Final September Day Lucy Park Fading Fall Jungle Walk

With the outer world temperature in the mid-80s, an hour before noon, on this final day of the 2024 version of September, it was to Lucy Park I ventured, after a quick library visit, acquiring new reading material.

As you can see, via today's photo documentation of the Lucy Park suspension bridge across the Wichita River, the green foliage is slightly beginning its Fall fade.

The jungle not quite as vibrantly green, with a hint of yellow creeping in.

Soon to turn orange, then brown, before finally falling to the ground, leaving a jungle of bare trees.

The perfect temperature had a lot of people naturing communing, including an elderly couple, even older than me, both with a leashed dog. Cutest little dogs I have seen in a long time.

It has been over 16 years since I have walked a dog. Actually, three dogs. Blue, Max and Pal, in Tacoma.

All three long ago migrated to Doggie Heaven...

Last September Sunday Remembering Dinosaur Valley State Park In Texas Hill Country

Microsoft OneDrive Memory from this Day, which I remember.

But, I do not remember if this particular day was the final Sunday of September in a year earlier this century.

The location is Dinosaur Valley State Park.

Dinosaur Valley State Park has the best mountain bike trails I have rolled my wheels on in Texas. 

Actually, Dinosaur Valley State Park has some of the best mountain bike trails I have rolled my wheels on anywhere, as much fun as the famous mountain bike trails in the Moab zone of Utah.

In the photo I am looking at you via my long gone Casio digital camera with its reverse lens option enabling making what are now known as selfies.

Behind me, that is Big Ed. We are standing in the dried up bed of the Paluxy River.

One sees many dinosaur footprints in the dried up riverbed.

The Microsoft OneDrive Memories included a couple photos I took of the dinosaur tracks in the Paluxy River bed, one of which is what you see above.

I hiked and biked in Dinosaur Valley State Park many times when I lived a lot closer than I do now. 

One memorable biking time in Dinosaur Valley happened on a Christmas day, early this century. I think the year was 2002. The park was empty. No ranger was bothering monitoring the entry. I had an annual pass, but there was no one to show it to.

I biked for several hours, and then realized it was getting dark. That and I realized I was lost. I got a bit panicky as less and less light illuminated the way. Finally, I came to a trail juncture which I recognized and was then able to make my way back to my vehicle. 

I think I need to get a new mountain bike. And take it to Dinosaur Valley State Park...

Final September Saturday Sikes Lake Nature Communing

With the temperature in the low 80s, with a strong wind breezing, it was to Sikes Lake I ventured on this final September Saturday to commune with nature under a bright blue sky.

In the photo documentation you are looking west from the middle of the bridge at the west end of the lake, overlooking the currently blue Blue Lagoon of Sikes Lake.

There were some fellow nature communers today, but I would have thought the number of nature communers would have been larger, what with the perfect weather conditions.

September flew by super fast. Time seems to be accelerating. Is this a function of getting older? I don't like it. October will come and go just as fast. By then we will be in that time of year known as the Holiday Season.

Not my favorite time of the year.

Yesterday I saw Christmas stuff has already been set up in Walmart.

The older I get the Grinchier I get...

Following Skagit Valley's Linda Lou's Moo Goo Gai Pan Directions

That is a wok you see here, with a big batch of Moo Goo Gai Pan, freshly stir-fried for the final Friday of September lunch.

A couple days ago I was talking to the Skagit Valley's renowned culinary savant, known as Linda Lou, when Linda Lou mentioned that she had made Moo Goo Gai Pan for lunch that day.

Is that easy to make, asked I? Yes, super simple said Linda Lou, adding that she would send me the recipe.

And, so she did.

I'm not great with complicated recipes requiring multiple stages, but I managed to do so with the Moo Goo Gai Pan.

Moo Goo Gai Pan first entered my vocabulary way back in the 1970s, via The Bob Newhart Show. Moo Goo Gai Pan was Bob's frequent Chinese food home delivery order. I think it was a bit of a running joke type thing.

I remember, way back then, thinking I never see Moo Goo Gai Pan on a Chinese restaurant menu. And still never have. Or, if I have, I have forgotten seeing such.

But now I have managed to wok and eat Moo Goo Gai Pan, and now I understand why Bob liked it so much...

Visiting Tacoma & 15 Other Astonishing American Places

Yesterday I came upon a goofy gallery on the EDGE browser's Microsoft News page titled "16 Astonishing Places in the U.S. You've Never Heard Of".

