> Yeurgh. Snakes make me shudder. One time whilst riding a bicycle, I crossed paths with a large black snake. (I live in Florida, and I'm pretty sure your theory was correct about them getting bigger the further you so South. Wow, it was large and scary.) I almost ran the poor beast over, but I was concerned with myself at the time, since I almost wiped out on the road.
>
> I'd love to see the pictures, though.
>
> -zK

I almost ran over a snake in Florida a long time ago. I was on an old motorcycle that was so worn out it wouldn't go much faster than a bicycle. I was riding on a marl road in St. Lucie County when I spotted a diamondback rattlesnake in the road. It was too late to swerve very much, but I managed to not run over it. However, my left foot passed just inches above its head. I stopped and looked back in time to see him coiling up in striking position.

They aren't long snakes, but they get as big as your arm in the middle.
Howard