Pebbles and Shadows

 Has it been two years since last i saw one of these guys Out There? Maybe. I know I went through last year without bothering a single one. This little guy, no more than twelve inches long blending in like a shadow among all those little rocks and pebbles. I didn't even see him until... oops, was that a rattler i just ran over? Fortunately, maybe, he was stretched out lengthwise along the backside of that rock in the top photo so he may not have taken my full weight. Stopping when I realized that snake was not the shadows of a multitude of small rocks, i walked back for a look. He didn't move, and i thought he might be dead, already run over by someone, or trampled by a horse - until i pushed my front wheel toward him. Thinking he was about to be run over again, he coiled up and struck at my tire like [snap], yeah, like that. In a flash. Then cool as can be, off he slithered into the chaparral.