Nature Communing With Lake Wichita Dam's Green Reflecting Pool

It was to Lake Wichita I ventured this second morning of the 2026 version of July, for some hot, but breezy, nature communing atop the Lake Wichita Dam.

I do not recollect previously seeing the DANGER sign you see above, previously. There were two instances of the sign. One on top of the dam, another near the bottom of the dam.

The warning on the sign...

DANGER

HAZARDOUS RECIRCULATING

CURRENTS BELOW THIS DAM

CAN TRAP AND DROWN A VICTIM

It has been a few years since I have seen any water spilling over this dam's spillway. But, somehow there has managed to be water at the base of the dam. But that water is definitely not presenting any sort of recirculating danger. As you can see via the below photo documentation.

The water at the base of the dams appears to be colored in the currently popular Reflecting Pool Green color which has been so often talked about of late.

A short distance from looking over the Lake Wichita Dam's spillway the Lake Wichita Boardwalk takes you out over the lake. I took the photo from this view due to the fact I don't remember seeing this tall, green vegetation, at this location, before. I like this lush jungle-like vegetation.

Lake Wichita is only about a mile south of my home location. Sikes Lake is about a quarter mile from my home location. The nearest Walmart is about a mile east of my home location. It's nice having so many nearby walking venues.

Enjoying July 1 Hot Wind Chill Factor Hiking Sikes Lake

With the temperature in the relatively chilly mid-80s, on this first day of the 2026 version of July, it was to nearby Sikes Lake I ventured this morning for some salubrious endorphin acquisition gained via fast walking.

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

As you can see from the wave action on the lake the air was being a bit breezy, which made for a nice cooling effect.

Today we are not scheduled to go over 100 degrees, as measured by the Fahrenheit method, with the predicted high to being only 97 degrees. The past several days we have been heated to over the 100 degree mark.

The 4th of July is currently predicted to heat to over 100 at my location. The downtown Wichita Falls 4th of July Parade starts at 9 in the morning. Currently I am not feeling too eager to attend this, though I have rather enjoyed past times watching this parade.

HOT Sunday Lucy Park Backwoods Jungle Hike

With the mid-morning temperature in the upper 80s, heading to a predicted high in the 100s, on this final Sunday of the 2026 version of June, it was to Lucy Park I ventured for a bout of salubrious nature communing via hiking the Lucy Park Backwoods Jungle.

Which would make that the roaring rapids of the Wichita River you are seeing in the photo documentation.

A brisk wind made the heat totally tolerable today.

The current weather prediction for the next 10 days has many of those getting hotter than 100. Including the 4th of July, with a predicted thunderstorm added to the heat for the 4th.

I am currently planning on going to the downtown Wichita Falls 4th of July Parade, weather permitting. It is an entertaining parade.

Hot Bridge Caution Instability Second Summer Day In Lucy Park

On this next to last Tuesday of June, I ventured to Lucy Park for the first time in this Summer of 2026, for some much-needed nature communing and the resulting endorphin dose I get from that activity.

Hot and humid today, with thunderstorms predicted to be booming later today.

The caution sign on the Lucy Park suspension bridge over the Wichita River looks different than I remembered. The caution seemed more cautionary.

CAUTION

UNSTABLE SUSPENSION

BRIDGE CROSS

AT YOUR OWN RISK

The Lucy Park suspension bridge is definitely unstable. Makes me dizzy if I walk across it.

There were way fewer than the norm in Lucy Park today. Usually, the heat and humidity does not seem to cause a drop in park visitors. The Lucy Park swimming pool is closed, awaiting repairs. That would explain some of the drop in park visitors. This was the first time I ever remember mine being the only vehicle parked in the swimming pool/log cabin parking lot.

Summer is barely a day old, and I'm already tired of it.

Virtually Visiting Arizona Seeing Cade & Cambri

I had a virtual visit to Arizona yesterday, late in the day.

With a quick drive by my little sister Jackie's house in Chandler. Which is what you see photo documented above.

Til yesterday, I had not been at this location since way back in 2019. I think it was the month of June.

I was sort of hoping that I'd get to see my great (or is it grand?) nephew and niece, Cade Christopher and Cambri June during my virtual drive by.

Such did not happen at that point in time.

But, Cade and Cambri's grandma, Jackie, later provided a nice look of Cade and Cambri.

That is Cade above, looking like an exact replica of his dad, my favorite Christopher nephew. Christopher was such a fun kid. I suspect Cade may be even funner. I'd love to find out in person.

And here we get to see Cade's little sister, Cambri. I do not know what is in the bowl Cambri has a hand in.

