Spiders and Snakes

Yesterday, I showered early. I used the public showers here at McDowell Mountain Regional Park (MMRP). There’s no lack of hot water. In fact, the water was hotter than I like, but there’s no adjustment. You push a button and the shower starts. The water sprays for a few minutes, then shuts off. If you want to continue the shower, you push the button again.

I was preparing for a rendezvous with Andy King and his wife Donna, Carole Sue Bringas and Carole’s cousin, Diana. Carole and Diana had been visiting friends in Prescott and were heading back to San Diego. Andy King hasn’t seen Carole since the 70s or early 80s. Andy found a restaurant that serves breakfast and lunch near I-17 and the 101 loop on Bell Road.

I left here around 9am. I took the 29th Avenue exit from the 101 loop. I should have taken I-17 south to Bell. 29th Avenue meanders a bit. I noticed the low gas light was illuminated on the instrument panel. The gauge was on empty. I thought either this Jeep is a real gas hog or it has a small tank.

I found the restaurant and walked in just after our 10am meet-up time. I found Carole, Diana and Andy, who were just being seated. Donna King joined us a few minutes later, she had been walking their dog. My Donna couldn’t make the breakfast – she had a bike ride and run scheduled with her friend Beth who is doing the duathlon with her next Sunday.

We enjoyed the breakfast and swapped stories for an hour and a half. Then it was time to say our goodbyes until next time.

Andy, Carole and me

Andy, Carole and me

I checked Gas Buddy and  found a station down the street at Fry’s. Regular was only $3.23/gallon! I filled the Jeep’s tank – it only held 11.5 gallons. No wonder the gas gauge seems to move so quickly.

When I returned, there was a good sized snake on the road in the park. Unfortunately, it had been run over by a car and it was dead. Back at our home, Donna was getting ready to go out for the afternoon with her best friend, Julia, from her days in Fountain Hills. Donna took the  Jeep and drove to Fountain Hills.

While Donna was out, I decided to hike and look around the area. There are 65 miles of hiking, mountain biking and equestrian trails at MMRP. I took a slow stroll on the Granite Trail. I made about a two-mile loop. I walked slowly, looking for wildlife. I saw several quail and other birds. I found a lizard. I was hoping to see something more interesting like a snake or tarantula. I didn’t find any this time.

Tarantulas have a fearsome appearance, being large, hairy spiders. They usually aren’t a danger to humans, although they can bite if provoked. They’re venomous, but there’s no record of a tarantula bite being fatal to a human. I saw one crossing the road once near Florence. It was as big as my hand! I’ve only seen one other wild tarantula in the desert. Tarantulas reach maturity after 5 to10 years, depending on the species. Males rarely live much beyond 10 years. Females have been known to live 30 to 40 years.

Granite trail - look closely and you'll see mountain bikers

Granite Trail – look closely and you’ll see mountain bikers

Last evening, I dialed in the Dish Network and watched the NHRA drag races from Wildhorse Pass Raceway. Donna cooked up chicken with saffron cream sauce and peas served with herb chicken tortellini.

Chicken with saffron cream sauce and peas

Chicken with saffron cream sauce and peas

In a post last week, I complained about Microsoft pushing an update on my computer and forcing a restart. I’ve since figured out how to change that setting. Today, I’ll have add to that complaint. This morning, as I type, I keep getting double letters when I don’t mean to. I had this issue before and had to go to keyboard settings and adjust the sensitivity. I went back into my settings and found everything had been reset to the Microsoft default. I guess when the update was installed, the settings were changed. Arrrgh.

Today, I’ll get up on the roof to see if the tree branches I drove through in the Fountain Hills detour did any damage. Other than that, I have no plans.

5 thoughts on “Spiders and Snakes

  1. Brett+Cheri [HelloFreedom]

    Mike, how is Dish working for you? I wanted to know if you were able to see the Olympics and all major Networks. I think NFL is only available on DirecTV. Dish has lower prices and offer some good subsidies on the dishes and domes needed to point at the satellite. I thought someone had told me Dish was discontinuing Network connectivitiy soon which would be a factor in my decision. Are you able to “collect” programmiong into a DVR while you in range for watching anytime, connected or not? I wondered about your experience. Thanks! Brett

    1. Mike Kuper Post author

      Hi Brett.The main reason I went with Dish was their VIP211z receiver. This unit is compatible with my existing roof mounted Winegard Traveler satellite dish for HD reception. If I went with Direct TV, I would need to use a different satellite dish for HD. I figured it was best to use what’s already there.
      The Distant Network Service (DNS) provider for Dish Network is not renewing the contract. You need DNS to receive major network broadcasts – ABC, CBS, FOX, NBC. DNS gives you a satellite feed from either Los Angeles or New York. Dish will probably contract with another provider. I haven’t applied for DNS, you need to apply and be approved by the FCC. I use our over-the-air antenna to get local network broadcasting. Depending on where we are, this doesn’t always work.

      PS – you might want to check out this thread on IRV2.com

  2. Anthony Humpage

    Mike, the tarantulas won’t bite. If you pick them up, which I do every time the opportunity arises, they curl up just like every other spider. They are very pretty, hairy creatures, surprisingly light for their size, and quite fragile. They tickle when they walk up your arm.
    Snakes: They are out in the park. Escondido trail is quite dusty and their tracks are clear, narrow and wide-bodied snakes.

    1. Mike Kuper Post author

      Hi Anthony, how’s it going? I didn’t know you read our blog. Donna tells me you have a lot of experience in the desert. I’m sure you’ve seen many more tarantulas than I have.

    2. donna@unclutter.com

      Anthony! We were just thinking of you and Paula the other day. I don’t mind snakes, but I’m not sure I could bring myself to pick up a tarantula. Maybe if you were there to encourage me!

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