# 15 was Tacoma, Washington. I think a lot of people have heard of this particular place. The description of what made Tacoma astonishing was a bit odd...

Tacoma, Washington, is a place that’s packed with unique experiences that are often overlooked. At the Point Defiance Zoo & Aquarium, you can see all different sorts of animals and marine life.

At the Museum of Glass, watch or even try glassblowing. Or, why not gaze at beautiful antique cars at the LeMay Car Museum? If you are a sports lover, 24 hours of bowling and indoor mini-golfing at Tower Lanes might be for you.

I have been to Tacoma many times and have never heard of the LeMay Car Museum. And, what with all there is to do in Tacoma, mention is made of a bowling alley with mini-golf?

Bizarre.

Point Defiance Zoo & Aquarium is mentioned, but not the fact that those two locations are just one part of one of the largest urban parks in the world, known as Point Defiance. 

Mention is not made of the Tacoma waterfront, with its many restaurants, or the Thea Foss Waterway, another attraction linked to the Tacoma museums, including the Chihuly Museum of Glass. No mention is made of Point Ruston, another waterfront attraction.

I have been to several of these "astonishing" places, and whilst finding some to be of interest, I sure do not recollect being astonished by any of them.

I've been to San Luis Obispo, Badlands National Park, North Park, Colorado, Flagstaff, Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument in Utah and White Sands National Park.

I liked Badlands and White Sands, but neither was at all astonishing. 

Flagstaff? Last time I was in that Arizona town was in July of 2017. Stuck there for 7 hours whilst my vehicle got a new fuel pump installed. Now, the Grand Canyon, which is mighty close to Flagstaff, now that is one super astonishing place on the planet.

All I remember of San Luis Obispo is getting burgers at an Arctic Circle. That and the town's hilly location on the Pacific coast. There may be remnants of mission architecture, the likes of which one sees all over Southern California, none of which seems astonishing to me, though I do remember being impressed by San Juan Capistrano.

Anyway, what I got out of this is I am due for a visit to Tacoma, a truly astonishing town...

Remembering Mom & Dad Herding Fort Worth Stockyard Longhorns With Sister Nancy In A Dress

Microsoft OneDrive Memories from this Day that are a tad special.

The first photo I know for sure was taken in October of 2001. Mom and dad's first visit to Texas to see their eldest son.

Mom and dad's second visit to Texas took place in January of 2009, which is how I know the above is from the first visit, due to January being cold, whilst in October it can still be shirtsleeve weather in Texas.

Both of mom and dad's visits to Texas included visiting the Fort Worth Stockyards, which is where we are in the above photo, watching the Fort Worth herd of longhorns pass by. An event which takes place twice a day.

That is mom, on the right, watching dad try to take photos of the herd with his Olympus digital camera. During their visit mom repeatedly instructed dad to take a photo. I doubt those photos ever made their way off the camera.

Both mom and dad visits to the Fort Worth Stockyards also involved going to Riscky's BBQ for All You Can Eat BBQed Ribs.

That is another way I know this photo is from 2001. We were sitting outside at Riscky's. In 2009 we were inside, because it was cold.

I would link to my Eyes on Texas website webpage of the Fort Worth Stockyards, which included photos of mom and dad's visit, but, I have decided to terminate my Eyes on Texas website, after letting it live for a couple decades. I no longer update that website. Thus it has become dated. I no longer enjoy fiddling with HTML code. So, bye bye Eyes on Texas.

I have no clue if the above photo was taken on a day in September, or October. I can see the photo has stamped on it "JAN 64". But, that likely is when the photo was developed, not when it was taken. Photo taking was quite primitive, prior to the invention of the digital method of photo taking.

I do not recognize the car behind us. I do know the location is the front yard of 1027 Washington Avenue, in Burlington, Washington.

On the left that would be me, with my little brother, Jake, next to me, then our then extremely little sister, Jackie, holding on to Jake, with big sister, Nancy, in one of the rare instances of her being photo documented in a dress.

This photo would have been taken about six years before the arrival of our final baby sister, Michele....

Third Day Of Fall Hiking Wichita Bluffs

The night of the third day of Fall, saw the temperature at my north Texas location plummet to a chilly 59 degrees. 

59 degrees was not enough of a chill to return cold tap water to being cold, hence a warm-cold shower this morning.

What with those 59 overnight degrees I figured it would still be a bit chilly by the time I made it to the Wichita Bluffs Nature Area.