Here I think we may be seeing Cade and Cambri trying to get Grandma Jackie to open the door so they can go play in the swimming pool.

The last time I was in that pool it was with Cade and Cambri's cousins, Ruby, Theo and David.

Cade and Cambri had not yet arrived on the planet.

I must go see if I can find the blog post documenting the last time I was in Cade and Cambri's swimming pool.

Found it...

Cool Arizona Pool With Theo Driving Ruby On Handlebars

That pool post also includes video of me giving Theo his first driving lesson....

Back To The Naturally Air-Conditioned Wichita Bluffs

The past several days I have been doing my endorphin inducing nature communing in the air-conditioned comfort of Walmart. 

But, today, on this third Monday of the 2026 version of June, it was to the Wichita Bluff Nature Area I ventured to do my nature communing in the naturally air-conditioned outer world, with the temperature barely into the 80s, at 81 degrees, as measured by the Fahrenheit method.

81 degrees is just a couple degrees warmer than the temperature I keep my interior space cooled to.

A slight wind was blowing whilst I did my bluff hiking, adding to Mother Nature's natural cooling.

Yesterday's predicted thunderstorm and heavy rain did not materialize. Not a drop or a drip.

Oh. I forgot to make note of the above photo documentation. These big yellow wildflowers have sprouted since last I was on the Bluffs. Are they giant yellow daisies? Or tall sunflowers? I am no botanist, so I don't know...

First Burlington Visit In A Long Time

Went by the house I grew up in, yesterday, for the first time in a long time. The house has changed a lot over the years. But, looks good. 

Also went by the high school I high schooled in, Burtlington-Edison High School.

That is the B-EHS home team football grandstand we are looking at. I last saw this in August of 2017, from Interstate 5, as we drove north to Birch Bay. At that point in time, I remember being surprised at how small the grandstand looked. My memory had it being a lot bigger.

The grandstand looked bigger viewed from Victoria Avenue instead of the freeway. It has been painted a different color than I remembered. And there is a big sign attached to it saying, "State Champions 2011."

I am sure I'd been told Burlington was the state champion in 2011, but I don't remember. Is there some sort of football playoff nowadays? I don't think such a thing existed back in my high school days.

Observing Fishermen Fishing On Windy Sikes Lake

On this second Monday of the 2026 version of June it was back to Sikes Lake I ventured for some sunny, humid, hot nature communing and that activities resulting endorphins.

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

As you can see, there is some wave action on the lake. One would have thought the waves would be much bigger due to the strong wind that was blowing.

I was joined by a large number of fellow endorphin seekers. That and several kids fishing. I have often seen fishermen fishing in this lake. But I have never seen a fish caught. I know the lake gets stocked a couple times a year. 

Sunday Thunderstorm Weather Drama In Wichita Falls

What you see above is what I saw when I opened my front door, this first Sunday morning of the 2026 version of June.

Of late predicted thunderstorms have failed to materialize, so often failing to materialize it sort of seemed pointless to check in on the weather forecast.

But, last night the weather forecast delivered, producing a much more powerful, much longer lasting storm that what had been predicted.

Around 3 this morning I made note of the first lightning flash of the storm, with that lightning strike so distant I barely heard the thunder rumble.

By the time the sun arrived to begin its daily illumination duty, the lightning was striking near, and the thunder was booming loud. A couple times the lightning flashed, and the thunder boomed simultaneously, shaking my abode and causing the lights to flicker.

The rain fell in downpour mode for a couple hours.

But now, about an hour before noon, mostly blue sky has returned, evaporating rain is making for high humidity. And the next storm prediction has it scheduled for next Thursday. 

Wichita Falls Times Record News Local Reporting You Cannot Count On Every Day

Every morning I start the online part of my day checking various news sources, beginning with the local newspaper online, the Wichita Falls Times Record News.

Upon moving to Wichita Falls I soon subscribed to the Times News Record. I continued that subscription for several years, til it finally dawned on me that there is not much news, of the local sort, in this local newspaper. 

So, I cancelled my subscription.

I regularly get emails with discount offers trying to lure me back. Each morning, I still start with clicking on the Times News Record, but only because I can still click the weather tab without the click generating the "only available to subscribers" message.

And each morning when I click that link to get the weather report I see that which you see above, trying to get me to subscribe. What totally galls me is the part of the lure which claims, "Local reporting you can count on, every day."

Growing up in Washington, we always subscribed to the Skagit Valley Herald, the Burlington Journal and the Bellingham Herald. In college I subscribed to the Seattle Post-Intelligencer, more commonly known as The P-I. Post college I continued subscribing to The P-I, til moving to Texas.

