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Saturday 5 September 2009

Meeting an Adder











In the occasion of Wolsingham show, daughter Becky had a visit this weekend and we had a little walk with the dogs along a breezy and cool Waskerley Way, just above Stanhope - and we met with this little adder. The snake was very dozy due to the cool weather, but we kept the dogs out of the way just in case.
It had gone by the time we returned a while later.
Later, we repaired to the Park Head tea room, beloved by many a CtoC cyclist, and by me, as it happens.
Never pass a tea room
Quote of the week: "Just a little prick Mr Widdle" Hattie Jacques, Carry on Nurse (actually, I expect she never said this, but she should have done.....)
The Waskerley Way is mainly used by cyclists, some who are "doing" the cycling Coast to Coast route. Its part of, and links im with many miles of ex-railway line paths across Co Durham. There's miles and miles and miles of these. They're great for a good old blast at speed, but they can get just a bit dull after a few hours of left/right/left/right. Its all down hill to Sunderland from here. though, if you're on a bike.




8 comments:

Anonymous said...

Met one of those wriggly things on Arran last August...always a worry with the dog. Mind you I don't fancy being nibbled or swallowed whole or whatever nasty things they do either. I've read they are only liable to make a biggish dog a bit sick, but I don't fancy testing that theory.

Mike Knipe said...

Adders are very common, specially along forest edges in the North Pennines and yer dogs, being curious try to sniff them and get their noses bitten.
Like you, I try to make sure the dogs don't go too close, though I'm not sure what effect a bite would have.
We used to treat adder bites on children quite seriously when I used to work in a casualty dept (kids tend to swing them around!)

Tony Bennett said...

hmmm. so if yhou swing an adder around fast enough, can you get it to play a tune, like you can with a hose pipe :)

Mike Knipe said...

Whats the tune? Dizzy...I'm so dizzy, my head is spinning...

Bit surreal that, if you think about it enough...

Tony Bennett said...

yes, and thinking about it, you might need to chop its tail off - I don't know if it would work the same with a closed pipe. I guess it would be easier to test with a hose than a snake. you see 12 years in physics wasn't entirely wasted

icklebigsis said...

Waskerley way... Is that where the Waskerley Wabbits live...

"Bruno! Waskerly Wabbits!!!"

Mike Knipe said...

I don't think you lot are taking this seriously... cruelty to snakes, waskally wabbits... wottevva next?

Martin Rye said...

I worry about my dog out in the forest walks we do sometimes. Adders are common in Norfolk and like you say bite dogs. Best to keep em close and avoid a tragic day out. Glad you laid the ghost to rest from a tragic day many years ago on the visit to Pendle Hill.