I figured wrong. The temperature was one degree shy of 80 when I did my bluff hiking. 79 degrees was still a pleasant respite from being fried at over 100 degrees.

The photo documentation above was taken at the high point on the Bluffs. I got off the paved trail to get close to the purple stick looking plants you see above.

A pointy plant managed to poke me whilst I was squatting down in photo taking position. That pointy plant was quite a stinger, causing a loud 'ouch' utterance.

I think I am going to enjoy amping up the endorphin acquisitioning, enabled by the end of the overheating time of year...

Remembering Having Fun Getting Lost & Snake Scared At The Breaks @ Bar H Mountain Bike Ranch

It was only after looking at multiple photos today in the Microsoft OneDrive Memories of this Day that I figured out where it was I was mountain biking on my now long gone Schwinn Moab mountain bike.

The Breaks @ Bar H Mountain Bike Ranch.

North of St. Jo, Texas, near the Red River and the border with Oklahoma.

It was when I saw the trail signs in some of the photos that I remembered where those trails were located.

Hole in the Tree, Holler, Rustler's Loop & Copperhead, among many more.

I recollect these mountain bike trails as being fun, difficult at times, and a bit scary at times.

That and I got lost more than once.

One of the photos was of a small pond in which dozens of snakes slithered. I assumed water moccasins.

The photo did not manage to show the snakes.

These photos were all taken with my now long-gone antique Casio digital camera with its unique, at the time, feature, where you could reverse the lens and take what is now known as a selfie.

I was living in the DFW zone when I drove all the way north to The Breaks @ Bar H Mountain Ranch a couple times. I am currently living much closer.

Til today it had not crossed my mind to return to this location, even if it is closer...

First Fall Day Warm Lucy Park Jungle Walk

Yesterday, the final day of Summer, the temperature once again went over 100 degrees. Likely for the last time in the year 2024.

Today, the first day of Autumn, also known as Fall, the temperature was supposed to be way cooler than 100 degrees, as in the high 70s, low 80s.

So, with those promised possible chilly temperatures I thought the first day of Fall would be a nice time to stroll through the backwoods of the Lucy Park Jungle.

The jungle stroll did turn out to be nice, but not nearly as chilly as I had hoped. Instead, the air was heated well into the 80s, with little breeze blowing, and with the humidity high.

However, I am choosing to believe that the days to follow are going to be as chilly as forecasted.

I need to amp up my aerobic activity to melt off all the weight I have managed to gain whilst slothily avoiding outdoor aerobic stimulation at the level to which I am usually stimulated, which usually maintains my weight at a relatively skinny level.

I will soon need to be able to comfortably fit into long pants. I think I currently have four pair of pants which can comfortable be installed...

Remember Three Siblings On A Mount Vernon Couch

That which you see here showed up today in my email via Microsoft's OneDrive Memories of this Day.

I know who is in the photo. And where the photo was taken. But I have no memory of the photo being taken, or when it was taken.

Sitting happily on the couch, in the middle, between me on the right, and my little brother, Jake, on the left, is our eldest sister, Nancy, back when she was a cute little thing.

I think I am 4 or 5 in the photo, which would make my little brother, 3 or 4 and our sister in the 1 and 2 range.

This photo was likely taken in Mount Vernon, in a house on the south side of what is now College Way, with Skagit Valley College to be built on the north side of the street. If I remember right, college construction began whilst we still lived at that location. 

Nancy was born in Mount Vernon. Brother Jake and I were born in Oregon, in a town called Eugene.

And that concludes today's trip down faulty memory lane...

Enjoying Hot Wind & Rogue Waves On Lake Wichita

After a superfast oil replacement at Kyle's Quick Change on Old Jacksboro Highway, I headed west to Lake Wichita for some super HOT windy walking at the Lake Wichita dam location.

The strong wind made today's 100 degree HOT heat almost easy to tolerate.

I do not recollect being at this location previously with so much strong gusting happening.

In the photo documentation, with Mount Wichita looming above the lake in the distance, we are standing on Lake Wichita's floating dock, accessed by a metal bridge.

I was enjoying the wave action, gently rocking the dock.

And then suddenly, what must have been what amounted to a rogue wave, hit the dock, spewing spray, and rocking the dock way too rambunctiously. I almost toppled over against the railing.

Lake Wichita in its current condition looks inviting to swim in. I have never seen anyone swimming in this lake. There are no signs telling people not to swim in the lake. Maybe the lake is too shallow, with the lake bottom too muddy to make getting wet in Lake Wichita something someone might want to do.

