I could not allow these insects to shorten my mission. This was a test.
I was able to ride for another hour or so, dealing with the constant webbery along the way. But other than a bunch of small, green spiders (the male counterparts to the big green mother?) and one larger black and red arachnid that was promptly swatted away in about .35 seconds flat, the ride turned out ok. In fact, my energy was great and my technical skills were precise, as I had no trouble with anything. Just the spiders.
It was enough. I won't be going back there until first frost.
Perhaps it didn't help that last Sunday I watched a show about poisonous spiders on the Natl. Geographic channel, and then watch the movie Arachnaphobia right after. Some of you might think I am a big wuss... and maybe I am. But that friggin' green spider was BIG, dammit!
I am now showered and slightly imbibed, and I still feel like I have spider webs on me! kjgsglkal;kjglakjsgalk