hiking companions

While hiking and rocks on Pelee Island, you meet some *interesting* company.

Lake Erie Watersnakes ... sunning thenselves on the rocks, but within the spray of the waves... "The Lake Erie watersnake is found along the shorelines of Pelee and other western Lake Erie islands. These snakes use the dolomite and limestone rocks, ledges and crevices along the shoreline for basking and hiding, and are rarely found far from these rocky shoreline habitats."
The snakes were fascinating... and these guys swim WITH you off the east beach - they don't bite unless severely provoked, and eat the round gobi fish which are invasive... so cheers to them!.. Fun to watch a snake "water bathe" in the spray.
I don't have a clue what kind of spider it was, other than friggin' HUGE - a couple of inches across and *alive*... that was enough for me!

Just serves to makes you alot more cautious as you move across the rock faces to CHECK crevasses carefully - BEFORE you place hands/feet in..