[greyhounder]

And now I feel bad that I squished him (or her). I initially thought it was a wolf spider, but wasn’t sure if they were biters or not. Something that big would have hurt. But now I wish I would have caught him (or her) and released it back into the wild (as I generally do with spiders.)

A bit of Becky trivia:
I encountered some wolf spiders many years ago while vacationing with my family to the Great Smokey Mountains of Tennessee (I think it was in 1985 or 1986). We went on a nighttime nature hike with the park ranger and then looked for wolf spiders. You brought a flashlight, turned it on and put it on the top of your head (like a headlamp) and scanned the grass. The wolf spider eyes would glow out at you. It was pretty cool!

This is the same vacation where I had a very close encounter with a skunk and a nearly close encounter with a black bear! I am the BEAST MASTER!!

Rest in Peace, Big, honkin’ wolf spider…..

[greyhounder]

I will look to see if the sqish is still there. After I dealt the killing blow, the stick I was using as my weapon caught some part of the arachnid pancake and flipped it away. I couldn’t see where it went, but I will look again. It looked sort of like a smashed date when I got it….

Bec

I’m hesitant to finish my laundry though — I might just have to go buy all new clothing!

[greyhounder]

I was thinking of a blue ribbon type thing myself — or a gift certificate to somewhere local. I know some folks put very elaborate stuff in caches for first finders (wasn’t sure if Wisconsin did this.)

But just to be the first to find a cache would be cool for me.

Bec

[greyhounder]

I love the T! Can’t wait to get mine! Can’t wait for the campout!!!

Bec

[greyhounder]

Thanks for the responses! I have tried Skin So Soft for mosquitoes, and it does seem to work pretty well (and smells so nice!) I hadn’t remember that until you mentioned it! I wonder if certain essential oils might work as well (I’m a little on the granola side, so I like to use natural product.) I was worried that I might have to go the DEET route though, which, as long as I don’t go crazy with the spray, will not have a serious impact on my allergies (just a little skin irritation.) Although that does rule out the possibility of my greyhound coming with me on hunts (greys are super sensitive to the chemicals used in pesticides.) I’ll just have to cache with Peanut then!

If anyone has any other suggestions, please let me know.

RangerBoy, I was giggling at the thought of me in a bug net suit!! That has got to be a sight!

Bec

[greyhounder]

Some McDonalds now have Hot Spots too!

Bec

[greyhounder]

Just call me the Cliff Claven of the bird world…..LOL!

Bec

[greyhounder]

Cranes will fiercely protect their nests. And I don’t think you’d want to cross them! On our way back from The Hills of Rome Cache, a mating pair of cranes flew overhead and spotted us. They actually came back and made enough noise to get us to hurry along.

I once saw a HUGE grouping of cranes in a field. I had retold my previous encounter with them & Cat, and I was then dared to walk into the bunch o’ cranes. Being the weenie that I am, I stepped out of the vehicle towards the gaggle. Instantly they began hooting and I jumped back into the vehicle — I could only imagine what would have happened to me had I actually entered the crowd (perhaps then the proper term would have been a murder of cranes?)

I am a bird watcher anyways, so I really enjoy the birds that caching brings into my life.

But there do seem to be many more cranes around these days. Whooping cranes are less common, but they often travel with Sandhill cranes, and they are very subtly different (off the top of my head I cannot remember how.) Did you know that they are actually white birds, although most appear brownish due to the pollution of the waters they frequent?

Bec

[greyhounder]

Steve K!

I think I just emailed you (there was an email address on your homepage.) Please get in contact with me regarding the greyhound. I will most certainly take her in. In addition to my geocaching addiction, I am insane for greyhounds!!!!

And now back to our regularly scheduled program….migratory birds of Jefferson County……

Bec

[greyhounder]

I once had a very exciting encounter with some cranes (I think they were Sandhill.) But, yes, they are all over here in Jefferson County. It’s really cool to see a whole…..um, herd (I’m not sure of the word for this type of group. Anyway, I live near water, which cranes like. For a short time after I got my greyhound, I didn’t have a fenced in yard and had to walk him 4+ times a day for potty breaks. Behind my house is a large feild that is part of the school, and we walked there lots. A couple of cranes apparently had a nest somewhere around there. Early one morning Cat (the greyhound’s name) and I were out walking and came upon the cranes. Cat could care less, but I wanted a closer look. Well the cranes started hopping and hooting. It looked crazy, but it looked like they meant business, so we hightailed it back to the house. Now I’m a little scared of getting too close — LOL!

Bec

[greyhounder]

nope, unfortunately my professor would not change the date of the midterm. But I might have a “ghostie” attending on my behalf….

Bec

[greyhounder]

Thanks for the information. Not sure what the range is on the radio I use, but it’s probably one of the 1-2 miles ones. So I’ll bring it along to the campout.

Thank you!
Bec

[greyhounder]

Is there a deadline for t-shirt ideas? I have a sort of an idea. I’m not much of an artist, but I’ll give it a whirl.

Bec

[greyhounder]

Did it! I’m official now!! I can’t wait!!

Bec

[greyhounder]

I would be interested in 2 or 3….Fort Atkinson is sort of near Janesville…

Bec

[Author]

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