Til Wichita Falls I never lived in a domicile that did not get a daily newspaper delivery.

Upon moving to Texas, I soon found myself subscribing to a Texas newspaper, the Fort Worth Star-Telegram.

And this was the first time in my life I found myself reading what I came to consider to be a terrible newspaper. And then I moved to Wichita Falls to soon find myself subscribing to a newspaper even worse than the Star-Telegram.

The Wichita Falls Times Record News is part of something called "The USA TODAY Network."

Click on the Times News Record link and you'll get a good idea of what a bad newspaper this is.

When you click on today's issue, on the front page you see the following as today's major headlines, with the headlines being links to reports detailing this important 'news'...

Searchers find body of missing man in Lake Buffalo in Iowa Park.

Devean Isaac turns injury into academic victory

Interactive summer art exhibit and classes opening soon

WD-40 debuts limited-edition 'King of the Hill' can

Texas Republicans can't move past Paxton impeachment in Senate race

If you click today's NEWS tab you go to a "NEWS" page with headlines leading to more in-depth reporting of important local issues...

Photos show dancers of all ages at Square Dance Land in Wichita Falls

Texas Lottery results post: winning numbers for June 2, 2026

Wichita Falls councilors hear Eastside flood mitigation report

Texas Lottery results post: winning numbers for June 1, 2026

An audit revealed more than 700 failures in Wichita Falls siren system

Texas has never picked an unmarried senator. Both candidates are in 2026

Trump renews promise to campaign in Texas for Ken Paxton in interview

In Wichita Falls racing rubber ducks raise revenue for charities

The Frank & Joe's coffee house in the Hospital District will close

Republicans still lead Texas governor, attorney general races

Wichita Falls' Premier High School celebrates largest class ever

Wichita Falls City Council to mull police station plans, worker influx

MSU graduate turns grief into a tribute for her father

Texas commercial truckers testing only in English, per DPS rule change

Wichita Falls woman dies in Archer County crash

Searchers find body of missing man in Lake Buffalo in Iowa Park.

Devean Isaac turns injury into academic victory

Well, that should give just about anyone a good idea of why it was a good idea to cease subscribing to this sad excuse for a local newspaper...

Enjoying June 1 Lake Wichita Natural Air-Conditioning With Vehicle Mystery

What with this first day of June predicted to be HOT, as in 100 degrees HOT, I thought a breeze blowing across Lake Wichita might make for some pleasant natural air-conditioning, rendering doing some nature communing to be a pleasant experience.

Well, I thought right.

The wind blowing across the lake did have a pleasant cooling effect.

Upon arriving at the Lake Wichita Dam parking lot I saw the vehicle you see photo documented above, parked next to the Circle Trail. A fence is between the Circle Trail and the parking lot, so the only way this vehicle arrived at its parking location was via the Circle Trail.

But, there were no humans to be seen who might have been the vehicle's driver. By the time I hiked to the top of the dam, that being the structure you see behind the mystery vehicle, I looked back towards the parking lot and saw the mystery vehicle was now gone.

Who drove it away? All is out in the open. No hiding places. Maybe it was one of those new-fangled AI controlled robot vehicles.

Continuing on.

You can see the wind was making some wave action. Sufficient wave action that the floating dock had the sort of rocking rhythm which can make those prone to the condition a bit seasick.

You can barely see Mount Wichita on the horizon at the west end of the lake. Is Mount Wichita shrinking?

All in all, a nice start to the new month...

Sunny 102 Degree Sunday In Wichita Falls

On this last day of the 2026 version of May the local weather predictors are predicting we will be getting heated to over 100 degrees on this extra sunny Sunday, for the first time this year.

I got too HOT yesterday whilst outdoors nature communing.

I may skip getting even HOTTER today and stay inside in air-conditioned cool comfort.

HOT Humid Sikes Lake Saturday

On this final Saturday of the 2026 version of May, it was back to Sikes Lake I ventured today, for the first time in a week or two or three, for some HOT humid nature communing.

The photo documentation is the view from the rocky shore of the east side of Sikes Lake, looking southwest.

There was some cooling wind action today, as evidenced by the ripple of waves on the lake. But, the cooling wind was not of sufficient strength to counteract the HOT humidity.

Thunderstorms are on the weather menu for this afternoon.

Final May Friday HOT Hiking Wichita Bluff Nature Area

It was back to the Wichita Bluff Nature Area I ventured on this final Friday of the 2026 version of May for some HOT nature communing. Even though it was before 10 in the morning the temperature was already well into the 80s, heading to a possible record-breaking high today of nearly 100 degrees, as measured by the Fahrenheit method.

