Just putting in a short entry until I get time to fill it in. It was another rainy day, and I waited until noon to leave for the forest again. It rained the whole time, and was a bit breezy. I went up to Road R to check on my usual rare plants and search for more.
I found a couple modestly rare plants...and the second on was nearly my un-doing.
I found another stenogyne scrophularioides near the ones I knew already, then as I was wacking some weeds I noticed a big nasty himalayan raspberry...and after a double-take I saw a huge adult cyanea tritomantha growing up through it!
After finding a way over there I worked at carefully clearing the massive raspberry from the native plants branch-by-branch. Unfortunately after an hour, and at a critical delicate moment in the work, my machete which was holding back a branch slipped off the branch and wacked my finger good. No hurt, but a deep cut with plenty of oozing blood. It took me another 15-20 minutes to finish and start back to the car, trying to keep my finger still and blood off my raincoat. My hand was soaked, both with rain and blood, so napkins and duct tape had to serve as a bandage. The raspberry was vanquished and the haha (cyanea) was free, so I was happy.
I guess I was a little pumped up for a while. I had worked on the raspberry, walked back to the car, bandaged, drove 18 miles to my office, read e-mail, showered and THEN finally took off the makeshift bandage. With the bleeding stopped I could see that the wound is much deeper than I thought. I could see inside me! Freaky! At that moment, 2 hours after the wound, I must have finally relaxed enough that my blood pressure dropped...through the floor. It all slowly went fuzzy and I got to a chair before I came within a hair of passing out.
Eventually I was back on Earth and re-bandaged with lots of antiseptic ointment. After a cookie and a Coke here I sit typing this. Had to splint my finger so the wound would stay closed - so hard to resist typing with my index finger! I need to get hearty food in me and contemplate whether I need stitches. My ears just stopped buzzing as I finish typing this. The things I do for the flora and fauna...
The 'io are back in the area at the end of Road R, just like they were last year.
I found a couple modestly rare plants...and the second on was nearly my un-doing.
I found another stenogyne scrophularioides near the ones I knew already, then as I was wacking some weeds I noticed a big nasty himalayan raspberry...and after a double-take I saw a huge adult cyanea tritomantha growing up through it! After finding a way over there I worked at carefully clearing the massive raspberry from the native plants branch-by-branch. Unfortunately after an hour, and at a critical delicate moment in the work, my machete which was holding back a branch slipped off the branch and wacked my finger good. No hurt, but a deep cut with plenty of oozing blood. It took me another 15-20 minutes to finish and start back to the car, trying to keep my finger still and blood off my raincoat. My hand was soaked, both with rain and blood, so napkins and duct tape had to serve as a bandage. The raspberry was vanquished and the haha (cyanea) was free, so I was happy.
I guess I was a little pumped up for a while. I had worked on the raspberry, walked back to the car, bandaged, drove 18 miles to my office, read e-mail, showered and THEN finally took off the makeshift bandage. With the bleeding stopped I could see that the wound is much deeper than I thought. I could see inside me! Freaky! At that moment, 2 hours after the wound, I must have finally relaxed enough that my blood pressure dropped...through the floor. It all slowly went fuzzy and I got to a chair before I came within a hair of passing out.
Eventually I was back on Earth and re-bandaged with lots of antiseptic ointment. After a cookie and a Coke here I sit typing this. Had to splint my finger so the wound would stay closed - so hard to resist typing with my index finger! I need to get hearty food in me and contemplate whether I need stitches. My ears just stopped buzzing as I finish typing this. The things I do for the flora and fauna...
The 'io are back in the area at the end of Road R, just like they were last year.