Now that you've got me thinking about it, I do remember seeing people getting wet in Lake Wichita at the Mount Wichita location on the lake. Not swimming, but wading out into the lake.

I do not think one would want to be wading barefoot in this lake, what with the lake bottom contents being a total mystery...

Way Too HOT Final Days Of Summer In Wichita Falls

With only a couple days of Summer remaining, I thought we were done with the temperature heating up to 100 degrees, or higher.

But, I thought wrong, as evidenced by the forecast for Wichita Falls for today, as in Thursday, and tomorrow, as in Friday, getting heated to 100 and above.

It is not even yet past 9 in the morning and the A/C is already doing its cooling job...

Microsoft OneDrive Remembering Redheaded Crankypants

Some days I find myself not liking what I see when I open an email from Microsoft with today's supposed Memories from this Day.

Such was the case today.

I have no clue as to the day this photo was taken. I do know the photo was taken back near the beginning of the current century.

Taken in the kitchen in the house which was my first Texas abode, on what was then known as Hicks Road, now known as Bonds Ranch Road.

The Redhead, looking like she is threatening to lick me, was instrumental in causing me to move to Texas, late in the previous century.

I do not know why I was looking happy in this photo. It must be an illusion.

By the time this photo was taken, the name I used most regularly, when referring to the Redhead, was Crankypants. 

I remember once someone in Tacoma warning me that my particular type personality would not get along well with Puerto Ricans and Redheads. 

Balderdash thought I. What a silly suggestion.

For years I got along perfectly fine with the entity I called Miss Puerto Rico. 

I have known only one Redhead with whom I eventually did not get along well with...

DO NOT ENTER Drought Stricken Sikes Lake

As the days of Summer dwindle down to a precious few, it was back to Sikes Lake I ventured on this third Tuesday of September. Sikes Lake has done a lot of evaporating since last I was at this location.

I do not know what the danger is which warrants CAUTION DO NOT ENTER signs. Maybe the exposed lake bottom has a quicksand potential.

The north end of Sikes Lake is in severe drought. The south end of Sikes Lake is not yet in severe drought mode, as photo evidenced below.

In this view we are standing on the bridge at the west end of Sikes Lake, looking east. The lake has turned shallow at this location, but not yet to the muddy bottom exposing level of shallow.

I saw birds standing out in the water, indicating how shallow the water is.

What with Sikes Lake not being very deep I do not quite see the need for NO SWIMMING, BOATING OR KAYAKING signs. I don't think the lake is deep enough to float a boat. Or swim in.

We had what turned out to be a brief respite from excessive HEAT.

Summer is currently ending with day after day of the temperature nearing or going over 100 degrees. 

Remembering My Habitat In The Hamlet Of Haslet

A Microsoft OneDrive Memory from this Day in this morning's email that I remember, well, the location, not the day the photo was taken, that I do not remember.

The location, the little hamlet of Haslet, a suburb at the far north end of Fort Worth. 

This house in Haslet was my first Texas abode. This abode eventually became my least favorite abode I have ever aboded in. 

I did like the swimming pool, though.

Saturday Looking For Mount Rushmore But Ending Up In Mexico & Other Places

This second Saturday morning of September I found myself looking through folders of photos, looking for photos from a roadtrip taken way back in, I think, 1992, give or take a year. 

I was hoping to find photos of Glacier National Park, that park's Going to the Sun Highway, Devil's Tower in Wyoming, and the Black Hills in South Dakota, with Deadwood and Mount Rushmore. Also Wall Drugstore, in South Dakota.

But, though I know those photos are somewhere on this computer, I could not find them. If I had it to do over I would be much more organized with how I save files.

I did find several photos of folders from another trip, later in the 1990s. Photos of the second time I did a Lake Powell houseboat float, along with mountain biking in Moab, including the Slickrock Trail, which is what you see above. Me on the left, on my now long gone Schwinn Moab mountain bike, Big Ed on the right, on another long gone mountain bike. I think Wanda took the photo.

That roadtrip, back in the late 1990s, was a long one, in addition to four days of houseboating, several days in Moab, there was Monument Valley, Mexican Hat. Durango and Silverton in Colorado. Then on to New Mexico and Taos, then south New Mexico to Alamogordo, then White Sands National Monument, which I think is a National Park now, then west to Tombstone and Yuma in Arizona, crossing over into Mexico, then north to Las Vegas, before beelining it back to Washington.