In the above photo documentation, you are looking northeast. One would never know that at this location you are near the center of a somewhat large city. One sees no signs of human habitation.

Hiking the Wichita Bluffs has greatly gained in popularity, judging by the surprising number of fellow nature communers I have come across nature communing this past week. 

The second photo documentation is looking the same direction, but with me in the view looking consternated. 

Trying to take a selfie photo with the phone always seems to make me look consternated.

I was feeling way HOTTER than I look in the photo documentation. One sees no evidence in the form of beads of sweat.

I think I am gradually getting to an improved level of fitness which will make for doable Cascade Mountain hiking next summer.

I hope....
 

Finding My Long-Lost High School Senior Annual with Janice, Lori, Beth, Linda Lou and Others

The past couple days I have been puzzled trying to remember how it was I had a photo from my high school senior annual, among the thousands of photos I have saved. 

Puzzled because I remember throwing my annuals away, years ago, and I had no memory of extracting photos from annuals before discarding them.

Then it occurred to me that maybe I somehow had blogged photos from annuals before I threw them away. Because I remembered a photo of myself depositing Janice Jackson into a garbage can. But, I could not find that photo on my computer.

So, I clicked on my Durango Texas blog and entered "Janice" into the search function. And this quickly came up with...

Finding My Long Lost High School Senior Annual With Linda Lou & Others

And thus the photo mystery is solved. That blog post has the photo of me placing Janice in a garbage can, and other photos that I sort of remember.

Day Three Hiking Wichita Bluff Nature Area

This final Tuesday of the 2026 version of May, it was back to the Wichita Bluff Nature Area for the third day in a row.

Making today Day Three of my ongoing campaign to get to a sufficiently improved shape level so that hiking Washington Cascade Mountain trails, this Summer, is pleasantly doable, like it used to be, way back when I still lived in Washington, and hiked those mountain trails every hiking season.

In the above photo documentation, we are at the summit of the Wichita Bluffs, looking east at a small glimpse of the Wichita River and part of the stunning skyline of beautiful downtown Wichita Falls.

Today's bluff hiking was from the western entry to the bluffs. 

Hiking the Wichita Bluffs has become surprisingly popular, judging by the number of fellow hikers I have encountered.

The past two days I figured the large number of hikers was due to it being a three-day weekend holiday. But, today, just a regular Tuesday, saw more hikers than the previous two days. Perplexing.

I think I shall take a day off from bluff hiking tomorrow. 

Memorial Day Wichita Bluff Nature Area Return

It was back to the Wichita Bluff Nature Area I ventured this Memorial Day. This time opting to enter from the east parking lot, which is a different route to the summit, than yesterday's route from the west parking lot.

There were a surprising number of fellow nature communers today. For me, yesterday's aerobic overload and the resulting endorphins greatly mitigated the chronic pain I'd been feeling for several weeks.

Hence, the return to the bluff today, for some more salubrious endorphins.

As you can see, the vegetation is jungle-like. This ultra-green color scheme won't last long after the HEAT of Summer arrives. There is so much vegetation you cannot see the Wichita River., which is clearly visible from this location when not shrouded by the temporary jungle.

 I forget the names of the greenery you see on the right. Cat-o-nine tails? Is that it? I don't know. Whatever it is it is about a dozen feet tall.

Memorial Day Remembering Mom & Dad

 Remembering the last time mom and dad came to visit their eldest son, in Texas. In January of 2009.

Above mom and dad and their cowboy hats are in Fair Park, in Dallas. That is where the State Fair of Texas takes place.

I wish I had a blog, starting back in the previous century. It's like a personal historical record, or a diary. 

I could not remember for sure when it was mom and dad last visited. I remembered the first time was October of 2001, a month after that notorious 9/11 date. I did not do the blogging thing at that point in time. 

So, here are the blog posts I made when mom and dad were last in Texas.

Mom & Dad Are Here In Texas

Mom & Dad & The New Dallas Cowboy Stadium

Mom & Dad Won't Take Off Their Cowboy Hats

Mom And Dad Do Dallas

Mom & Dad Are Heading West Away From The Ol' South

Mom & Dad Made It Out Of Texas

Sunday Roadrunner At Wichita Bluff Nature Area

On this next to last Sunday of the 2026 version of May, it was to the Wichita Bluff Nature Area I commuted to get myself some much-needed endorphins acquired from aerobic stimulation.

Due to an injury to my left hip, I have greatly curtailed my aerobically stimulating activities for a couple months. Or so it seems.

