Journal Comments - My Midlife Crisis

Cat Lloyd commented on a photo in 69: longest and shortest day, ohiopyle, hideous and beautiful, fallingwater, move the desk, how to spell god, blue steel, the trees have eyes, burrantlers, leprous trees, pickelhaube

Beautiful photo of you two!!

3 weeks ago

Bill Shaneyfelt replied to a comment by Mark Bingham on a photo in 68: a fowl bird, bee on a flower, the body bag offer, markleton, pinkerton, sort of thanks, trestle house, no going around, ticks, no shooting, wear orange, alien fungus, on guard, confluence, snake break, more fungi, the bonk, immersion

Right off the bat, I knew it was not the color of a panther, but now we learn together what the internet says!

The scientific name Pantherophis obsoletus refers to the Western Rat Snake (also known as the Black Rat Snake or Pilot Black Snake). "Pantherophis" combines the Latin word "panthera" (panther) and the Greek word "ophis" (snake), likely referencing the snake's bold pattern and predatory behavior, according to the Kansas Herpetofaunal Atlas. "Obsoletus" is Latin for "worn away" or "obsolete," possibly referring to the change in color from juvenile to adult snakes.

3 weeks ago

Mark Bingham replied to a comment by Laura Seidita on a photo in 65: little richard's bumpersticker, quicksand, rock formations, 100% date, mudfest, the batty indigo, 40-foot turtle, nerd deer, telegraph poles, burly burl, lost cap, the pocked paw paw, bus cabin, colin, rode hard & put away wet

"Patient" might be too kind of a word for it. :-)

3 weeks ago

Mark Bingham replied to a comment by Jeff Lee on 68: a fowl bird, bee on a flower, the body bag offer, markleton, pinkerton, sort of thanks, trestle house, no going around, ticks, no shooting, wear orange, alien fungus, on guard, confluence, snake break, more fungi, the bonk, immersion

I definitely think you're at a higher risk for bonking because you ride literally three times as far as I do, and you do it a lot faster. Once every trip? That seems excessive. Maybe you should consider packing more junk food to take.

3 weeks ago

Mark Bingham replied to a comment by Bill Shaneyfelt on a photo in 68: a fowl bird, bee on a flower, the body bag offer, markleton, pinkerton, sort of thanks, trestle house, no going around, ticks, no shooting, wear orange, alien fungus, on guard, confluence, snake break, more fungi, the bonk, immersion

Wow... those are some seriously funky pictures!

3 weeks ago

Mark Bingham replied to a comment by Bill Shaneyfelt on a photo in 68: a fowl bird, bee on a flower, the body bag offer, markleton, pinkerton, sort of thanks, trestle house, no going around, ticks, no shooting, wear orange, alien fungus, on guard, confluence, snake break, more fungi, the bonk, immersion

The link shows the genus and species to be Pantherophis obsoletus, which made me wonder how it got that name. The color of a panther? And, at some point, was it almost extinct (obsolete)?

3 weeks ago

Laura Seidita commented on a photo in 65: little richard's bumpersticker, quicksand, rock formations, 100% date, mudfest, the batty indigo, 40-foot turtle, nerd deer, telegraph poles, burly burl, lost cap, the pocked paw paw, bus cabin, colin, rode hard & put away wet

You are way more patient that me. I would have been on Google Maps or RWGPS and finding an alternate road to ride on this day!

3 weeks ago

Bill Shaneyfelt commented on a photo in 68: a fowl bird, bee on a flower, the body bag offer, markleton, pinkerton, sort of thanks, trestle house, no going around, ticks, no shooting, wear orange, alien fungus, on guard, confluence, snake break, more fungi, the bonk, immersion

Some kind of shelf fungus.

https://www.inaturalist.org/taxa/47380-Polyporales/browse_photos

3 weeks ago

Bill Shaneyfelt commented on a photo in 68: a fowl bird, bee on a flower, the body bag offer, markleton, pinkerton, sort of thanks, trestle house, no going around, ticks, no shooting, wear orange, alien fungus, on guard, confluence, snake break, more fungi, the bonk, immersion

Yeah, rat snakes temperament can run the gamut! I've come across some that are tame as a kitten from the start, and others that continue to hiss and strike no matter how slow and gentle you might be around them.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pantherophis_obsoletus

3 weeks ago

Bill Shaneyfelt commented on a photo in 68: a fowl bird, bee on a flower, the body bag offer, markleton, pinkerton, sort of thanks, trestle house, no going around, ticks, no shooting, wear orange, alien fungus, on guard, confluence, snake break, more fungi, the bonk, immersion

Maybe some species of waxpore?

https://www.inaturalist.org/taxa/328292-Ceriporia/browse_photos?place_id=42

3 weeks ago

Bill Shaneyfelt commented on a photo in 68: a fowl bird, bee on a flower, the body bag offer, markleton, pinkerton, sort of thanks, trestle house, no going around, ticks, no shooting, wear orange, alien fungus, on guard, confluence, snake break, more fungi, the bonk, immersion

Yup, I got Lyme on a bike tour in 2008 and had to take a pill that was highly diuretic for a few months. Miserable always looking for a bathroom or discreetly hidden spot.

3 weeks ago

Bill Shaneyfelt commented on a photo in 68: a fowl bird, bee on a flower, the body bag offer, markleton, pinkerton, sort of thanks, trestle house, no going around, ticks, no shooting, wear orange, alien fungus, on guard, confluence, snake break, more fungi, the bonk, immersion

Just looking almost makes me itch...

3 weeks ago

Mark Bingham replied to a comment by Wanda Jennings on a photo in 48: late start, larry, metro, into the arms of jesus, alive, the amazing tiny, the lane less traveled, solar farm, state #5, no shooting or stopping, painted trees

Thanks for reading!

3 weeks ago

Mark Bingham replied to a comment by Wanda Jennings on a photo in 47: pollen pond, still living for danger, energy elementary, convenience site, not virginia, thank you jesus, elementary prohibitions, tar river, memory lane memories, happy times, dachshund sprayer, woodmen of the world, ed, mecca, steel flame

It’s the section on the side of the road, and probably put up by the county.

3 weeks ago

Wanda Jennings commented on a photo in 48: late start, larry, metro, into the arms of jesus, alive, the amazing tiny, the lane less traveled, solar farm, state #5, no shooting or stopping, painted trees

I like the horse instead of a cow! 😄