I have not been on a roadtrip since October of 2019. This has been my longest roadtrip drought. I feel this situation needs to be alleviated...

Riding With Mr. Spiffy Via WAYMO All Over The Phoenix Area

From July of 2017 til July of 2019 I found myself in Arizona multiple times. Twice via driving, multiple times via flying.

During each of those Arizona visits, whilst driving around in the Phoenix metro area, I would see WAYMO self-driving test cars on the road, being tested. 

When a WAYMO car would pull up next to me at a stoplight I could see there was no driver, but there was someone in the passenger seat.

This seemed a tad unsettling to me. 

And now, a couple days ago, on Facebook, via the DFW entity known as Dapper John, aka Mr. Spiffy, I learned WAYMO is now active. Mr. Spiffy used WAYMO to transport himself all around the Phoenix area, including the airport.

I have driven into the Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport multiple times. Doing so is a tad stressful, particularly at rush hour.

I remember a particularly stressful drive to the Phoenix airport, with mom in the passenger seat, next to me, and Linda Lou in the backseat, being delivered to the airport. I nearly had a wreck moving over a couple lanes to get to the airport exit.

Mr. Spiffy seemed quite pleased with how well WAYMO worked, basically a driver-less UBER.

And now, this morning, I read WAYMO is coming to Austin. 

Soon, I am sure WAYMO will be here in Wichita Falls...

Picking Wild Mountain Volcano Blueberries With A Pain In My Neck

Microsoft OneDrive Memories from this Day that I do remember, and that actually may have happened in September.

A September way back in the previous century. The year 1997 or 1998.

The location is Schriebers Meadow in the Mount Baker National Recreation Area. Schriebers Meadow is the location of the most popular trailhead taking hikers eventually up the slopes of Mount Baker, along with many scenic side trails.

Schriebers Meadow is also the location of a vast field of wild mountain blueberries, which is what we are this location to do. Pick blueberries.

The photo at the top, and the photo below, was taken with my antique Casio digital camera, with its unique, at the time, ability to reverse the lens, enabling the taking of what are now known as selfies. 

In the selfie at the top, that woman on my shoulder, being a pain in my neck, is picking blueberries. Eventually that woman would continue being a pain in my neck, all the way to Texas.

 A view of Mount Baker from Schriebers Meadow.

It was about a 40-mile drive from my Mount Vernon abode to the Schriebers Meadow location.

I do not know what motivated me to initiate a blueberry picking expedition to Schriebers Meadow. I had more blueberries than I was ever able to consume due to blueberry bushes I planted on my rooftop deck.

It seems so long ago, now, that I lived so close to a volcano, and a scenic wonderland.

Mountains to the east, saltwater beaches to the west. Actually, mountains were visible east, west, south and north. But, the mountains, that were the nearest, as in the Cascade Mountains, were thus the most accessible from my home base location.

Sometimes I wonder if I will ever see a mountain, again, before my time on the planet is terminated...

A Memorable Return To Taos New Mexico With Green Salsa

Microsoft OneDrive Memories of this Day which I remember fondly. But, the month was October, not September. I think the year was 1997. Maybe 1998.

What I do remember is this was the last long roadtrip I have tripped on. And boated on.

Houseboating on Lake Powell, followed by taking the Moki Dugway to Mexican Hat and Monument Valley. Then Moab for some mountain biking and hiking. Then Durango and Silverton before making it to Taos, New Mexico. After Taos it was south to Alamogordo. Then west to Bisbee and Tombstone, Arizona. Ending up that day in Yuma, going to Algodones, Mexico the following day. Then north to Las Vegas, staying in Luxor. From Vegas it was north, with a night in Tonopah, or was it Hawthorne? Then a couple days in Reno, before the final leg back to Washington.

I liked everything about Taos. The town square at night seemed like Disneyland at night, to me. Outdoor eating venues, beautiful lighting, lots of people, music.

And then there was bike riding all over Taos, including to the north end of town, to the Taos Pueblo. The Taos Pueblo smelled so good. I think the predominant fragrance was sage. And Indian Fry Bread.

Just about the best Mexican food I have ever enjoyed was at a Taos restaurant called Fred's. Odd name for a Mexican restaurant. The New Mexican version of Mexican food is different than the American Mexican food norm. Or Tex-Mex. There is always green salsa at a New Mexican Mexican restaurant.

And Hatch Chiles always factor into New Mexican Mexican food.

Taos is one of the locations I have enjoyed which I would like to return to. Perhaps I will do that one day soon...