It has been a long while since I've experienced the Wichita Bluff Nature Area's lush greenery.

The photo documentation above is the view looking north from the summit of the Bluffs.

I had a couple wildlife encounters on the Wichita Bluffs today. Including the one you see photo documented below.

A Roadrunner suddenly appeared in front of me. And, instead of turning and running in the opposite direction, which is the Roadrunner norm, this Roadrunner kept running towards me, allowing me to take multiple photos.

Usually, Roadrunners have run too far away by the time I get my camera aimed at them.

This particular Roadrunner, when he got to me, got off the paved trail to run past me on the grass, stopping to pose for the photo you see above.

This was one totally unusual Roadrunner.

It is too soon to tell if today's bluff hiking has had a salubrious effect on my aching hip. I hope so. If that turns out to be the case, I foresee some frequent returns to the Wichita Bluff Nature Area in the coming days.

Remembering A Peaceful Bath Interrupted By Mount St. Helens Exploding Almost Half A Century Ago

Today, Monday, May 18, 2026, on Facebook, I have seen multiple posts making note of the fact that it was on this date, 46 years ago, that Mount St. Helens blew her top.

One of the Facebook posts, from a Washingtonian, asked people to say where they were and what they were doing when the mountain exploded.

Well, it was early in the morning, a Sunday. I was having a peaceful soak in the bathtub. Suddenly my peaceful soak was interrupted by what sounded like three loud, concussive explosions. I had just returned from a trip to Southern California where at one point I found myself camped near a military base which was doing practice stuff which involved explosions. That is what the sound I heard whilst tub soaking, sounded like.

I heard one of my roommates in the kitchen. I hollered at her, asking what those booms were. She came into the tub zone to tell me she had no idea what it was.

About 15 minutes later the next-door neighbor showed up to ask if we'd heard that the mountain had blown. 

From that point on the TV was on all day, with nonstop coverage. We were advised to prepare for possible incoming ash dust. We got masks and some other stuff I am not remembering. Maybe some special added filter on the vehicles.

Not much ash ever made it to the Skagit Valley, but other parts of Washington had to deal with a lot of falling volcanic ash.

It was to be a couple years later I first ventured into the eruption zone and looked close up at the remains of Mount St. Helens.

Then, a short time before the move to Texas, I drove a group to the newly opened Mount St. Helens National Volcanic Monument, stopping at each of the Visitor's Centers, ending with the final one, gazing right into Mount St. Helens gaping crater. 

If you ever find yourself driving Interstate 5 into Washington, it is well worth it to take the exit that takes you to the Mount St. Helens National Volcanic Monument. 

It is hard for me to believe it is almost a half century ago, 46 years, that this event happened. It had a long lead-up, with little eruptions, a large zone had been evacuated. Mount St. Helens dominated the news in Washington, before, during and after the final eruption. 

Today's Possible Record Breaking High In Wichita Falls

Apparently, the record high for this day in May is 98 degrees as measured by the Fahrenheit method. The current prediction is for today's high to be three degrees short of the record. But, the weather predictions here are frequently inaccurate, so it won't shock me if we get over 98 degrees today.

And, it is over a month til Summer arrives. I suspect we are heading towards a record-breaking HOT Summer. 

My A/C just cycled on, and is currently keeping me cool.

A few winters ago, a severe Winter storm knocked out power to most of Texas, with a couple days the temperature going below zero.

I hope I don't get to find out if it worse to have the power go out when the temperature is in the near 100-degree zone. 

Remembering Mom & Dad Visiting Texas

This morning, whilst looking through my HUGE archive of photos, I came upon a folder of photos taken the first time my mom and dad came to visit me in Texas.

I am not sure, but I think the year was 2005. I have zero clue as to the month, but clearly, judging by mom and dad's attire, this was a visit which did not happen during the HOT time of the year. 

I do recollect giving mom and dad cowboy hats and insisting they put them on when I was taking a photo of them

The location of the above photo is Lake Grapevine, that I remember, for sure. One of my favorite locations in the Dallas/Fort Worth zone.

On their first visit to Texas mom and dad were coming from Washington, I think, via their RV. I remember they stayed in an RV park in Arlington.

Their second, and final visit to Texas, took place, I think, in 2012. That time they drove a non-RV vehicle from their Yuma location in Arizona. I remember visiting mom and dad in Yuma, way back near the turn of the century, on a drive back to Texas, from Washington.

If mom and dad's last Texas visit was in 2012 that would have been after I'd begun documenting my existence in blog form. I shall see if I can find blog posts documenting mom and dad's final Texas visit, but not right now. 

