| Archive for San Francisco Bay Area Tarantula Society SF BATS |
| EdgarOrtega |
Our November 8 Hike: A Nude Adventure! PHOTOS...oh wait, I mean "Newt" Adventure! hahaI was itching to get out and find some creatures, so UglyKid, BayLee, and I combined forces to brave the inviting moist environments of Napa in search of subterranean jelly monsters and any bugs we might come across. Once our elite team of tenacious rock flippers was assembled we delved into the woods in search of our photographic quarry. It wasn't long before we discovered one of our target species. Though easily captured, this formidable being attempted many of its defense tactics; including this threat posture--undoubtedly some kind of amphibian martial arts techniques. Ninja newt? California Newt #1 (Taricha torosa torosa) 
A short time later, on the same hillside we came across this guy. Pacific Gopher Snake (Pituophis catenifer catenifer) 
A short distance away, we found California Slender Salamander (Batrachoseps attenuatus), but I didn't get any pics of it. But, under a big rock, a few yards away, we found our second Ninja Newt. California Newt #2 (Taricha torosa torosa) 
We decided to head back to the trail to further expand our list of discoveries when we came across a small cave, in which, none of us doubted lurked some bloodthursty apex predator ready to devour anyone that dare enter its lair. So, I went in to check it out. Apparently, the ferocious beast was elsewhere, so BayLee decided to explore it as well. She, too, managed to escape from this bottomless pit unscathed. Behold the emergence of the great warrior princess we all know as BayLee. 
Further down the path, as the skies began to cry and let loose a tumultuous downpour of rain, our next creature was spotted. Scorpion (Pseudouroctonus ivie??) 
One among our number even dared to tempt fate by testing this venomous beast upon his own flesh. The creature sensing he was being held by the mighty warrior known as Uglykid, and out of respect for this man's reputation, the creature allowed itself to be manipulated. 
Clearly, the dwellers of this wood understood there was something afoot, for upon flipping a great log weighing at least 2 tons, another Ninja Newt revealed itself. California Newt #3 (Taricha torosa torosa) 
BayLee questioned the creature as to the direction we should travel to escape this great wonder-filled forest. It told us where to go, but it warned us that before we exit this place we must find and tame the great "Eight-Legged One". Baylee thanked the Ninja Newt for its wisdom and we granted it its freedom. 
Sure enough, we did indeed find the great "Eight Legged One". See as we beheld our discovery! 
But as our amphibious martial art expert warned us, we needed to tame the beast before we were granted passage to home and safety. And tame this creature...we did. So that there be no doubt of our bravery in battling the great "Eight Legged One" we have recorded our encounter for all to see. Check out the video. http://s43.photobucket.com/albums...ion=view¤t=spider-1.flv ============ I had lots of fun guys. It was nice meeting you, Lony! Arachnocat, you should have joined us! We'll have to go agian, sometime soon. :D Lony, post some pics of the spider, I didn't get any decent shots of it. I look forward to seeing those. Edgar |
| northswan04 |
I'm sorry I missed it!! Where did you hike at, and have you ever been up to the Archer Taylor Preserve?? |
| UglyKid2 |
Great pics, Edgar! I had a great time buggin' and newtin' with General Ortega and BayLee today in Skyline Park, Napa. Edgar is very good at finding things most of us just walk right by everyday and Lony's enthusiasm is infectious. We got a little damp but it was not cold and was actually kind of neat walking around in the rainy hills. I'd like to do it again soon! 
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| llamamama |
Wah! I am sooooo bummed I couldn't go! It looks like you had a good time. Great photos, Edgar. I can't wait to see what photos Lony will have.
Next time I will try to be there! Maybe we should try to make a hike a regularly scheduled thing? Every month, or every other month, on the upteenth Saturday, or something like that? What do you think? |
| Arachnocat |
Cool! Those are great pics. I definitely want to go next time. I think a monthly hike would be awesome! |
| BayLee |
Pictures coming soon. I am currently working on them. |
| EdgarOrtega |
I look forward to seeing your pics, Lony.
Don't post any pics of me looking goofy, though; only ones of me looking totally rad. 
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| UglyKid2 |
People always tell me: "Don't hold your breath." Well I'm holding my breath and my face is purple now. Hurry Lony! :shock: |
| BayLee |
Edgar you know I can not promise that! That counts for you as well John. |
| BayLee |
Uglykid, General Edgar and I had an adventures day as you can see form General Edgar’s pictures.
