>>ireman_1 wrote:
>>
>>
>> It's called the "North Shore" (as it follows the north shore of the
>> lake) or some call it north bank, but I rarely hear that. It's
>> certainly not any kind of secret.
>>
>> K.
>>
>Years and years ago, I rode the North Shore Trail with my friend Tim one
>night. Tim was (probablly still is) very good about trail maintenance.
>We stopped to throw a large branch out of the trail, and when Tim
>stepped off the trail, he yelled "ouch! Damned thorns!" I shone my
>light to see what he was complaining about- and illuminated the dozens
>and dozens of Yellow Jackets (sometimes affectionately referred to as
>the Oregon State Bird), which were all ****** off that he'd stomped on
>their lovely home. Attracted by my light, they swarmed towards me.
>Needless to say, I shut off my light and sprinted away, leaving Tim to
>either do the same or suffer a horrible fate.
>
>He almost caught up to me in his hurry to get away.
>
>Ah, sometimes I miss Oregon.
>
>miles
I've donated my share of blood to the berry gods on the trails in this area. I'll take the scratches from them over the damn poison oak any day though. You have to love the joys hidden within the brambles from time to time. The "excellent" advice my wife gives is to not fall off the trail and roll in the weeds, but where's the fun in that? On a related (sort of) side note: we are currently trying to "tame" the property we bought recently and I have had a few snakes and yellow jackets get upset with me and my brush cutter. The snakes lose every time, but those little flying bastards are sneaky.
K.