UPDATE: I was wrong. It was in November of 2009 mom and dad made their final Texas visit. I blogged about it several times, with the first being Mom & Dad Are Here In Texas.

Wichita Falls Sunday Nature Communing In Lucy Park

For a variety of reasons, some weather related, some not weather related, I have not had myself any salubrious nature communing and that activity's resulting endorphins, for several days, until this first Sunday of the 5th month of 2026, also known as May 3.

In the photo documentation we are at the replacement for the burned-out Lucy Park Pagoda, looking north at the Lucy Park Backwoods Jungle.

Green is currently the dominant color at my Texas location. That won't last long til the green begins to fade to shades of brown.

There were a surprisingly large number of fellow nature communers at Lucy Park this Sunday morning. I suspect after so many days in a row of chilly, unstable weather, people were eager to get outdoors under the cloud-free, clear blue sky, with the temperature in the pleasant 70s.

I have not felt the need to activate the air-conditioning system the past few days. I suspect that will change later today...

Wichita Falls Tuesday Thunderstorming

A storm arrived around the same time, this morning, that the sun arrived to begin its daily illumination duty on this final Tuesday of the 2026 version of April.

The storm consisted of a drenching downpour of rain, without the big balls of hail which pummeled us last Saturday. But, like last Saturday, multiple bolts of lightning brought multiple loud booms of thunder.

But, unlike Saturday, the tornado sirens did not start blaring this morning.

On Saturday the tornado sirens began blaring between 5 and 6 in the afternoon. It was not til the following morning I was to learn a couple tornadoes had done some twisting, and damage, at the north end of town, near Sheppard Air Force Base.

This was the first time I had heard the Wichita Falls tornado sirens making noise for an actual tornado, and not the regular Monday testing of the sirens.

I forgot to mention, the photo documentation at the top is the view from my kitchen window, this morning, I tried to catch a lightning strike, unsuccessfully. But the photo does manage to give some idea of how stormy this storm was being.

The last several days the local weather forecasting has been remarkably accurate, a total change from the recent bout of predicted storms not materializing.

Today's forecast is forecasting another thunderstorm arriving about an hour before noon, a little over an hour from now. Currently the outer world does not look too menacing, but that can quickly change.

Severe Saturday Wichita Falls Thunderstorming With 3 Inch Hail

What you see above is the view from my kitchen window, late afternoon, on the final Saturday of the 2026 version of April.

Around 5 this afternoon I ventured to my nearby Walmart, soon seeing lightning strikes and hearing thunder booms as I drove.

By the time I left Walmart, precipitation had begun precipitating.

Soon the rain switched to violent downpour mode.

And then all hail broke loose. Balls of ice the size of golf balls. What a scary racket they made hitting my vehicle's windows and roof.

Those white spots you see in the photo documentation of the view from my kitchen window are those aforementioned golf balls of hail.

The thunder storming seems to have calmed down some, but hail is still making a lot of noise.

The NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE just sent my phone a dire "Imminent Severe Alert" warning of violent thunderstorms and hail three inches in diameter. Advising to seek shelter and stay away from windows.

This violent storming is causing me to even more eagerly look forward to my upcoming visit to my old Washington home zone, where the weather is usually dependably mild...

Windy Thursday At Sikes Lake Pushing Baby Strollers

 It was back to nearby Sikes Lake I ventured on this next to last Thursday of the 2026 version of April, for some windy, cloudy nature communing via fast walking and that activity's resulting mood-enhancing endorphins.

That would make the photo documentation the view looking south from the rocky east shore of Sikes Lake.

For some reason the weather today somehow seemed extremely conducive to causing way more people than the norm to be out joining me whilst nature communing.

And, just like I experienced a couple ago walking around Sikes Lake there were a large number of babies being rolled around the lake in strollers. Two of the baby pushers were operating two strollers. That looked a bit awkward. 

When I encountered the first baby pusher pushing two strollers, I offered to push one of them. I was thanked for the kind offer, but the mother said it was not problem easily pushing two strollers.

We are at that time of the year when the weather can be unpredictable. Today the unpredictable prediction is there is a chance of some severe storming in the form of thunderstorms, downpours and possible tornadoes. 

So far the only extreme weather today has been the wind gusts.

Pleasant Monday Sikes Lake Stroll With Beautiful Babes

On this next to last Monday of the 2026 version of April it was to nearby Sikes Lake I ventured for some much-needed salubrious nature communing and aerobic stimulation and that stimulation's resulting flood of endorphins.

