Avoiding Monday Heat Stroke Via Walmart Air-Conditioning

Due to the extreme current heat scorching us in North Texas the National Weather Service advised that it would be wise to limit one's outdoor exposure on this final Monday of the 2026 version of July.

So, it was to Walmart I ventured for my daily salubrious endorphin acquisition and nature communing.

Which would make the above photo documentation me aiming my phone camera at one of the Walmart security monitor screens.

You would not know it by the photo documentation, but it is actually quite bright inside Walmart. I do not know why my photo documentation seems to indicate otherwise.

Currently we are scheduled to have one HOT Day after another for the next 10 days, give or take a day or two. I think tomorrow I might opt for a different indoor nature communing location. Target. That store is not quite as big as Walmart, it is about the same distance from my abode, maybe closer, than Walmart.

The selection of wildlife one gets to see at Target is never as entertaining as that which I see at my nearby Walmart.

HOT 112 Degree Sunday Walmart Experience

A few minutes before 5 this last Sunday afternoon of the 2026 version of July, I opted to exit my air-conditioned comfort to walk the short distance to my air-conditioned motorized means of motion to drive myself to Walmart to enjoy some more air-conditioned comfort whilst observing the interesting wildlife.

The above photo documentation is me taking a photo of my vehicle's rear-view mirror, which also serves to indicate direction and the temperature.

As you can almost clearly see, we are heading South and the temperature is 112 degrees, as measured by the Fahrenheit method.

Walmart's air-conditioner seemed to be having a little trouble keeping up with its cooling duties. Some must have known this would be the case today, as I have never seen so many scantily clad shoppers in Walmart on any previous visit.

Tomorrow is currently scheduled to be hotter than today.

A Relatively Chilly Thursday Sunflower Hike Around Sikes Lake

The last couple 100 degree plus days my nature communing has taken place in the air-conditioned comfort of Walmart.

Today, the 4th Thursday of the 2026 version of July, with the temperature in the relatively chilly 80s, it was to Sikes Lake I ventured for some salubrious outdoor nature communing and that activity's endorphin acquisition. 

In the photo documentation you are looking northwest from the eastern shore of Sikes Lake, looking through what I think is a patch of sunflowers.

According to the current forecast we will be having a lot of the coming days getting heated to over 100 degrees.

I no longer have cold tapwater. I have lukewarm tapwater. Actually, I think it feels warmer than lukewarm.

The swimming pool is too warm to make for a cooling dip. I half fill my bathtub with that lukewarm tapwater, which eventually cools to the air-conditioned temperature of 78, which makes for a cooling dip in the tub, which I did when I got back from Sikes Lake.

I am looking forward to Winter...

Escaping Dangerous 107 DegreeHeat Nature Communing In Walmart

The HOTTEST day of the year, so far, is currently predicted to happen today, going to 107 degrees as measured by the Fahrenheit method of measuring the temperature.

We are being advised to minimize outdoor activity today. So, no Sikes Lake, no Lake Wichita Dam, no Mount Wichita, no Wichita Bluffs Nature Area, no Lucy Park.

It is to Walmart I shall venture this morning for my nature communing and endorphin acquisition.

The wildlife at Walmart is actually more varied and interesting than any wild thing I see at any of my outdoor venues.

Hot Humid Sunny Sunday Lucy Park Nature Communing

On this third Sunday of the 2026 version of July, it was back to Lucy Park I ventured for some much-needed endorphin acquisition  acquired by doing some nature communing whilst high speed walking.

I avoided the Lucy Park Backwoods Jungle today assuming it had been rendered muddy by the recent rain. The paved trails in Lucy Park do not get muddy from rain.

Due to that recent rain, humidity is high. By the time I was back in an air-conditioned space I was as wet as I would have been had I been walking in a downpour rainstorm.

Sikes Lake Fishing With Grandpa

With the temperature in the 70s, heading to a relatively chilly predicted high of 90, on this second Tuesday of the 2026 version of July, it was to nearby Sikes Lake I ventured for some much-needed nature communing and its resulting endorphin dose.

