Rattler!

So, we went down to Arivaca in Arizona.  The price of silver had lost its bottom and was almost worthless thanks to the machinations of the Hunt brothers.  Somewhere in the Arivaca area was rumored to be a rich silver deposit according to legend ....  A lost silver treasure.  Hmmmmm ...

We hiked for hours through the hills, not finding any float signs in the area and no successful audits from people whom had searched long before us.  It was hot but we had plenty of water.  Suddenly my mining partner, about 50 yards away, squeaked! and then took 5 bunny hops in reverse.  He was uphill from me and I was at a complete loss what could be the problem ... then I saw the thin line on the ground propelling itself through the air with each of his bunny hops.  What the heck?

I hiked up and when I got to where he had been, there was an eight foot rattlesnake!  Very unhappy snake at that!  My partner was no where to be seen, he was hoofing it!

Not real sure what to do now, I went back to the stream bed and continued my search.  I found some float samples - unusual looking wax like rocks.

By now, he was back, I guess unbitten - camera in hand!  And the would be victim is now the stalker of the snake!  Yeah, mean snake and lots of good photographs - LOL!

And last week, back in Tucson, his wife went out to walk their two small dogs and .... a snake nails their poodle!  So lots of stress, lots of crying, lots of unhappy puppies - and a HUGE vet bill to supply anti-venom to keep the idiot poodle alive.  Sigh ... they could have bought a dozen poodles for the cost of that treatment!

So, I stormed out in the daylight intent on ridding the area of any rattlers so this would not happen again.  With a titanium leg I had little to fear, Bon Apetite Mr. Snake!  But, no rattlers to be seen at all, anywhere!  NO trace, NO signs in the sand, no nothing.  I don't get it but then again - the dog had been bleeding from punctures on its nose - so ....... ?????

Sneaky little rattlers ...