Waki Warning and Story!

TurnerIII

TurnerIII

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Jul 20, 2005
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For those that intend to do some brush clearing with their Waki - Warning!

I was choping at some brush that had over grown near my parents garden on their hobby farm yesterday. We were learning the correct approach and working on our tech. Small trees and branches had cleaner cuts than some of the brush that given its flexibility had more rips and messy cuts.

As I moved to some low lying branches of a oak - I swung and missed (we did have a better appreciation for watching where the follow through would go at this point) so I moved in for a better angle. I chopped two more times - and all of a sudden a cloud of what I thought were flies came out of the branches and moved towards my brother. He swatted one away from his nose and shouted .. WASPS!!!!

That was all I need to hear but as I started running one zapped me in the leg. I kept running and that little bastrd kept stinging! When I got out a bit I started a swing from my Waki to get him off. I was going to use the flat of the blade to smash him off. I just wanted to kill him soooo badly. But despite the excitement I pulled back on the swing - last thing I needed at this point was a chunk of my leg missing. He pulled off of me - perhaps from my mainly war cry ( little girl scream?) and I was up and running. ....We both got away largely with only scrapes from our blind, hysterical running through the field.

To the point - we came back later and found a three foot long two foot wide paper wasps nest about two feet above where I was chopping. They were only disturbed by the shaking of the branches as I chopped , never even seeing the nest above- I can only think of what would have happened if I had actually slashed that nest!

So be careful out there while swashing away. This could have been really bad.

(no - thank goodness no one got pics of our mainly adventure. It would have a made a great you tube for sure :D- but we did have a good laugh when we both made it to the house in one piece:thumbup:)



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ouch. glad that didn't turn out bad. probably a good idea you didn't use the waki to get it off
 
Phew, I was preparing myself for an "I accidentally chopped into my leg" story. Glad you had the presence of mind to not risk swatting it away with the waki :thumbup:, and I'm glad it didn't turn real ugly.
 
I would have FREAKED. I was swarmed by a very large colony of ground wasps (yellow jackets) and was stung over 150 times. Spent multiple days in the hospital and almost died. I have a small phobia of stinging insects now:o. Glad you did not get it too bad. Darn wasps hurt like hell cuz they can sting over and over. Mean SOB's they are.

I too have had my waki out clearing brush. I am amazed at how much it flexes when you hit harder wood with it. Very interesting but I think I like it that way.
 
You are one lucky man. Better go buy a lottery ticket today. Glad you and your brother made it out of there alive.

Les.
 
Ya - I am a good runner :)

But the Waki cut things very well. Earlier I brought back some 1-2 in branches with some nice clean cuts to show everyone! It was fun while it lasted. I put her away after the bugs got cranky :)

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Yikes. Glad to know that you're okay. I too thought this was going to be an "I chopped my leg" story.
 
honey bees like pine trees....

I used to work at a Christmas tree farm in the summer to upkeep on the tree trimming. We used large, long machetes very similar to the Waki, and always took one swing and listened before trimming a tree.

Had one latch onto my arm near the wrist once, and without thinking used the machete to brush it off...fortunately I remembered what I was using right about the time it touched my arm, and only managed a very small cut.

I know exactly what was running through your head!
 
i was really thinking "i cut off" or " and then i fell on it".... :eek:

glad nothing really bad happened. i mean we run around with swords for fun so we probably aren't the "brightest" group of people you will come across (until the zombies attack). gotta expect a little blood right? i'd just rather everybody should hang on to any portions of human flesh that can be picked up. :thumbup:
 
T-,

I'd have to say you are very lucky bro!!! You could have been quit the pin cushion...
 
TurnerIII said:
Ya - I am a good runner :)

But the Waki cut things very well. Earlier I brought back some 1-2 in branches with some nice clean cuts to show everyone! It was fun while it lasted. I put her away after the bugs got cranky :)

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Click to expand...

Turner -- in a situation like that, even I am a good runner.:D

Stay safe over there, eh?
 
OldPhysics said:
Turner -- in a situation like that, even I am a good runner.:D

Stay safe over there, eh?
Click to expand...


Don't worry OP - I am closeto your time zone.:eek::thumbup::D And yes its amazing what a person can do when real adrenaline kicks in :)




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Wasp_Information_Paperwasp.jpg


This is what the little stinkers look like - for them that have never had the pleasure of a meet N greet.;)



And here is about the size of nest I was swatting under...... Bet there were a whole bunch more inside just waiting to come out and say "Hi"


PaperWaspNest5017w.jpg




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My progress of thoughts as I clicked on then read your thread:

1. Dang, someone managed to break a Waki???
2. I hope the tip did not break off.
3. Oh, some of the now sharp ended branches fell on him and poked some new holes? yuck.
4. Wait, a branch just fell on him?
5. Freaking insects!
 
The worst I have had in a similar situation.

My dad and I were canoeing down a small creak in our town. About half way through our trip we did not see the swarm of Black Flies or Horse Flies. Just after we hit the swarm and were starting to become lunch we ran aground in the middle of the stream.

The cloud was thick enough that when I tried to swat at them I hit 8-10 per swing and also had several land on my arms and start to bite me. I freaked out and froze. After a few seconds of this my Dad jumps out of the canoe into the water and heaves with all his strength to dislodge the canoe and help us get away. I was still getting feasted upon, and frozen like a stupid deer in headlights, as he jumped back into the canoe. We got out of the water as soon as we were able and hiked back to the car with the canoe.

The next day my dad's hands were bitten so many times that they swelled to the point where you could not see individual fingers and they were about the size of corn dogs. Damn, I hate biting and stinging insects.
 
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