Yesterday in Cornville Arizona I was introduced to the Africanized Honey Bee with a punchant right jab to the face.

This was a vicious relentless non-stop  attack.

Africanized Honey Bees also called Africanized bees or killer bees — are descendants of southern African bees imported in 1956 by Brazilian scientists attempting to breed a honey bee better adapted to the South American tropics.

When some of these bees escaped quarantine in 1957, they began breeding with local Brazilian honey bees, quickly multiplying and extended their range throughout South and Central America at a rate greater than 200 miles per year.

Africanized bees acquired the name killer bees because they will viciously attack people and animals who unwittingly stray into their territory, often resulting in serious injury or death.

It is not necessary to disturb the hive itself to initiate an AHB attack. In fact, Africanized bees have been know to respond viciously to mundane occurrences, including noises or even vibrations from vehicles, equipment and pedestrians.

Here are a few facts about AHB’s

AHB Facts

• Are slightly smaller than the European honey bee, but only an expert can tell them apart
• Defend their hive more rapidly than the European honey bee
• Usually sting in greater numbers
• Are less selective about where they nest
• Swarm more often than European honey bees
• Do not have stronger venom than the European honey bee
• Each bee can only sting one time – females die after stinging (Awesome!)
• Eat nectar and pollen and make honey
• Are not native to the U.S.; they came from Africa

Keep a close watch out this summer and remember the AHB’s are more likely to sting you if you are wearing black clothing.

Every February a pastor friend of mine puts on a “wild game dinner” here in our community.

This year he ask Chuck Buck from Idaho to speak at the dinner.  Chuck is the CEO of Buck knives. What a great story he told of how the company got started.

The first Buck knife was crafted in a Kansas blacksmith’s shop by Hoyt Buck 106 years ago. Hoyt later became a preacher in the town of Mountain View, Idaho, and during the Second World War used a traditional forge and grinding wheel installed in the basement of his church to craft knives out of discarded metal files and the plastic of aircraft canopies. Delighted with the shiny plastic handles and blades that could chop bolts while holding their edge, thousands of U.S. servicemen spread Hoyt Buck’s reputation by word-of-mouth.

It was a great story and each time I get out my Buck knife I will handle it with a bit more respect.

Great day with Brenda, Adam and Natascha in Sedona.

Just some pics and a simple map to the Balwin trail that leads to Buddah Beach and Oak Creek.

This section of Sedona is more isolated than the central section. If you get away from hwy 179, you have a better possibility of some peace and quiet.

A year ago I did this section on a mountain bike with a dozen friends. No matter how you travel it, the Balwin Templeton trail is most excellent!

Headed for Sedona today with the family to hike the red rocks.

It is such a great feeling to be able to get out and hike again after my ankle break last summer.

This is my kind of “stimulus package” …. really gets me going to have my hiking boots on the red dirt again.

Cool thing about Sedona, It is just one hour from our house.

Here is a photo of the back side of “chicken point” while standing on “submariene rock”.

There is metric ton of trails in the Sedona area.    I have had good experiences with two map resources. The first is Cosmic Ray’s Arizona Mountain Bike Trail Guide and his hiking trail guide. Any of the bike shops in town will have it and you can always pick up a copy online.  This is a good resource to have for Tucson, Prescott and Phoenix as well.  

I will post a couple of pictures after we get back.