Monday Morning Wichita Bluff Nature Area Nature Communing

With the temperature in the 70s, and the humidity low, with a slight breezing blowing, it was back to the Wichita Bluff Nature Area I ventured on this second Monday of September for some salubrious hilly hiking and nature communing.

In the photo documentation you are at the highest point on the bluffs, looking towards the northwest, with two swinging benches available for your sitting needs.

I had no need to sit, and so continued on.

The temperature being way below 100 degrees, after so many weeks of sweltering, seems way more noticeable than previous times when the cooler time of the year arrives.

Last night the A/C had no reason to turn itself on. The ceiling fan above my bed was not spinning.

By about 3 in the morning, it was chilly enough that I contemplated getting off the bed and finding a blanket. But, I did not do so, but will do so before bedtime arrives tonight...

Cool Sunday Sikes Lake Walking With Herons

On this second September Sunday it was to Sikes Lake I joined the throngs walking around the lake, enjoying the almost chilly, well, way below 100 degree, temperature.

A breeze blowing and low humidity, along with the temperature being in the low 70s made for the outer world at my location being about the best it ever gets.

In the photo documentation you are looking west, from the middle of the bridge at the west end of the lake, across the greenish-brown Sikes Lake lagoon.

A blue heron, at least that is what I think it was, was in the water at the right side of the photo. I can not make out the bird in the photo. Maybe it flew away whilst I was getting my phone out of its pocket.

Methinks I am going to be greatly enjoying the outer world the next couple months, after making it through the current way too sizzling summer...

September Saturday Lucy Park Jungle Hike With Hoverboards

It was back to Lucy Park I ventured on this first Saturday of September for some pleasantly temperatured nature communing via hiking the Lucy Park backwoods jungle.

It is two weeks, plus one day, til Fall falls upon us. When Fall falls it always seems that the holiday season quickly arrives.

I am not much of a fan of the holiday season.

Today Lucy Park was busy. Lots of disc golfers, roller bladers, walkers, bikers, baby carriage pushers, dog walkers, picnickers.

And a little boy motoring along on a small hover board, down on his haunches to do so, creating an unusual visual. I did not take a photo of the little boy hoverboarding, due to the fact that some parents do not take kindly to such...

Remembering Mom & Dad At Ocean Shores With Sister Michele Rogue Waving

Arriving in my email, a Microsoft OneDrive Memory from this Day that I do remember.

Except it was a day in August, not September.

The year was 2001.

I'd driven solo from Texas back to Washington to be a surprise arrival at my mom and dad's 50th Wedding Anniversary Party, which was to take place on August 11, because that day was a convenient Saturday, whilst their actual anniversary date of August 6 was an inconvenient Monday.

August 11 also happens to be my birthday. When I went to my mom and dad's 40th Anniversary Party, on Samish Island, ten years prior, that also was on an August 11 Saturday.

On the August 11, 2001 instance, after my surprise arrival, a quick happy birthday card was fashioned. I think I still have that in a box somewhere in my abode.

At the point in time of that August 2001 visit to Washington, mom and dad were still spending the warm time of the year in a cabin at Lake Cushman, on the Olympic Peninsula, before spending the cold time of the year in Arizona.

So, at some point in time after the anniversary party I drove out to Lake Cushman, and then rode with mom and dad to Ocean Shores, on the Pacific Coast, where sister Jackie, and others were staying in a beachfront hotel.

Ocean Shores has always been one of my favorite Washington locations.

In that photo at the top we'd driven to the end of the Ocean Shores road which leads to the entry to Grays Harbor. This is a great whale viewing location, along with seeing some big waves. That would be mom and dad looking at you in the above photo.

And, in the second above photo, that is sister Jackie, and my all-time favorite brother-in-law, Jack, sitting on one of the rocks which serve as a barrier to incoming waves at the entry to Grays Harbor.

Back to that photo of mom and dad, at the top.

Years prior I had one of my most memorable experiences ever at this location.

It was a Sunday. I'd driven over to the coast, from Ellensburg, for the weekend. I think it may have been the Easter weekend. David, Theo & Ruby's mama Michele was about 4 years old. Maybe 5.

Big Ed, me and little Michele parked at the above Ocean Shores location, and walked out onto the beach, joining dozens of others, many in their having been to church clothes.

The waves were being big. It is a fun thing on the Pacific Coast to be at the edge of the ocean, with the waves crashing in and out. 

