Centipede: Black, Yellow & Red, 10 Inches Long

I was cleaning out dead branches & cutting down little cedars under a madrone tree on the hill last weekend, happily working away in my shorts & sandals, when out of the corner of my eye I caught this giant centipede running for the tree. Fortunately it didn't want to meet me any more than I wanted to meet it!

The upper picture is its back end. Its head is bright red (hidden from us here) and its body is black; the legs are yellow. They are about 10 inches (25 cm) long.

The picture at right is it cowering under the leaves at the base of the tree. If it can't see me, I don't exist—right? But I still need to get some leather work boots!