Friday Windy Chilly Nature Communing Wichita Bluff Nature Area

With the outer world temperature in the 50s, after what seems months of being above 100, day after day after day over 100 degrees, as measured by the Fahrenheit method, today, on this third Friday of the 2026 version of October, it was to the Wichita Bluff Nature Area I ventured for some actual, outdoor, nature communing, along with extreme endorphin acquisition, due to the effort it takes to go up and down the hills of the Bluffs.

I had a weather adventure yesterday afternoon, driving to WinCo in a torrential downpour, with that downpour being the most torrential I have experienced in a long time. Even though I had umbrella cover, I managed to get soaked getting from my vehicle to the WinCo entry.

You cannot tell it by the below photo documentation of me being the Shadow of the Wichita Bluff Nature Area, that I was in sweatpants and long sleeves, today, for the first time in a long, long time.

As I was approaching the highest point on the bluffs, a strong gust of wind whipped my hat off me, making for a fun chase and eventual capture, nicely adding to the endorphin acquisition.

A view looking northwest near the summit of the Wichita Bluffs. That section of reddish brown you see near the center of the photo is the Wichita River, currently flowing with a lot more water than has been the recent norm.

I have yet to switch my interior climate control from COOL to HEAT. Last night I did find myself needing to get under the thick cover of blankets. It's been many months since I felt that need.

I think we may be heading into an extreme Winter. I hope we don't get a below zero bout, like what happened a few years ago. I'd prefer not to endure that type adventure again.

Raging Rainstorm Thundering Thursday Walmart Ghost Town Nature Communing

Last night, around 3 in the morning, I was awakened by a bright flash followed by a loud boom, followed by a raging downpour, along with more bright flashes and loud booms.

When the sun arrived to attempt to begin its daily illumination duty, I soon saw that the outer world at my location sort of looked like a lake, on this third Thursday of the 2026 version of October.

And so, with the sky continuing to drip copiously, it was to Walmart I ventured this morning for my daily regular nature communing and endorphin acquisition.

Walmart was more of a morning ghost town, this morning, than the morning norm, due to that dripping sky previously mentioned.

You can see, via the photo documentation, what a ghost town Walmart was this morning.

Several Walmart aisles were totally blocked by big containers containing the leaks dripping from above.

Leaving Walmart, my route back to my abode took me by the Lake Wichita Dam. I was curious, if after years of not enough water, if enough water fell last night to cause water to spill over the dam's spillway.

Nope. No water spilling over the spillway.

Maybe today's continuing rain will be enough to cause that water spilling over the spillway thing to happen.

Back To Sikes Lake For Semi-Stormy Nature Communing With The Ducks

On this second Wednesday of the 2026 version of October, the weather prediction for days has been predicting rain and thunderstorms for today.

So, with that forecast in mind, under an overcast sky, with a strong wind gusting, I made my way to nearby Sikes Lake, once again, for some nature communing and endorphin acquisition. 

I had been seeing the above dock, on the ground, under construction the past couple weeks. Wondering, each time I saw it, what it's function was going to be on a lake which forbids swimming, kayaking, or any form of boating. 

Fishing is allowed though. And the lake is stocked a couple times a year. One frequently sees fisherpersons fishing from various locations around the lake.

Even though clouding blocked the sun, the temperature still managed to get into the low 80s, with the humidity rendering me as bad a sweaty mess as what I suffered at the HOTTEST of summer.

A couple years ago there was an extremely controversial mass extermination of the rather large, varied, Sikes Lake goose population. The mass extermination was met with big post-extermination protests.

I did not mind the geese being gone. Some were quite aggressive. But, I did not like the mass extermination. I thought catch and move would have been much better.

Since the extermination some geese have returned to Sikes Lake. But they are outnumbered by a different bird.

Ducks.

Lots of ducks. I think ducks are cuter than geese. And less aggressive. I like the way they quack and waddle. And the baby ducks, are those known as ducklings, are really cute.

Above you see a flock of resting ducks near the Wichita Falls Museum of Art.

By the time I was back in my motorized means of motion, and started up the engine, raindrops began splattering on the windshield. By the time I made it the short distance back to my abode the rain was almost raining down hard.

Looking out my computer room window, it looks stormy out there.

Warm Sikes Lake Saturday With Ducks

The return of Summer continues, with highs in the 90s, the A/C cooling during the day. 

With the return of Summer currently predicted to last for many coming days, it was back to nearby Sikes Lake I ventured the morning of this second Saturday of the 2026 version of October, for some pleasant nature communing, endorphin acquisition and duck visiting.

The above photo documentation shows a few of the ducks I visited today, lounging under the shade of a tree from which the leaves have yet to fall.

In the photo we are looking southeast, from the west side of Sikes Lake.

You can see, via the mirror-like lake surface, that the air is being dead calm today. I like to have some breeze blowing when the sky has no clouds blocking the sun.

Thursday Warm Sikes Lake Nature Communing

For my daily nature communing and endorphin acquisition, it was back to nearby Sikes Lake on this second Thursday of the 2026 version of October.

As you can see the outer world is dead calm today at my location, with nary a cloud in the clear blue sky.

What you can not see is that Summer has returned after a multi-day cool break, with today's high predicted to hit the mid 90s, as measured by the Fahrenheit method.

