And I thought the rattlers were the problem...
 

Ok, so I spend too much time on the ARBT. It's convenient for getting up to Folsom. I like to ride out thataway.

I often see a rattler while riding on the ARBT. I always stop and wait for them to cross the trail and then I keep going. No sense in rushing it and getting bit.

Anyway, today I tried out a route that went around Folsom, but I needed to get up there first. So, ARBT it is. I'm riding down a hill on the N side of Lake Natoma. For those familiar with the area, there's a flat right after a descent right next to the lake. Some cliffs to the left as you're heading East. Then there's a hill on the other side of the flat to go up.

So this morning. I'm on that flat I mentioned above. About half way through the section I spot a black and white animal in the middle of the trail. Yup. It's a skunk. So I stopped. No need to get sprayed (I have got to get a small camera to take on these rides). I try throwing some pebbles at it. It wanders back and forth across the path, and isn't leaving. A jogger comes up behind and tries the same. No go. A cyclist comes from the other side. That dang skunk is just playing in the middle of the trail.

After about 10 minutes and lots of pebbles raining down in it's immediate vicinity, it finally decides to amble into the rocks next to the lake. We figure it's far enough away that it's safe to proceed. But wouldn't you know it? It sprayed up the whole area. Good gracious does that smell bad :eek:

Thankfully no more encounters and I didn't get sprayed.

You're lucky you didn't get a direct hit. I once got a full face and chest spray. The worst part was that I could smell it even after it was supposedly gone. I think it gets in your nostrils and sticks.

I almost got taken out by a deer on my descent on Wednesday, be careful out there.

In case you need it...best way to get rid of skunk smell:

1 quart of 3 percent hydrogen peroxide (any drugstore)
1/4 cup of baking soda (sodium bicarbonate)
1 teaspoon of liquid soap, such as Dawn

Mix and immediately use to scrub yourself (or pets that have been skunked, etc.).

DO NOT STORE THE LEFTOVERS. Mix a new batch each time.

I had a dog that got sprayed once. She decided to come back into the house and rub herself off on the carpets!

Lemon juice worked well for us that fateful day...

The only two North American animals that scare me are bears and skunks.

Skunk not afraid of you or a group of angry rock-wielding humans?? Good thing you kept your distance...

Signs of rabies in skunks include having no fear of humans, acting aggressively, or acting listless or sick.

As per the CDC
http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/dvrd/kidsr...als/skunks.htm :eek: