Sounds like a great weekend in the western boonies during the waning days of summer. Joe didn't die in vain as Mike Harris lives by the credo, "We eat what we kill". Will Joe now become someone's hatband? I never tried rattlesnake but would like to. Does it taste like chicken? By the way, where is Schertz? Fritz
________________________________ From: Geary Schindel [mailto:[email protected]] Sent: Wednesday, September 09, 2009 10:28 AM To: [email protected] Subject: [Texascavers] Labor Day at Deep and Punkin Folks , We had a wonderful weekend at the Deep and Punkin Nature Preserve in Edwards County. The weather was great, the food was even better and the company wonderful with the exception of one uninvited guest. There were three trips to Deep Cave and two to Punkin. There was no sign of any bats in Punkin, however, we did not leave the entrance room. The guano smell was very minimal. I wonder if the drought has pushed the bats to another feeding area or to migrate earlier. In addition, there was no bee activity from the bee hive in the main entrance drop so either the drought got them, or they are suffering from colony collapse disorder. Though the property has had some periodic rains, it is still very brown and dry and prone to fire. There is a county wide burn ban in the woods and we every asked folks going to the cave not pass gas for fear of auto ignition and subsequent fire. Work was performed to extend the back porch of the cabin so it is now about 20 by 20 feet in size and makes a great area for community cooking and socializing. On Sunday night, we watched the International Space Station and Space Shuttle go sailing right over the cabin. Mike Harris and John , both members of the Schertz Police Department arrived on Sunday morning and went into Deep Cave to take pictures while some of us went over and did Punkin to check on the bats. We all arrived back at the cabin around dusk and proceeded to eat and clean up. After John was done taking a shower, he went back to his truck (without a light), and ran into Joe Noshoulders, one of the locals from Carta Valley. Seems there was a buzz about with this chance meeting, and since Joe showed up without a reservation, Mike got his gun and attempted an arrest. Following good police procedures, Mike yelled to Joe, "down on the ground and put your hands up where I can see them" (Joe was already on the ground). I was nervously running around yelling "don't taze me bro" as I'm prone to do when near cops. However, Joe didn't comply with the hands up part so he was dispatched. Seems old Joe was crawling around the cars and the tents in the dark which is always a problem. Joe measured (taped) at 5 feet in length and was the thickest rattlesnake I've seen in the wild. He would have put the serious hurt on someone and was so large, he would have been difficult to relocate, even with snake tongs. (Mike is also the resident snake expert since he helps to relocate wayward snakes in Schertz - so he knows snakes). If he would have been along one of the trails on the property, we would have admired this fine creature and left him alone; however, the risk to all the folks at the preserve was considered too great. Mike Harris cooked him up for lunch on Monday. This just goes to show you that you'll never know who you'll run into in the woods and always carry a light after dark (and no, I didn't get tazed). It was a good time had by all - except Joe. Folks in Attendance: Geary Schindel, Sue Schindel, Zach Schuderwitz, Steve Bryant, Kelly, Josh Rubinstein, Michelle Bryant, Mike Harris, John, Jill Orr, Arron Wertheim, Renee Skwara, Tony Castro, Jacob Castro, Drew Wendeborn, Daniel Galvin, Lisa Dolan, Don Dolan, Mike Cunningham, Christine Cunningham, and Joe Noshoulders. Geary Schindel