Yesterday the A/C was back in cooling mode, but what with it not actually being Summer any longer, at night the air has been naturally chilling enough that the A/C does not feel the need to turn itself on.

Cold water, out of the tap, is back being cold, after being warmer than lukewarm for months. This requires getting some used to, having to mix some hot water in with the cold in order to have oneself a comfortable shower.

In the above photo documentation, you are on the west side of Sikes Lake, looking northeast. You can almost make out the bridge which takes you across a narrow section of the lake, connecting the east side with the west.

Dead Calm Tuesday Walk Around The Sikes Lake Blue Mirror

On this extremely sunny first Tuesday of the 2026 version of October, it was back to nearby Sikes Lake I ventured for some pleasant nature communing, and the resulting endorphin acquisition, along with throngs of other enjoying the dead calm, with air warmed to barely being in the 70s, as measured by the Fahrenheit method.

The photo documentation is the view, looking north, at the Sikes Lake dam spillway, which I have not seen spilling anything significantly for it seems like years. The water you see below the dam's spillway is from a big pipeline drain, draining water, I assume from the lake.

It seems like it has been quite some time since I have seen a day like today, dead calm, no wind, not a cloud in the sky, the lake, blue, looking like a giant mirror.

We got down to the low 60s last night. The A/C cycled on a couple times yesterday. I have yet to feel the need to switch the climate control from COOL to HEAT.

I suspect it will not be long til I feel the chilly need to switch to HEAT.

Sunday Keeping Dry Nature Communing In Walmart

For a few months, of late, Walmart has been one of my air-conditioned go-to places for my daily nature communing and endorphin acquisition, when the outer world is overheated.

Today, on this first Sunday of the 2026 version of October, Walmart was my go-to place for nature communing, not due to HEAT, but due to rain. Lots of the wet stuff dripping down from a totally overcast sky.

Due to it being Sunday morning, and due to Wichita Falls being in Texas, most people are in church, thus rendering Walmart a sort of ghost town, which you see photo documented above. A couple humans are visible way down the aisle.

So, the nature communing was a bit lacking today. But, I sure did enjoy being in regular pants, along with a long-sleeved sweatshirt. 

Last night I found the need to get undercover soon after I was in bed mode. I think it has been two days since the A/C has activated. But, I have yet to feel the need to switch the interior climate control from "COOL" to "HEAT".  I suspect it won't be too many more days til I feel compelled to switch to "HEAT" mode.

Chilly Drippy Saturday Walk Around Sikes Lake Reflecting Pool

On this cloudy, rainy, first Saturday of the 2026 version of October, it was to nearby Sikes Lake I ventured for some semi-chilly, drippy nature communing and endorphin acquisition.

As you can see, Sikes Lake is no longer in dried up drought mode. Sikes Lake is now in reflecting pool mode.

In the above photo documentation, we are looking south from the middle of the pedestrian bridge which connects the trail from the east side of the lake, to the west side.

The temperature was in the mid 60s when I did my nature communing. Just a few days ago it was more than 40 degrees hotter.

It was chilly enough, yesterday, that for the first time in months, I wore full-sized, complete leg-covering blue jeans to Walmart.

I suspect tonight I will find myself needing to get undercover whilst in bedtime sleep mode. I know those covers are somewhere in the walk-in closet where I keep such things. It ought not be too hard to find.

Flooded Walmart Nature Communing With Pig Heads & Birds

Yesterday a flooding level of rain had been predicted to arrive during daylight hours.

That did not happen.

But, overnight, a copious amount of water arrived, leaving a mini-lake for me to get around to get to my motorized means of motion, to drive to Walmart, for my nature communing, endorphin acquisition and milk purchase, on this first day of the 2026 version of October.

A couple days ago I was surprised to see the frozen foods section at Walmart included a lot of frozen pig heads for sale at 97 cents a pound.

Like something out of the Beverly Hillbillies.

What does one do with a pig head? 

Today I took a photo of the frozen pig heads. It did not look to me like there were any fewer pig heads than the first time I saw them.

Moments after I took the photo of the pig heads I was startled by something that was like being in an Alfred Hitchcock movie.

The Birds.

Multiple blackbirds were having themselves a mighty fine time startling Walmart shoppers.

It was not easy to get a good photo of the Birds. The two you see here, above and below, are the best I got. Above you see a pair at floor level, prior to taking off and flying toward the lady by the cart you see on the right of the photo. She did not find it amusing. Others watching did find it amusing.

Above is a blurry look at one of the Birds in flight mode.

I counted 11 Birds. I doubt I saw all of them. The Birds seemed to favor the food section of Walmart. I did not see any elsewhere in the store.

How did these Birds get into Walmart? And why would they want to be in Walmart? And how is Walmart going to get them out of the store?

Tuesday Nature Communing At Rain Filled Sikes Lake

It was to nearby Sikes Lake I ventured this morning of the final Tuesday of the 2026 version of September, for some salubrious nature communing and its resulting endorphin acquisition. 

I was a little surprised to see, upon seeing Sikes Lake, that yesterday's drenching downpour was of sufficient volume to cover, with water, the part of Sikes Lake which has been a totally dry lakebed for many months.

More rain is expected later today, with hour of rain and thunderstorms and flash floods predicted for tomorrow and several following days.

I think the North Texas drought may be over. For now.