And then something happened I had heard of but had never experienced. Suddenly it was obvious an incoming wave was much bigger than those previously crashing.

A rogue wave.

We started running. Eventually I picked up Michele so we could run faster. I got us up on a big chunk of driftwood, thinking the wave would not get that high.

I was wrong. We were washed off the driftwood. 

But, soon the force of the wave abated. We were soaking wet. And I had some explaining to do when we returned to my mother's location.

I have asked Michele previously what she remembers of this. She has absolutely zero recollection. For me, it is as vivid as if it happened yesterday...

David, Theo & Ruby Caught By Giant Wooden Troll On Bainbridge Island Before Escaping To Poulsbo's Little Norway

 Incoming email from Tacoma, with the subject line of "Where in the PNW?".

Text in the email containing not much of a clue...

"Two different, but geographically close, locations."

Well, there is currently a thing in the Pacific Northwest, Washington, specifically, were large wooden trolls take up residence at various locations in the Puget Sound zone.

I think the troll which has David, Theo and Ruby it its grasp is known at Pia the Peacekeeper.

Pia resides on Bainbridge Island. 

The second photo I can only guess at, with the geographically close clue being all I have to go on.

Bainbridge Island is accessed via ferry, from Seattle. I do not remember if one can drive onto Bainbridge Island from the Olympic Peninsula side, via a bridge, or if the Vashon Island ferry in Tacoma is a route to a bridge, or other ferry to Bainbridge Island.

So, I am guessing this pirate ship mural in front of which Ruby, Theo and David are standing, is located near, or at, the Bainbridge Island ferry terminal.

No, upon further reflection, I think where the Tacoma Trio is standing is the town of Poulsbo, in the section of that town known as Little Norway.

Lucy Park Naturally Air-Conditioned On First Wednesday Of August

With the outer world chilled chillier than I chill my interior space, with the temperature in the low 70s, I ventured back to Lucy Park this first Wednesday of September, for some perfectly pleasant nature communing via hiking through the Lucy Park backwoods jungle.

As you can see via the phone photo documentation of the Lucy Park suspension bridge, green foliage is not yet succumbing to the coming regularly scheduled autumn color change, along with the annual epidemic leaf droppage.

I thought today, with the cloud cover blocking the sun, with the outer world being naturally air-conditioned, that Lucy Park would be busy.

But, it was not.

I only saw two other humans. Even on a super HOT day I see way more humans than just two.

Rain was on the weather menu for this morning. But, once again, the forecast failed. No drippage.

Perhaps drippage will arrive later today, when I make my way to ALDI...

Remembering The Dallas Farmers Market With Mom & Dad

 Microsoft OneDrive Memory from this Day, in my email, this morning, where I do remember both the location and the date, well, the month.

That is my mom, looking perplexed, in the Dallas Farmers Market. 

Mom and dad visited Texas twice whilst I have been residing in Texas. The first time, a month after 9/11, in October of 2001.

Mom and dad's second visit to Texas was in January of 2009.

I remember mom and dad enjoyed the Dallas Farmers Market on that first visit. It was festooned in pumpkins for Halloween. Mom and dad were a bit bored with the visit to the Dealey Plaza Book Depository, but perked way up at the Dallas Farmers Market.

I think the above photo was from the January 2009 Dallas Farmers Market visit.

Is the market that busy in January? I know in 2009 I drove mom and dad onto the Dallas Fair Park grounds for a close up look at the Cotton Bowl. Fair Park is fairly close to the Dallas Farmers Market.

That 2009 visit from mom and dad seems so recent in my memory. But, it was 15 years ago...

Labor Day Hike To Mount Wichita Summit Swallowing Flies

With the outer world chilled into the upper 70s, with a strong wind blowing, but with the humidity high, I ventured to Lake Wichita Park on this Labor Day of 2024 to join the throngs enjoying the welcome chill and thick cloud cover, with that cloud cover predicted to drop some rain and send down some lightning bolts.

But, so far, no drippage and thunder clapping.

That view above is looking east towards the Mount Wichita pseudo volcano, from the new section of the Circle Trail.

It has been many a month since I have hiked myself all the way to the summit of Mount Wichita. And, so, I decided to do so today.

The view from the summit of Mount Wichita, looking southwest across Lake Wichita.

That gray pavement you see in the middle of the photo is the Veterans Memorial which was not there the last time I hiked my way to this mountain's summit.

I had an unpleasant thing happen as I neared Mount Wichita's summit. A fly flew into my open mouth. I do not recollect such a thing happening previously. It was a bit unsettling. Eventually either the fly died, or I managed to cough him out of my throat.

