Growing up, we lived in a dry area and so I’d never been exposed to leeches. Even the dams that were close by only held frogs, tadpoles and the occasional snake.
This meant that when I went away to “Old Macdonald’s Farm” with my grandmother, I was completely unprepared for the horror that was about to befall us.
Old Macdonald’s Farm was a B&B type thing, with cabins on site, animals and various fun things to do. At least, that’s how I remember it, but I was only seven at the time and my memory may be flawed.
Honestly, it was great fun. BBQ’s, play equipment, farm animals and plenty to do.
I think this is also where I learned to be very very wary of cows, but I can’t really remember, so I’ve probably blocked that memory out. I can tell you that I have a healthy respect for cows now and that there is no fence between me and that calf, so draw your own conclusions.
On the second morning, we woke up and Nan declared that we were going on the rainforest walk. This was exciting, because I loved bushwalking and rainforests.
It stayed exciting, right up until 15 minutes into the walk when Nan realised that she had a leech attached to her ankle and three more climbing up her boots. She very calmly turned me around and picked another couple of leeches off my trouser legs, while I shook like the girl I was.
We stopped every two minutes on that walk to pick more leeches off our boots and I never really recovered. Despite pulling my socks up over my pants to protect my ankles, I was terrified that a leech would make it’s way up the back of my leg unseen and attach itself somewhere else on my body. Like my armpit.
I can’t really remember, but I suspect a lot of that walk was taking up with me frantically spinning in circles, trying to see my own back.
I’ve never been so grateful to get out of a rainforest before and I still harbour a major distrust of anything that wants to attach to me and suck my blood.
IT’S JUST NOT NATURAL.
And that’s why leeches creep me out.
I went hiking earlier this year and was attacked by leeches. At first I thought hey this is kinda cool but 6 hours after removing the last leech and there was still blood running down my leg I changed my mind. Blood sucky little creatures!
We get them at home (at home!) and OMG I am terrified. I go nuts. The kids think it’s funny and I try really, really hard to laugh but one day I am certain that I am going to have a heart-attack and die because of those bloody awful (no pun intended) blood-suckers. “Get the salt, get the saaaaalt!!!!” x
We have them in the Tablelands – they are everywhere in the rainforrest. When we have visitors from overseas, most think it is such an exotic thing – like Indiana Jones. The leeches grow from 2 cm to 15 on facebook, by the use of magic camera lenses, which always makes me laugh.
I can’t say they are my favourite thing though. Could live without!!
PS ALWAYS be afraid of cows. They are tricky bastards!
Rain forests have leeches??
There goes my dream of a holiday in a rain forest area….
Cows are fine when they are steaks and roasts….
A few year ago, I took my little sister hiking in the Eungella rainforest. Similar experience. Leeches dropping out of the trees on to us. We ran back to our cabins in record time. Could never wear those boots again…
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