I don’t use my Jeep much anymore, especially in the summer. I used to. But since I adopted the work-at-home lifestyle there just isn’t much need. Besides, if it’s possible, the motorcycle’s always the first choice.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
But this errand called for four wheels. As I cranked down the window I noticed that a spider had constructed a web from the driver’s side mirror to the body proper. I looked closer. The spider appeared to be sleeping near its ball of? spider eggs, more likely than not!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Should I cancel my plan? Not on your life! This would prove to be an interesting trip indeed. I brought the motor to life and cranked the window closed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
By the time I had driven but a short distance the spider was quite awake. 30 MPH winds will do that, when it shakes your nursery violently. But the spider and egg-ball held fast. Soon I was out of the local streets and onto the highway. I only needed to travel a short distance and barely reached 55 MPH. As I approached my destination it appeared that the spider had lost its grip but when I looked closer I realized that it had merely gotten close – very close – to the egg-ball. Perhaps it was trying to protect it? I locked up and went about my business. The return trip, I resolved, would become a better test.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The spider appeared to be sleeping again when I returned to the Jeep. I hit the highway and accelerated. 55 MPH, 65, 75? The web shook much more violently than before as I passed my turn at 85 MPH. The old Jeep with the tired clutch didn’t want this any more than the spider did but I asked for a little more. At 90 MPH I backed down and eased into a jughandle to turn back.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The web had pulled loose from its iron grip on the mirror and hung from the body panel. But before the light changed the spider poked itself above the window line! It had survived!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The remainder of the trip back was sedate. And when I parked the spider, and the egg ball, and the mostly destroyed web, were still attached. Later I’ll have a look and see whether progress is being made on the rebuild.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
There’s probably a moral to the story but I’m damned if I know what it is.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
I don’t use my Jeep much anymore, especially in the summer. I used to. But since I adopted the work-at-home lifestyle there just isn’t much need. Besides, if it’s possible, the motorcycle’s always the first choice. But this errand called for four wheels. As I cranked down the window I noticed that a spider had … Continue reading The Strength of a Spider Web – and the Spider Itself<\/span>