As you can see it is a nice calm, almost totally clear blue-sky day. If I was on the west coast, looking east, I would likely think that which you see hovering about the lake, in the distance, to be a mountain range.

There are no mountain ranges to see at my current location, no matter what direction one looks.

That line of gray on the horizon is today's predicted wall of rain clouds making their way northeast.

Which would make the view from the rocky east shore of Sikes Lake to be looking southwest.

Dozens of other nature communers were enjoying the almost chilly, at 52 degrees, temperature, and the lack of any wind making it feel colder.

I counted seven babies being strolled around the lake as I did my nature communing.

Is it some law of nature that all babies look cute? That sure seems to be the case. I have been frequently making note of that of late.

Seeing THOR Getting Hosed Crossing The Wichita River

Yesterday I blogged about Saturday's Lucy Park Texoma Hellacious Obstacle Run Muddy Fun. 

I did not get any up-close photos that showed what was Hellacious about the Obstacle Run known as THOR, short for Texoma Hellacious Obstacle Run.

My fellow nature communer yesterday did get some up-close photos. As we drove away from Lucy Park that fellow nature communer made mention of seeing people getting hosed whilst they were in the river. I did not understand what was being described.

Until photo documentation was emailed to me.

Yesterday I did not walk by the Lucy Park Suspension Bridge. I did see it in the distance, but not all that far away. I saw no humans near the bridge.

Had I walked closer I would have seen the scene above. A man spraying water on Obstacle Runners as they waded across the Wichita River.

That actually is my idea of something Hellacious, getting wet in the murky red Wichita River.

Saturday's Lucy Park Texoma Hellacious Obstacle Run Muddy Fun

It was to Lucy Park I ventured this third Saturday of the 2026 version of April, for the first time in quite a few days, for some salubrious nature communing in chilly temperatures requiring outer wear not usually needed this time of the year at this location on the planet.

Arriving at Lucy Park I was surprised to see virtually every parking spot in the park already occupied. It took some driving to finally find a parking spot. Lucy Park is a big park, with a lot of parking spots.

So, what was going on? I soon learned the congestion was caused by something called T.H.O.R. 

Texoma's Hellacious Obstacle Run

When I got back to computer access I Googled "THOR Village Lucy Park Wichita Falls Texas" because that was what I saw on a sign upon entering the park Googling I came to a THOR website with the following explanation...

T.H.O.R. represents everything that is right with the world today – mud, guts and everybody nuts. Experience the insanity and the awesome adrenaline rush.

The off-road adventure starts in Lucy Park and winds along the Wichita River, past the Falls, through Camp Fillers, and back to Lucy Park. Fierce obstacles and mud riddled trails stand between you and victTHORy. They will have food, beverages and music for participants and spectators to enjoy while experiencing this fun adventure event. Step up to the starting line and face the 20+ challenging obstacles that await you, including several new surprises every year! You think you’re tough enough? Come test your THORtitude at Texoma’s roughest run on record!

Many of the obstacles were muddy, hence seeing so many people covered with mud. The end of the course had a hosing station to wash off some of the mud. This obstacle run had no appeal to me, but it sure looked like a lot of people were having a lot of fun. Hundreds upon hundreds of muddy people.

I took the above photo soon upon beginning my nature communing, because I was struck by how much greener the landscape had become since my last Lucy Park visit. The above photo documentation was an area where no THOR people could be seen. This was south of the part of the park I refer to as the Lucy Park Backwoods Jungle.

The Backwoods Jungle was where some of the obstacles were, such as the one in the photo documentation at the top.

Saturday Nature Communing Fishing Sikes Lake

On this second Saturday of the 2026 version of April, it was to Sikes Lake I ventured for some cloudy nature communing.

Which would make the view in the photo documentation, the rocky eastern shore of Sikes Lake, looking southwest, at a lone fisherman fishing at the lake's edge.

Soon, after seeing that guy angling, I saw another guy with something hooked on his line giving quite a fight. I did not linger to see what, if anything, got caught.

At various times of the year Sikes Lake, and other Wichita Falls lakes, get stocked with trout and catfish.

Serious weather drama is on the menu for today and several days to follow. With predictions of heavy rain, hail, gusting winds, thunderstorms and tornadoes possible.

So far, today, nothing dramatic, weather-wise, has happened.

Getting Gassed At $3.58 In Wichita Falls Texas

That $3.58 a gallon gas price you see photo documented above, was photo documented about an hour ago, at my neighborhood Walmart's gas station.

Down 11 cents from yesterday's $3.69, which is currently is the highest I've seen at my North Texas location.

