Ever get hit in the face by...

[Al N.]

a bat?

 

I think that's what hit me tonight. The kids are with my folks visiting Boston, so Laura and I went down to Princeton for ice cream in the Seven (proud to say that I was able to maneuver the trailer sufficiently and unload the car without hurting it or myself).

 

We didn't wear helmets like we usually do, it was still light out and we wanted to enjoy the breeze and be able to talk without flipping up our shields. On the way home, something struck my left cheek -- felt like the size of a tennis ball. About the same density too.

 

You know, those helmets aren't such a bad idea...

[scannon]

I had a similar experience yesterday evening. I was driving my Se7en along a rural two lane road at about 45 - 50 mpy when I spotted a large dark object flying towards my car. It changed its trajectory a bit so I don't think it was a rock although it was more or less a ballistic curve.

 

It hit the passenger side of the windscreen with a loud crack and I figured I was already going to be replacing the glass. It left behind a mess similar to an insect but much larger. It was difficult to clean it off when I got home and there was a little bit of red substance, probably blood. Fortunately, the glass was intact, not even a crack or a chip.

 

A bat was one of the possibilites or a bird but although I could see the round object quite well, there was no suggestion of wings. I've never seen an insect anywhere near that size so I don't know for sure what it was.

 

I suspect taking that bat or what ever it was in the face must have smarted a bit. I took a robin in the chest on a motorcycle and it hurt like hell and left a large bruise.

 

Hope you are OK.

 

Skip

 

 

[slngsht]

We have little bats around here, and from time to time they dive to catch an insect, and get crazy close to your head. I've never hit one in a car though.

[solder_guy]

A bat that goes around hitting things is a senile bat! It won't get any points in bat world.

 

Rob

 

[Boxologist]

considering how 'superb' the hearing on bats is, u were probably just helping evolution out.

 

oh noes, teh batz is coming to rulz us! its all Bruce Wayne's fault!:crazy:

[stevet]

I hit a Buzzard a While back. I was hard on the brakes, he (she?) was desperately trying to get off the ground. He completely filled the windscreen and I seem to remember putting my arms over my face as I expected to be wearing the damn thing any moment. I stopped and turned around - he was a bit groggy, but eventually flew off. Those guys are big close up!