The bucolic scene you see in the above photo documentation is from the bridge at the west end of Sikes Lake, looking at a grandpa fishing with his grandkids.

You cannot see it in the photo documentation, but the grandpa is holding up a fish he'd just caught, whilst a lady to his right took photos at the same time I was.

Hard Hitting Jouralism About Golden & Bald Eagles In Wichita Falls Times News Record

What you are seeing above is a screencap of the front page of today's Wichita Falls Times Record News.

The pitiful publication which is this town's local newspaper of record. 

When I first found myself living in Wichita Falls I subscribed to the online version of the local newspaper. I did not subscribe for more than a year or two, as I gradually realized there was very little news of any interest in this newspaper.

Today's front page is a good example of how lame this newspaper is. The top story, "Why golden eagles are different from bald eagles."

Eventually I learned an online publication called "Texoma's Homepage" was an actual good source of local info.

For instance, this past 4th of July I saw nothing in the Wichita Falls Times Record News about the annual parade in downtown Wichita Falls. I found that info, easily, on Texoma's Homepage. Including a second article the day after the parade, about the parade.

When I still subscribed to the local newspaper of record I soon began to think this newspaper had no actual reporters working at reporting local information of interest.

I've lost track of how many times I have opined if this town had a real newspaper we'd be reading an article about this, that, or the other thing.

For instance, starting on this year's Flag Day, I saw an incredible number of flags. Hundreds of flags. Even more on the 4th of July weekend. Where did all these flags come from? Who is distributing all these flags? Where are all these flags being stored when they are not on display?

I asked people in other towns if they've been seeing a similar huge increase in the number of flags. No, they have not.

So, what caused this to happen in Wichita Falls? That is the type question you'd find answered in a real newspaper reporting real news, and not revelations about the difference between a golden eagle and a bald eagle...

Balmy Lucy Park Sunday Backwoods Jungle With No Snakes

 On this balmy second Sunday of July, it was back to Lucy Park I ventured for some salubrious nature communing, completed before the temperature soared over 100 and the predicted thunderstorms arrived.

I hiked the Lucy Park Backwoods Jungle today. That is one of my favorite hiking venues. That is the Wichita River you see photo documented, meandering its way through the Lucy Park Backwoods Jungle.

The Lucy Park Backwoods Jungle is the location where I saw the biggest snake I have ever seen, outside of a zoo.

I think of that huge snake every time I walk by this location you see photo documented. 

It has been many years since I saw that over-sized snake. I don't think I have seen a snake of any size since I saw that really big one. 

Did that deep freeze below zero a few winters ago kill off the snake population?

HOT July Saturday Nature Communing Around Sikes Lake

Another HOT July day at my north Texas location.

Before it got too HOT today, I opted to do my daily nature communing at nearby Sikes Lake.

Which would make the above photo documentation the view looking northwest from the rocky eastern shore of Sikes Lake.

A steady wind was blowing whilst I was nature communing. But not at the air-conditioning level I enjoyed yesterday whilst nature communing at Lake Wichita.

Thunderstorms are on the weather menu this afternoon.

With the current clear blue sky, I don't see that likely happening. Weather predicting at my location does not have a good record of accurately predicting.

So far the second Saturday of the 2026 version of July is being relatively pleasant.

Breezy Friday Naturally Air-Conditioned Lake Wichita Dam Walking

With the temperature below 100 degrees, as measured by the Fahrenheit method, with a strong wind blowing, it was to Lake Wichita Dam I ventured this second Friday of the 2026 version of July for some salubrious nature communing whilst enjoying natural air conditioning.

Via the photo documentation, you can see the wind was making for some good wave action. This made for wobbly walking on the walkway and dock.

I don't recollect ever seeing anyone kayaking, canoeing or boating by any means on Lake Wichita. At the part of the lake by Mount Wichita there is a boat launch for kayaks and canoes.

I have also never seen anyone swimming in Lake Wichita. There are no signs advising against doing so. I suppose the lack of the type beach one sees on a lake in which people swim, may explain the lack of swimming. 

That and the murky nature of the water does not look too appealing...