where the heck did it come from???

While cycling in Australia I've seen ... just to name a few ...

-- kangaroos
-- wallabies
-- wombats
-- echidnas
-- emus
-- birds of all sorts (parrots, rosellas, cockatoos, kookaburras, magpies, etc. etc.)
-- snakes
-- possums
-- a blue-tongued goanna

Here's a koala I saw and photographed on Rowan's and my February 2008 tour in Australia:
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3242/...534ab0d30d.jpg

Here's a kookaburra at Wilson's Prom:
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3099/...ce7aeb30e3.jpg

Here's a photo set of animals I've seen here in Australia ... some while riding, some where I live, some on other travels ...
http://www.flickr.com/photos/1430288...7623280801300/


On some of my other tours and rides I've seen ...

-- bears
-- a cougar (mountain lion)
-- foxes
-- coyotes
-- deer
-- elk
-- mountain sheep
-- rabbits, squirrels, chipmunks, muskrats, rats, gophers, porcupines
-- all sorts of domestic creatures including cows, pigs, sheep, goats, llamas, and buffalo
-- swooping owls
-- a great blue herron that rose up out of the ditch and scared me half to death
-- wild turkeys
-- turtles

Some mountain sheep watching my father cycle past:
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2025/...f3372ee80b.jpg

On one 400K I did there were mice running everywhere. What does it mean when the mice are on the move??

I've been hit in the helmet and head by bats while cycling after dark in Queensland, Australia. I got caught in a swarm of them and they were bouncing off me. Fortunately they were just the small ones, and not the really large fruit bats.

I've also been hit in the head by several birds, and one of those very large june beetles (the ones that are about 4" long). I've had a bee go down my jersey. And I've been pursued by a swarm of horseflies. And that doesn't include the bazillion insects I've had fly into my helmet, eyes, nose, and mouth.

And dragonflies... I had quite an encounter with one on a race .......

The route descended into a ravine, climbed out of the ravine, turned left ... and then the cyclists pulled a U-turn and descended back into the ravine, climbed out of the ravine, pulled a U-turn ... etc. etc. for several loops.

I descended into the ravine and when I was climbing out, I noticed that there was a camera crew set up near the top of the hill filming the Cat 2 cyclists who were now about to descend the hill. I was laughing because they were all zipping up and trying to look all cool.

I got to the top of the hill, turned left, rode along a ways, then pulled the U-turn and started back toward the ravine.

All of a sudden a MASSIVE dragonfly flew into my mouth!!!! :eek: :eek:

I could feel it buzzing its wings, and I desperately tried to spit or gag it out .... but it was lodged in there!! :eek:

Just then I noticed that I was getting closer and closer to the camera crew. I didn't want the image of me gagging and spitting a dragonfly out of my mouth to be captured, but I didn't know what to do ... this thing would not back out of my mouth!

As I passed the camera crew, I closed my mouth and cycled by looking as calm, cool, and collected as a person can look with a massive dragonfly buzzing in her mouth.

As soon as I was by the camera, I reached into my mouth, and dragged this thing out ........ and then went through almost convulsive shudders at the thought of what had just happened!!

I DNF'd that race.

I also have this fear of dragonflies.

the koala is so CUUUUUTE!

on road:
http://media2.gruprc.ro/photo/thumbs...97a66d4661d0d5
http://www.montan.tv/wp-content/uplo...8/08/net35.jpg
in park:
http://www.nps.gov/glac/naturescienc.../bearcan_1.jpg

I saw one today on a street (in the city) - There are some that are quite friendly and got used with people, cars, etc
http://image02.webshots.com/2/8/0/78...8diUZZl_fs.jpg

First place has to go to the guy that collided with a fish.

I can't top that, but I did pass a large carp on the road. Far from any lake or stream that I knew
about, there was a live carp, probably 18", gasping and sort of writhing on the pavement under the
hot sun. Didn't see any cars or anyone around that may have dropped the critter off, so no
explaination. But I'm here to tell you, that was one unhappy-looking fish.

Another time a trio of wild turkeys blasted out of the shrubs and flew/scurried across the road
just in front of me.

By the way, honorable mention to Machka's poise during the dragonfly incident.

Machka, that is a great post! If this were a contest, you've got my vote just because I actually had to Google one of your animals to find out what it was (echidna). Some seriously cringe worthy insect encounters. I'll definitely be riding home with my mouth closed tonight!

Thanks!!

This is an echidna. They are very shy so if you approach one, they will roll into a ball. This one did at first ...

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4028/...7cc407bf53.jpg

But I just waited quietly, and eventually it unrolled and I got a picture of its face ... :)

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4027/...0ef377a733.jpg

Similar encounter, but the chipmunk was not as fortunate. I was riding along and it darted out from the left, i saw it but was so quick i couldn't stop. instead I banked right. the chipmunk saw me, and stopped.. acted like it was going to go back the direction it came, but then continued across the road...right under my back tire. My friend witnessed it and called me a murderer lol.