Sikes Lake Fishing With Grandpa

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Balmy Lucy Park Sunday Backwoods Jungle With No Snakes

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

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

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

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

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

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

HOT July Saturday Nature Communing Around Sikes Lake

Another HOT July day at my north Texas location.

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

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

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

Thunderstorms are on the weather menu this afternoon.

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

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

Breezy Friday Naturally Air-Conditioned Lake Wichita Dam Walking

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

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

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

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

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

HOT Thursday Shady Lucy Park Nature Communing

On this second Thursday of the 2026 version of July, my Texas location on the planet is scheduled to get heated to over 100 degrees today, as measured by the Fahrenheit method.

Today's weather advisory advised using caution regarding outdoor exposure to the extreme HEAT.

With that HOT advisory in mind, I opted to take myself to Lucy Park today for some shady nature communing on the Lucy Park paved trails.

As you can see, via the photo documentation, the shaded Lucy Park trail does not look even remotely like a location in need of using caution in the extreme HEAT. The relative pleasantness was helped by a steady cooling breeze.

I only came upon one other person, today, nature communing in Lucy Park. And that person was doing his nature communing on a bicycle.

If I think about it, I miss bike riding. I think it was pre-COVID my final bike was stolen.

HOT Hiking Around Mount Wichita Power Outage

This first Tuesday of the 2026 version of July I needed to visit the post office to securely mail an envelope which contained something which needed to be securely mailed. 

And so, since the post office is about halfway to Lake Wichita Park, which is located at the west end of Lake Wichita, and since it had been a long-time since I had been to the park where Mount Wichita is located, I opted to drive there to get myself overheated hiking the HOT Circle Trail to its termination point.

That would make that a statue of a couple veterans in the Veterans Memorial Plaza, which is near the base of Mount Wichita, you are seeing in the photo documentation above and below.

There are multiple installations on the Veterans Memorial Plaza. It is a well-done memorial.

When I was first living in Wichita Falls hiking to the summit of Mount Wichita multiple times, during one visit, was the norm. Now that I am elderly there is no way I would try to even get to the summit, one time.

A couple years ago the Circle Trail was added to, a couple new miles, terminating where a property owner has put up a fight, not wanting this well-done paved trail to cross his property. I walked to that termination point today. The property owner is still blocking the trail with multiple boats.

This was the view I saw when I turned around from the trail termination point, with Mount Wichita looking as if it rises from a lush jungle.

Returning to my abode, parking, I could not get my vehicle's interior lights to turn off. That took about 15 extremely overheated minutes to figure out.

And then, after I got the vehicle's lights out, I opened the door to my abode to find the power was out. Lunch was in the timed oven, now no longer cooking.

With no power it does not take long to miss the comfort air conditioning provides.

About a half hour later the power came back on.

A few winters ago, it was a Texas-wide nightmare when the power went out for several days, with the temperature below zero at my location. I think the power going out for days with the temperature reaching over 100, would be worse than it happening when it is below zero. 

I hope I don't get to find out if that is true.

Rocking & Swaying 4th Of July In Lucy Park

With the early morning temperature already in the 90s, I opted not to go to the downtown Wichita Falls Old-Fashioned 4th of July Parade.

And instead opted to go to the relatively shady Lucy Park to get myself some much-needed endorphins.

Til today it has been a year or two or three or more since I walked myself onto the treacherous Lucy Park suspension bridge over the Wichita River.

I made it to the middle of the bridge before taking a photo. The bridge rocked and swayed more than I remembered previously. It made me dizzy.

Lucy Park was busier than I thought it'd be today. I guess a lot of people make Lucy Park their 4th of July destination.

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.