“Don’t tread on me … especially with those knobby tires.”
Herself and I were out for our morning constitutional when we rolled up on this lollygagger here.
Gopher snake? Bullsnake? Beats me. I check for rattles, and if I don’t see any, I go all like, “Ooo, cool-lookin’ snake.”
This vagrant wasn’t loitering in a median, soliciting contributions, though the practice retains the usual protections, no matter what (or if) Trudy Jones thinks. And in fairly short order he (or she) had drawn quite a throng of admirers — two cyclists, a roofer, and a gent with two kids in his truck.
After a while, the roofer persuaded the snake — without resort to cops, courts, fines, or confinement — to abandon the right of way for safety’s sake. And we all — cyclists, family, roofer and reptile — went back to enjoying Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.
Tags: panhandling, snake, the Constitution
Mad Blog Media 
July 20, 2019 at 5:07 pm |
I believe that is a Glossy Snake my man.
July 21, 2019 at 12:51 pm |
Could be, could be. It’s hard to tell the various gopher snakes, bullsnakes and glossy snakes apart. Especially from a distance, which is how I like to view my snakes.
Nary a buzzworm sighting this year. Hal reports a similar drought up to Weirdcliffe, where it’s either feast or famine. One year there’d be a plague of serpents, and the next year bupkis. I preferred bupkis, as it spared me the trouble of brush-hogging my cyclocross course.
July 20, 2019 at 6:03 pm |
Do we get a prize for the first buzzworm picture of the year? Herb may be right on this one based on the shape of the head.
Herb, you planning any trips out west this year?
July 20, 2019 at 7:14 pm |
We be thinking perhaps early November, when Michigan puts the sun away for the year, that we should head someplace where there is some sun. The better half wants to rendezvous with her sister in Sante Fe. Not sure if I can swing it but will keep you posted.
July 20, 2019 at 6:08 pm |
Nice snake. I had a pet snake as a kid, just for a short time. Named him Ekans.
July 21, 2019 at 6:02 am |
Khal: Took me a while; but I get it: Snake spelled backwards. 🙂
Meanwhile, golf-ball size hail, heavy rain and thunderstorms here in the Bibleburg area; record heat; etc et al.
More today so we’re told.
Will ride early … hope to see no snakes!
July 21, 2019 at 12:45 pm |
I heard you folks were getting pounded up there, JD. Back in the old neighborhood, the Patty Jewett Yacht & Gun Club, a buddy’s basement has suddenly become an indoor swimming pool. Try to keep your feet dry.
July 21, 2019 at 12:34 am |
Hisssterical.
I had a friend back in SA who was a serious herpetologist, (love that name), I swear that he used to attract the damn things.
One weekend I was helping him move house & as I got into the passenger seat, he dropped an African Python on my lap & said “please hold onto him”.
Of course, this being South Africa in the 80’s, we drove into a police roadblock, a young constable puts his head into the car & comes face to face with the python, A very white-faced constable jerked back & waved us through.
July 21, 2019 at 12:55 pm |
Snake people are real casual about that sort of thing. Wear ’em like feather boas. I take the Indiana Jones perspective on that sort of thing.
July 21, 2019 at 2:42 pm |
I see what you did there you sneaky devil.