Now I gotta tell ya'll it wasn't until about 5 minutes later that the reality and significance of what had just happened hit home. Had the snake been facing me when I took the photograph it must surely have got me, from such close range. Young rattlesnakes of this size, about 3 feet long, are the most venomous. Medical treatment is about 2 hours drive away.
I haven't stopped changing my undies since last night
Never ever ever again will I ever do anything so stupid, as what I did last night and I just think myself extremely lucky not to be in hospital, very very ill at this time.
I am going to post the 1st photograph in the photography section also. While it doesn't deserve any photography award it certainly deserves a stupidity award and a few may learn from my experience, in regard to photographing dangerous creatures at safe distances.
CS-John B