In Wichita Falls Searching For Lucy Park Hidden Secret

That which you see above, showed up on Facebook this morning, purporting to show a quiet hidden secret hiding somewhere in Lucy Park.

I have been all over Lucy Park, including the off-trail section I refer to as the Lucy Park Backwoods Jungle.

I have not seen anything like what you see above.

The text accompanying the photo...

Most people who visit Wichita Falls never make it to the back corner of Lucy Park.

Past the disc golf course and the walking trails, there's a spillway pond fed by a natural spring, tucked beneath limestone ledges and shaded by old cottonwoods. The water runs a strange, clear turquoise that catches everyone off guard the first time they see it, especially given the flat, dry country surrounding the city. It's not swimmable, but it's absolutely worth the short walk just to stand there and look.

And then someone commented, asking the same thing I wondered, but knew could not be.

Ashley Hood---

Wait, is this the duck pond area?

Yes, I agree, seeing this would absolutely be worth the alleged short walk, just to stand and look. If it actually existed.

No Snakes Today Nature Communing In The Lucy Park Backwoods Jungle

With the temperature in the relatively chilly low 80s, it was to Lucy Park I ventured this second Monday of the 2026 version of September, for some salubrious nature communing and endorphin acquisition.

Shade and a strong breeze added to the relatively semi-chilly comfortness.

The above photo, near what I think of as the start of the Lucy Park Backwoods Jungle, years ago, I saw at this location the biggest snake I have ever ssen in the wild. So, I always amp up my watchfulness at this location.

Ironically, if my memory serves me correctly, and sometimes it does, this was the last time I have seen a snake in the wild in Texas.

I used to have snake encounters regularly when hiking the Tandy Hills in Fort Worth. Or the Cedar Hills in Dallas. The Cedar Hills is where I had my one and only rattlesnake encounter in the wild, in Texas. That was on the mountain bike trail in Cedar Hills State Park.

In the above photo documentation, we are deep in the Lucy Park Backwoods Jungle. As you can see, there is plenty of shade, which helped with making this the most pleasant time, outdoors, I have spent in a long time.

I had the Lucy Park Backwoods Jungle all to myself today, which is not unusual, since that is usually the case.

But there were other nature communers walking and biking the paved Lucy Park paved trails.

Currently, only a couple more days are predicted to go over 100 degrees, as measured by the Fahrenheit method. Highs in the 90s, with rain and thunderstorms are predicted, currently, in a few days.

Theo's Garden Triggered Me Remembering My Washington Rooftop Garden

Yesterday my Favorite Theo Nephew sent me photos of his Tacoma garden.

I was impressed. I sure never was any sort of horticulturist when I was 15.

But I was by the time I was 17, sort of, when I was the teacher's aide in an ornamental horticulture class at the location I matriculated high school at, Burlington-Edison High School, in the town of Burlington, in the Skagit zone of Washington state.

Way more things grow in the Skagit zone of Washington state than I see growing in Texas. 

Giant tulip fields come to mind. Along with other flowers.

Strawberry, raspberry and blueberry fields. Pea fields. Bean patches. And other fields of other fruits and vegetables I am not remembering.

Seeing Theo's garden photos caused me to think back to all the greenery I grew at my Mount Vernon, Washington, home location, before moving to Texas.

I knew I had photos of my old home location, on this computer. It took some looking before I found them.

In the photo above you are seeing flowers I kept blooming on the stairs leading up the main entry, the covered patio, and my rooftop garden.

In the next photo we have gone up the stairs, and are standing under the covered patio, with the rooftop garden to the right, with only a little the roof top garden's greenery visible.

I do not remember spending a lot of time watering plants, but I must have.

In the next photo we are out in the rooftop garden.

The rooftop garden and patio was the roof of the carport, plus the roof over the work room, the weight room, and the lower entry hallway. In the above photo we are out in the garden, looking back at the entry and the covered patio. I had a hammock there on which I spent many hours swaying in the breeze. And a barbecue on which I barbecued many chickens and other meat products.

 Above we are under the covered patio, looking out at the rooftop garden.

Growing greenery like I grew in Washington is not possible in Texas. A sad fact my next-door neighbor found out this summer when all the plants she had planted, all withered and died in the nonstop Texas HEAT.

Nephew Theo's Tacoma Garden Photo Documentation

Yesterday, Friday, 9/11, I made mention of my Favorite Theo Nephew's Garden in a blog post titled Semi-Cool 9/11 Nature Communing Around Sikes Lake With David's Birthday & Theo's Garden, in which I indicated I'd been unable to get the Theo garden photos off my phone.