The drizzle actually added to the atmosphere, it was a great hike full or surprise under rocks and rotten fallen trees. I agree we need to do this more often. Every two months would be nice. Here are some of the pictures I took: Mr. Smuckers the Ninja California Newt #1 (Taricha torosa torosa) 
Sex Mr. Smuckers 
Curious Mr. Smuckers 
Uglykid is asking Mr. Smuckers a serious of questions. 
Mr. Smuckers is not given up the secret of the forest, but told us that Cousin Bartholomew has more information. He lives just down the road by the fig tree to the left. 
Last but not least he was willing to pose for a picture. If anyone is interested Mr. Smuckers promised to sign the picture too. 
Louie the Pacific Gopher Snake (Pituophis catenifer catenifer) would not speak to us, Edgar said he could sense the tension when he put Louie down. Even Elma the California Slender Salamander (Batrachoseps attenuatus) was scared out of her boots. It was evident she had been drugged, because she had trouble waking and was slurring her words. 
As you can see Elma does not look well 
Rudolpho was in a hurry, however General Edgar was able to exchange a few works in a language I have never heard before. He showed his belly and was quickly released by the General. Sadly General Edgar would not tell us what was discussed. Even Uglykid could to convince him to speak. All three of us silently walked down the path. 
Mrs. Smuckers spoke to us briefly. She was only a few rocks away, from her husband. She told us to be careful and to watch out for the bear and her two cubs. 
As General Edgar mentioned we came upon a bloodthursty apex predators lair. General Edgar ensure me it was safe to go in. 
General Edgar did look a little terrified!!! . 
Warrior Uglykid showed off his new creature, which seemed to be in a good mood today and asked to be taken home. 
In the deepest part of forest we came upon a guard house. Warrior Urglykid went inside to speak to the guard. We heard loud screams and some sort of running water, after 10 minutes Uglykid came out white as a wall. He did not speak to us for about a half an hour. We think he may have lost his voice. 
Finally we came upon Cousin Bartholomew. As the General had mentioned Bartholomew told me to find the "Eight Legged One". He also mentioned to stay far away from Warrior Ugly and General Edgar. Both had been hypnotized by the Guard and they would bring great harm to me. I promised to follow his instruction, so I released him back to nature. 
General Edgar tried to come close to me several times, but I managed to keep my distance remembering Bartholomew advise. 
Warrior Uglykid pretended to ignore me, but later swatted me with some magic branches. I fell into a deep trance and was walking in the dark for a while. I don’t remember how I came out of it, but when I did I had found the Eight Legged One. 
The Eight Legged One freed me from the spell Warrior Uglykid had cast on me. I immediately felt better and the Eight Legged One told us that we had entered the save zone and could now continue our path home. Eight Legged One asked for us to bring more Warriors, Servants and a Prince on our next journey. Great luck will come to all of us. He also mentioned there was a great treasure hidden in the deepest part and no one should ever eat the fruits of this deep dark wilderness or the beast will be unleashed. 
I kissed the Eight Legged One and set him free and off he went into his lair. 
 [/img]
You can also view the pictures or our great adventure in a slide show: http://www.flickr.com/photos/thebaylees/sets/72157608792611996/show/ |
| EdgarOrtega |
Cool pics :)
Man, of course you post the goofiest pics of me. :roll: haha We sure did a thorough job of anthropomorphizing all the animals. lol People won't want to go out with us, now. They'll think we're weird. Oh,,, what's with this calling me General?????? Where did that come from? haha |
| UglyKid2 |
Heh Heh, I call you that cause you have the same last name as General Toribio Ortega who allied himself with Pancho Villa during the Mexican Revolution, then died of typhus in 1914. You have his eyes too, I think :shock:
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| EdgarOrtega |
haha That guy looks serious. Maybe we are related...
Nah...I'm more fun than that dude. 
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| northswan04 |
Laughing, hopefully you won't catch Typhus either. Funny stories! |
| Arachnocat |
lol! That salamander is adorable. I'll have to do some adventuring with you guys next time for sure. |
| BayLee |
Would be nice to plan something before Christmas. I need a few chritters for hubby :twisted:
Just kidding!!! Not sure how much we would find though! |
| mitchrobot4 |
nice pics :D
$20 to who ever can bring me one of those mature male calisogas first :-P |
| BayLee |
OMG, guys we need to go back to where we found him.
What ya say we go tomorrow? |
| UglyKid2 |
Anything to get away from my in-laws! :shock: |
| EdgarOrtega |
I put our photos together into a slide show for our YouTube audience. 
Have a lookie. :D http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B9oKe8qA2ro |
| BayLee |
Edgar, thanks for doing this. Excellent work as always! |