I suspect my outdoor activity is going to be amping up this month, with the long HOT summer starting to fade.

Soon, I suspect, I shall be hunting for wherever it is I stored my sweatpants...

Labor Day Virtual Visit To Oklahoma's Turner Falls

Way back when I first moved to Texas, I found myself at a party, with people from all over America, but, mostly Texans.

At some point us Pacific Northwesterners were asked our opinion of Texas. I forget how the query was framed.

We all, I think there were five of us transplanted PNWers, made mention of the fact of missing seeing scenic scenery no matter what direction one looked. That the mostly flat Texas landscape was so different from what we'd been used to.

Well, one of the Texas locals said we should venture south to Texas Hill country, maybe checking out Enchanted Rock. Or, head north to Oklahoma, to the Arbuckle Mountains, and visit Turner Falls.

And so, that first Texas summer we drove north to Oklahoma, to Turner Falls, and had a mighty fine scenic time.

If you ever find yourself driving I-35 in Oklahoma, and you realize you are driving through the Arbuckle Mountains, take the exit to the town of Davis, but, do not go east to Davis, go west to Turner Falls. The road quickly turns into mountain scenery, eventually reaching a lookout, looking out over Turner Falls, far below. Make your way down the mountain to the entry to Turner Falls Park. 

Check out my now ancient webpage devoted to Turner Falls Park and you'll see why it is a fun place to visit.

That photo documentation, at the top, is me on the left, Big Ed on the right, sitting outside Outlaw Cave, above Turner Falls. Or were we sitting on part of the castle? The Turner Falls Castle is something to behold.

It was not too many years later I discovered the scenic wonders of Texas Hill country.

Dinosaur Valley State Park was my first Hill Country experience. Dinosaur Valley has some of the best mountain bike trails I have ever rolled on. And is the only place I have biked where I got totally disoriented, as in lost, with the sun starting to set. Dinosaur Valley is also a great hiking location. Miles of trails.

And then there is Enchanted Rock State Park, way further south, in Texas Hill Country. Northwest of Austin, southwest of Waco, a few miles north of Fredericksburg. 

The hike up Enchanted Rock is unique. There is no trail. You just make your way to the top of the rock.

With the outer world finally beginning to cool down I think I shall soon venture north to Oklahoma, to the Wichita Mountain Wildlife Refuge. Considered by some to be the most scenic location in Oklahoma.

It is only about 50 miles north of my Texas location....

With My Sister-In-Law Shopping In Wichita Falls

Text message, yesterday, on the final day of August, from my all-time favorite sister-in-law, David, Theo and Ruby's mama, Kristin, with the text message saying...

Wichita Falls is a shopping mecca in the book I am reading!

The above is a phone photo Kristin included with the text message, snapped from the book she is reading, which makes mention of the Wichita Falls shopping mecca.

This book is set back in the previous century. At some point in time, back last century, I believe Dillard's and Penney's were located in downtown Wichita Falls.

When a mall was built, near where I live in Wichita Falls, opening a few decades ago, called Sikes Senter, Dillard's and Penny's moved to the mall.

Dillard's left Sikes Senter back during COVID. Or was it before that? Penney's is currently in the final stages of closing and leaving Sikes Senter.

Wichita Falls is quite a glitzy town. Recently a Hawaiian cuisine restaurant called Hawaiian Brothers opened. I don't think spam is on the menu, but all the Hawaiian plates include macaroni salad, which is Hawaiian Island standard fare. I've learned that from Magnum P.I. and Hawaii 5-0.

Wichita Falls has famously showed up in a movie a time or two. Have you watched The Last Picture Show? The movie which made Cybil Shepherd and Jeff Bridges stars.

In that movie Cybil gets talked into going to a pool party at a house in Wichita Falls. The pool is not an outdoor pool. The pool party was a skinny dipping party, in which Cybil eventually, famously, got the courage to participate. 

Last Picture Show is set in Archer City, a town about 20 miles south of where I am sitting right now. The kids drove to the big city for the pool party, which took place in a house a short distance north of my abode, in the neighborhood I refer to as the Beverly Hills of Wichita Falls.

The Last Picture Show was one of author Larry McMurty's works. The story was inspired by his experiences growing up in Archer City, apparently including going to wild pool parties in Wichita Falls.

I have been in Wichita Falls several years now and have yet to be invited to a skinny-dipping pool party...