I figured the problem was being caused by Theo's phone being an Apple I-phone, whilst mine is a Google Android phone. And my photo programs have not been updated in a long long long time. And then, late in the afternoon, my elderly brain remembered my Google programs include Google Photos, which I do not use, but which I figured was likely updated with whatever the latest Apple format might be.

And I was right. I was able to get Theo's photos off my phone using Google Photos.

Here is Theo's explanatory text which came in with the photos...

The tomatoes are starting to die, but they have produced so many tomatoes this year. Also, we took out some of the other vegetables and are putting in new Fall vegetables. That's what the sprouts are. Also, we have some pumpkins planted. 

There are many many many things I miss that I used to enjoy in Washington.

One of those things is the fun I had each Spring planting all sorts of plants. Vegetables, flowers and fruit bearing bushes. I had four big blueberry bushes which produced so many blueberries the freezer got overstocked with them.

My main garden was basically a rooftop garden. I wonder if I have photos of that. I shall look, but not right now...

Semi-Cool 9/11 Nature Communing Around Sikes Lake With David's Birthday & Theo's Garden

Today was chilled enough that outdoor nature communing was doable and pleasant. And so it was to Sikes Lake I ventured for the first time in quite a few days, getting my daily endorphin dose whilst breathing in pleasant outdoor air, instead of that air-conditioned Walmart air which causes me to sneeze.

As you can see, via the above photo documentation, the ongoing drought has shriveled Sikes Lake to the lowest level I've seen since I have been in this town. Yesterday's predicted possible rain only produced a couple drops.

Tomorrow, as you can see. via the below screen cap, we are predicted to break a temperature record set way back years before I was born.

Today, September 11, is my Favorite David Nephew's birthday. His is one of the easiest birthdates to remember, sadly.

I texted David a Happy Birthday text, this morning. David is now old enough to vote.

Texting David, I remember I have been intending to text message David's little brother, my Favorite Theo Nephew, to ask for an update on his gardening project.

Almost instantly Theo got back to me with a message, along with three photos of his garden. It's an impressive operation. 

Sadly, I could not get Theo's photos off my phone. I think the Tacoma relative's phones are Apple I-phones. Maybe that is why I can't get them off my phone. I can see Theo's photos on the phone, but when I click to get them off the phone, like what works with photos like the Sikes Lake photo, all I get is a blank black screen. I tried each of the photo programs on my computer, with the same blank black result.

I could easily get Theo's text off the phone, though. Here's is Theo's text message about his gardening operation...

The tomatoes are starting to die, but they have produced so many tomatoes this year. Also, we took out some of the other vegetables and are putting in new Fall vegetables. That's what the sprouts are. Also, we have some pumpkins planted. 

I have not yet given up on successfully getting Theo's photos off the phone...

Unexpected Thursday HEAT Sends Me Back To Walmart Air-Conditioned Comfort

I thought, what with today's second Thursday of the 2026 version of September forecast to get heated to a relatively chilly 95 degrees, for the high, that my regular nature communing time in the morning should be well below 95 degrees.

Well, I was wrong.

When I left my abode, opening the door, I was hit with a blast of HOT. I woke up my phone to see the temperature was 92 degrees. As measured by the Fahrenheit method.

92 degrees. With absolutely no wind blowing to create any sort of windchill effect.

So, it was back to the air-conditioned comfort of Walmart I drove for my nature communing and endorphin acquisition. 

You can see, via the above photo documentation, there was not much wildlife to observe, this morning, in Walmart.

Thunderstorms are still on the weather menu for later today. Along with some possible flash flooding. It does look as if the clouds are rapidly getting more dense.

The next couple days are predicted to be back over 100. And then next week a couple days with the highs being in the 80s. That is almost an air-conditioned temperature. 

Theo & Ruby's First Day Of 10th Grade

What with the temperature heading, once again, past the 100-degree mark I opted, once again, to do my nature communing in the air-conditioned comfort of Walmart. 

I was about 20 minutes into my endorphin acquisition when my phone made its incoming message noise. I woke up the phone, saw the incoming message was from my little sister, Michele. I clicked on the message and soon saw the two photos you see here, above and below, with the following text...

First day, 10th grade. Their friends meet up at our house to walk together to school.

 I do not know if Tacoma has a three- or four-year high school system. If it is a three-year system, that means today is my nephew Theo and niece Ruby's first day of high school.

