Rattlesnake Roundup

Ah, Rattlesnake Roundup. Yep, it's every bit as redneck as it sounds. Val and I decided...err...I decided, and Val good-naturedly went along with it...to go to Rattlesnake Roundup in Sweetwater, Texas, for one specific purpose: to try snake meat. Note: that isn't snake meat in the picture, it's alligator on a stick. Didn't I tell you it was redneck as hell? Anyway, in my constant quest to make life an adventure, this was the next thing I could cross off my list of things to do before I die.

Here's how it breaks down. Gator meat is decent, but I think it would be better in the form of an expensive appetizer, much like calamari is normally served. The snake meat was extremely bony, and actually did taste like chicken. Dark meat, to be specific, although it smelled a bit fishy. We roamed around and looked at some of the booths where people were selling various things, including snake heads in formaldehyde and key chains of rattlesnake heads and rattles, as well as (of course) taxidermied snakes.

Obviously, we were surrounded by rednecks. That said, I'm glad we went. It was an interesting experience, we get to tell people that we've eaten rattlesnake and liked it a little, and we had a great time making fun of the rednecks that surrounded us. I recommend that everyone go once. Notice I said ONCE. As interesting as it was trying snake meat, I believe I'll pass next year.