From what I've read, and been told, $3.58 is way cheaper than what many of you are paying.

The gas price increase has not seemed to have slowed traffic at my location. If I remember correctly, and sometimes I do, back during the worst of COVID traffic was greatly reduced.

Is the current average gas price across the nation breaking the record of the previous period when events caused the price to rise? I don't remember.

I have not recently checked what it currently is costing to fly out of here.

To Washington, or elsewhere.

I was thinking of flying to Washington this summer. I do not like flying. My last two times flying were disasters. With the last time being a 12 hour wait in D/FW before flying to Arizona, arriving in Phoenix after midnight.

I have not driven back to Washington since July of 2001. I do not know if I would like doing that, a quarter century later.

Wichita River Circle Trail Hiking With The Goslings

It was to the eastern parking lot for the Circle Trail access to the Wichita Bluff Nature Area I parked this fine Spring morning, also known as the first Tuesday of the 2026 version of April.

But, it was not to the Wichita Bluff Nature Area direction I commenced nature communing. It was the other direction, on the Circle Trail, curious to see how the trail connection to the Lucy Park terminus of the Circle Trail was coming along.

On the way to check out the current trail construction status I came upon the goose family you see above. 

Mom and dad with a little flock of goslings. They did not seem to mind me getting close and politely posed for the photo documentation.

The red liquid you see beyond the geese is the Wichita River, running high due to the recent rain.

And above we are as far as one can go on this section of the Circle Trail. This evidenced a lot of progress since I was last at this location. At that point in time the trail ended with a cement wall, with a solid forest of trees beyond the cement wall.

Building this couple mile section of the Circle Trail has been going on for a couple years, or so it seems.

When this section is completed there is then only a short other section to complete to make the Circle Trail a complete circle. That section is at the west end of Lake Wichita. Some stubborn property owners have stifled the completion of that section.

I do not understand why the property owners would not see the trail as being an asset, which is what the Circle Trail has rendered in other parts of town which originally objected to the wide paved trail coming through their neighborhood.

The hiking temperature was perfect this morning. 65 degrees, as measured by the Fahrenheit method. I was comfortably attired in sweat pants and a t-shirt.

Chilly Windy Pre-Easter Saturday Storywalk Around Sikes Lake

Copious amounts of precipitation precipitated last night, along with a couple thunder booms.

So, on this first Saturday of the 2026 version of April, it was to Sikes Lake I ventured to enjoy the chilly wind whilst nature communing, along with a number of other nature communists.

Sufficient rain fell to raise Sikes Lake enough to activate the Sikes Lake Waterfall, also known as the Sikes Lake Dam Spillway, as you can see via the above photo documentation.

There was an odd thing happening at Sikes Lake today, which I had not seen previous years. An Easter themed odd thing, which you will see photo documented below.

Alongside the trail, all around Sikes Lake, there were installations like you see above, and below. The above Easter-themed image had a caption asking us to "Look at the disciples' faces. I wonder what they are thinking...."

I would think they may be thinking along the line of wondering what the meaning is of these colorful plastic eggs. 

 Apparently the above indicated I was at the end of something called "the Storywalk." This was at the bridge at the north end of the lake.

I do not know when this Storywalk took place, or if it is yet to take place. Or maybe it was taking place whilst I was lake walking without me realizing I was on a Storywalk.

Wichita Falls does not have a local newspaper even remotely coming close to managing to do even a mediocre job of covering local news, or events, such as this Storywalk around Sikes Lake.

Thunderstorm Rain Rises Sikes Lake & Sprouts Texas Wildflowers

The predicted thunderstorm arrived last night, a little later than predicted, beginning booming around the time Trump babbled his embarrassing primetime address to the nation. 

The thunderstorm dropped the most rain that has been dropped in quite some time. This rain rose the level of Sikes Lake, which was quite noticeable upon arriving at my nature communing destination this morning.

As you can see, via the view from the rocky east shore of Sikes Lake, looking southwest, some wind action is making for some wave action, and for pleasant walking conditions, which appeared to attract a larger than the norm number of fellow nature lovers.

The precipitation the past couple days appears to have triggered some wildflower spouting.

There were patches of pink evening primroses sprouting in the greenery all around the lake. Such does not quite rise to the colorful landscape I would be seeing right now if I were at my old home zone of the Skagit Valley, with its masses of tulips, daffodils, and other bloomers. 

However, the Texas wildflowers are natural, whilst the Skagit Valley fields of color are commercial bulb farms, planted by man, not by Mother Nature.

Whether natural or manmade, seeing a lot of color brightening the landscape is always a pleasant thing to see....