Since they are walking to school that would seem to indicate to me that their high school is Stadium High School. That is a school made famous in a couple movies.

Of late I have had way too many instances of thinking that time if flying way too fast. Theo and Ruby in high school is yet one more instance of that. Theo and Ruby turn 16 this coming December 17. 

That means Theo and Ruby will soon be getting driver's licenses. 

I have not seen Theo and Ruby since March of 2019. I remember giving Theo a driving lesson at that point in time, with Theo driving grandma's van. My best guess is Theo would have been, maybe 8, at that point in time. Complex math is not an area I am strong in.

Tuesday Air-Conditioned Walmart Nature Communing With Cowboys

With the temperature already in the 90s, heading to a predicted high today of 104 degrees, as measured by the Fahrenheit method, I again opted for the air-conditioned comfort of Walmart for my daily nature communing and endorphin acquisition.

Two days from now, on the second Thursday of this 2026 version of September, we are currently predicted to get chilled to a high in the mid 90s, followed by a few more 100 degree plus days, and then a cold front blowing in, chilling us to highs in the 80s, with thunderstorming and rain.

I'll believe that when I hear the thunder boom and raindrops hitting my windows.

As you can see, via today's photo documentation, Texas cowboys do their grocery shopping at Walmart, along with all the non-cowboys.

Labor Day Laboring Over100 Degrees HOT

 The first Monday of the 2026 version of September, also known as Labor Day, is being a HOT one. 

With the weather forecast advising that one might want to avoid heatstroke by not being outside for extended periods of time, I opted, once again, to do my nature communing and endorphin acquisition in the air-conditioned comfort of my nearby Walmart. 

Currently this day after day after day over 100 degrees HOT is predicted to continue til around the middle of the month, when we are forecast to get chilled to highs in the 90s, along with some. thunderstorming.

The plant life at my North Texas location is suffering severely from the ongoing drought. A good couple downpours would be greatly appreciated.

121 Degrees Of Selfie Photo Documentation

Shortly before 5 this afternoon of the third day of the 2026 version of September, I braved the HEAT to make my way to Walmart, for some pleasant, air-conditioned nature communing. 

When I started up my vehicle and saw the vehicle's temperature monitoring device was indicating a Death Valley heat level of 121 degrees, as measured by the Fahrenheit method, I got my phone out of its pocket, to attempt photo taking.

After several attempts with the phone camera to take a selfie photo with me in the rear-view mirror, which is the location of the temperature, and direction information, I was semi-successful.

You can sort of see via the photo documentation that I was getting a bit overheated. When you start up the vehicle, the air-conditioning takes a few minutes to reach comforting cooling.

I do not remember any previous year where I found myself looking forward to Winter, like I currently am...

HOT Texas Nature Communing Around Shrinking Sikes Lake

On this second day of the 2026 version of September, I found myself in the mood for outdoor nature communing, instead of the indoor air-conditioned nature communing I have been doing, of late, due to the outer world being way too HOT.

So, it was to nearby Sikes Lake I drove to do some high-speed walking. Which would make the above photo documentation the view one sees looking south from under the Sikes Lake Pavilion. 

See that bridge in the middle of the photo, bridging over shrinking Sikes Lake. In the next photo we will be standing on that bridge, also looking south.

Those two spots you see in the middle of the photo, in the water, looked to me to be seagulls. Do seagulls venture so far inland? I suspect not. Maybe these were albino geese, if such a thing exists.

It is about 20 days til Fall arrives. I hope Fall's arrival brings with it significantly colder temperatures. The current 10-day forecast has us going over 100 degrees, each of those 10 days.

124 Degrees Going To Walmart To See Weird Stuff

One of the reasons I enjoy going to Walmart is one never knows what one might see there. For instance, that which you see photo documented above. I parked a couple slots away from that unusual vehicle.

How is this thing street legal? It had a Texas license plate. How is all that stuff stuck on the car secured sufficiently to render it impossible for stuff to not come flying free whilst motoring, even at a slow speed.

Why would anyone want to drive such a thing?

That is just a variation of a thought which often crosses my mind whilst nature communing in Walmart, with that thought being why would that person wear that in public, or have that part of their body pierced or that hideous tattoo on their nose?

Below you see the temperature in my vehicle when I climbed aboard shortly before 5 this afternoon. 124 degrees as measured by the Fahrenheit method. Currently 100 degree plus days are being forecast well into September.

