watch out for stinging bugs...

Went for a little romp in the woods yesterday, came across a very large tree (at least 4 feet high) across the trail that required us to hand our bikes over and hike around the large root ball. As I handed the last bike over to my hubby I felt it digging into my ankle injecting me with its poison!!! Lucie (our dog) was at my feet so I picked her up to give her a boost over the tree I lost my footing and went head first on downhill side landing square on to a Yellow Jacket nest :eek: I jump up, wiped on away from my lip and started running up trail (which meant I had to go back by the nest when they calmed down...arg) As I was running away one got me in the crotch area of my thigh...I ran into a family hiking and what luck, they were internal medicine docs! What better company when being swarmed. Then on my upper arm...geez, will they stop??? At some point one got me on the butt...that seems to be their favorite spot to get me :p

I took 2 Benedryl while waiting for them to calm down...finally, Lucie and I were able to walk quickly back to the tree and hike around the root (which was opposite side of the trail of the nest) We made it back to the bikes and thank goodness it was 80% downhill from there to the car!!!

The swelling will probably go up and down before it all goes away...but that is the dangers of mtbiking! OH...and while all that was going on I managed to really mess up my pinky...it hurts but nothing bad so I am off to see another ride!!!

Be careful out there and be sure to always stock your trail first aid kits!!! you never know...

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Originally Posted by bouncybouncy

I lost my footing and went head first on downhill side landing square on to a Yellow Jacket nest :eek:

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Oh my gosh!! :eek: :eek: Yellow jackets are just MEAN. They will tear you up in a heartbeat and won't quit until they are killed in battle. Oh poor you. I hope it doesn't hurt too much. Did your doggie get stung too? :(

Ice, ice, ice. Really, it helps.

Make sure all the stingers are out (butt, too!). I had one in my breast once for about a week, because I wasn't 100% sure it was still in there, and I was too shy to have anyone check for me. It itched the whole time. Finally it came out on its own, completely shrivelled up, depleted of all poison :eek:

This time of year the wasps are more aggressive because of depleting food supplies. I found that riding at the crack of dawn and evening, when the temps are cooler, was the time to avoid these incidents.

Sun - Yes, little Lucie was stung!!! I was swatting her and myself at the same time...her little snout swelled up just like mine :( She is doing well today, she sits at home with her daddy in his home-office so she is being watched!!!

Red - these were yellow jackets which do not leave their stingers...they can keep stinging and stinging!!! :mad:

Will you give Lucie a kiss on her nose and tell her what a brave girl she is? For me?