The title of this post is the soundtrack anyone within a mile radius was treated to as I experienced my first tarantula sighting on Mt. Olympia in Mt. Diablo State Park yesterday!!!!! We walked along the North Peak Trail/Road, hoping for spectacular views on a clear day and maybe, just maybe a chance meeting with a fuzzy-legged spider. How perfect that we encountered both!
After a warm Autumn rain, male tarantulas emerge from their underground burrows to look for a mate. I should note that the hand in the photo above is not mine- the fascination/fear of spiders keeps me close, yet at a safe distance. I have a hunch that getting over my fear would lessen the fascination factor that I feel.
He crawled along robotically on the side of the trail in a mix of dried grasses, rocks and discarded Bay Laurel leaves on a sunny North-facing slope. I wonder if the fact that we couldn't see his eyes lent to the idea that he was more machine than arachnid. Perhaps there's too many insect-meets-post-apocalyptic movies out there!
While the spider-sighting took center stage, the remainder of the hike provided plenty of opportunities for breathless exclamations and happy discoveries. A few examples:
The muted color palette bowled me over- golds, grays and greens mixed among dark silhouettes of pines and oaks.
The Bay Laurels had produced their pear-shaped nuts, which I just read can be roasted and are relished for their unsweetened chocolate-like flavor. As the sun fell upon the leaves, the aromatic scent surrounded the trail.
The golden skeletons of Spring remained all across the hills- dried bulb stalks and seedpods. This Clematis vine decided to dress as "Cousin It" for Halloween- flufferifous!
Not sure how we're going to top this hike, but I'm determined to try!