It was so HOT for Saturday's Hotter 'N Hell 100 bike race event, with the humidity so low, the dehydration danger so high, that the race was shortened from 100 miles to 100 kilometers.

Over 7,500 rolled their wheels on Saturday, with over 120 of the wheel rollers needing to be hospitalized.

I am so looking forward to winter and getting my long pants out of storage...

Sunny Sunday At Lucy Park Walking New Circle Trail Section With Ducks

Even though this final Sunday of the 2026 version of August is being Hotter 'N Hell, it was to Lucy Park I opted to venture for my daily nature communing and endorphin acquisition.

I will likely enjoy the air-conditioned comfort of Walmart, later today.

Lucy Park was an attraction today because I'd recently learned a new section of the Circle Trail was now ready to be walked on. That is part of the new section of Circle Trail you see photo documented above. That little bit of blue on the right is the Wichita River.

This new section of the Circle Trail has been years in the making. With its completion I believe there is only one section of the Circle Trail which needs to be completed, which will make the Circle Trail a complete circle. The uncompleted section is by Mount Wichita, along Lake Wichita, and is being stifled by some landowners who do not want the Circle Trail circling through their property.

To access the new section of Circle Trail I parked near the Lucy Park Duck Pond. It has been a few years since I walked in the Lucy Park Duck Pond zone.

As you can see, the Lucy Park Duck Pond sort of looks like a rain forest in Washington's Olympic National Park.

Above I came upon my first duck, today, in the Lucy Park Duck Pond zone. He politely posed for me.

Soon thereafter I found my trail blocked by a big flock of ducks. After asking them nicely they cleared a path for me.

I like the sound of a flock of ducks quacking.

I am looking forward to the coming significantly cooler days, wearing long pants and a sweatshirt. And no need for air conditioning...

Back To Communing With Nature In Air-Conditioned Walmart

Our couple day break from being way too HOT ended today, just in time for the Hotter N' Hell 100 bike race to be as HOT as advertised.

So, with the outer world being way too HOT, it was back to air-conditioned Walmart, this morning, for my daily bout of endorphin acquisition and nature communing.

Outer world nature communing will not be doable for quite a few days, if the current weather forecast is accurate.

Nature Communing With Wind Chill At Lake Wichita

This morning when I woke up my computer a little past 6am, the computer's temperature monitor was telling me the outer world was currently chilled to 68 degrees, as measured by the Fahrenheit method.

That chilly temperature indicated this final Thursday of the 2026 version of August was going to be another under 100 degree day, like yesterday, making for outdoor nature communing and endorphin acquisition.

Yesterday it was to Sikes Lake I ventured, today it was to equally nearby Lake Wichita.

The air was cooler today than yesterday. With the strongest wind I have experienced in a long long time making for some good wind chill. Gusting, at times, making staying vertical a fun challenge.

Above you see the view I saw soon after exiting my vehicle. The dry spillway of Lake Wichita Dam. That spillway has been dry for years. I do not remember when last I saw water spilling over that spillway.

Above we are on the lake side of the dam, above the spillway. If Lake Wichita had its normal amount of water, that is what you'd see above, water about to spill over the dam's spillway. 

Above we are about to walk out on the Lake Wichita Boardwalk. I do not know what type vegetation it is that you see on both sides of the Boardwalk, But you can see that that vegetation is giving a good indicator of how windy it is.

Usually, when it is windy, walking out on this floating dock is a bit adventurous, what with the rocking motion. Today there was no rocking motion. I think the lake level is so low that the dock is no longer floating, but is sitting on the lake bottom.

Tomorrow, and for the entire Hotter 'N Hell 100 weekend, the temperature is predicted to be back over 100 degrees

Relatively Chilly Nature Communing Shrinking Sikes Lake

For the first time in what seems like weeks, the outer world temperature chilled to a level comfortable enough for outdoor endorphin acquisition, instead of the stifling air-conditioned comfort of Walmart, WinCo, Target or Lowe's.

So, with the temperature barely in the 80s, under a totally cloudy sun-free sky, it was to Sikes Lake I ventured for the first time in what seems like a long time, for some extremely pleasant communing with nature.

From the above photo documentation from the rocky east shore of Sikes Lake, looking west, one might think the ongoing drought has had no dire effect on this particular North Texas lake. One would be wrong to think that.

Above is what Sikes Lake looks like a short distance north of that view from the rocky east shore. I don't know why the duck flock hangs out at this part of the lake, instead of the part which currently does not look as if it is drying up.

Above and below, we are at the far north end of Sikes Lake, looking south. As you can see, mostly dried up.

With this section dried up for a long enough time for green vegetation to sprout.

Above I am heading back to my vehicular transport, standing on the middle of the bridge which takes one from one side of Sikes Lake to the other.

Possible precipitation was in the forecast today, along with the temperature only going to 99 degrees, as measured by the Fahrenheit method. I did not expect to see any rain, as of late rain predictions have not been close to being accurate.

But, I was barely back in my vehicle, windows rolled down, when big drops of wet started hitting the windshield, soon falling copiously enough that I rolled up the windows, and took the above photo.

The temperature is currently forecast to be back well over 100 for this weekend's Hotter 'N Hell 100 bike event.

Wichita Falls Nearby Wildfire Evacuation

Yesterday, the day known as Monday, also known as August 24, I braved the record breaking 111-degree heat to drive to Walmart a few minutes before 5. As soon as I turned left on to Southwest Boulevard I saw a towering plume of smoke.

When I exited Walmart I took the photo you see above of that aforementioned towering plume of smoke.

I wondered if this was a wildfire and so checked to local news sources, online, when I was back at my computer. No mention was being made of a fire.

And then this morning, first checking the Wichita Falls Times Record News I saw no mention of a fire. I have previously made mention of the fact that the Wichita Falls Times Record News is the lamest newspaper I have ever encountered. 

After finding no mention of a fire in the one and only local newspaper I checked my more reliable local news source. The online version of KFDX TV, known as the Texoma Homepage.

As soon as the Texoma Homepage popped up on my screen I saw...

Evacuations in order for Jack County residents with large blaze

Clicking the link I soon read...

Residents in part of Jack County were issued an emergency evacuation order due to a wildfire that’s spread to 25,000 acres.

At just after 2:40 a.m. on August 25, an evacuation warning was sent out, saying that FM 4 – just southwest of Jacksboro – was shut down due to an ongoing wildfire spreading north.

According to our crew on scene, the entire area of Highway 4 North and East from FM 2210 to US Highway 281 is being evacuated.

The Ross fire began on August 24 in Palo Pinto County and has since spread over 25,000 acres into Jack County.

I assume this fire was the source of the above photo documentation. Texas counties are small. Jack County is a short distance south and east of Wichita County.

Record Breaking 111 Degrees Escape To Lowe's In Wichita Falls

When I woke up my computer this morning, at its regular 6 in the morning wakeup time, I saw the outer world temperature was already 88 degrees as measured by the Fahrenheit method. That early morning temperature had me thinking I was in for one super HOT day.

A few minutes later I checked in on today's forecast, to see that which you see screen capped above. A high today of 111, breaking the 2006 record of 109 degrees. 

With the heat being dangerous, as warned by the forecast, I took the minimize outdoor activity advice and opted to go to Lowe's for my regularly scheduled nature communing.

Lowe's works better for minimizing outdoor exposure purposes, because it is way easier to park near an entry door at Lowe's than it is at Walmart.

From the photo documentation you'd think Lowe's was not busy. But, I saw a lot of shoppers. Maybe not as many as is the norm at Walmart.

Lowe's seems even bigger than Walmart. And its air-conditioning is cooler. 

Walmart is far more entertaining for people watching purposes, than was the case with Lowe's. 

I do not recollect ever looking forward to Winter as much as I currently am...

Record Breaking 110 Degrees Friday In Wichita Falls

 Another way too HOT day at my Wichita Falls location in Texas.

110 degrees as measured by the Fahrenheit method, scheduled to break the record high of 109 set way back in 2023.

This morning, soon after I woke up my computer, I heard a loud bang, followed by the power going out for what seemed less than a second.

A power outage long enough that I had to reset the clock on my microwave, but all my other electronic devices, with clocks, managed to keep keeping time.

I think Walmart will once again be my walking venue, today.

Followed, maybe, by a quick dip in the way too HOT swimming pool, to get wet and then get cool as the HOT pool water quickly evaporates.

Escaping Possible Record Breaking HEAT In Walmart

Another way too HOT day in North Texas. 109, nearing the record for this day, of 110. 

A chance of a thunderstorm later today.

Some lightning strikes and thunder booms, along with a good downpour, would be a nice break from the monotonous clear blue-sky HEAT.

It was back to Walmart, again, this morning for my daily walk.

I am not the only one using Walmart for this purpose. One starts to see the same people, day after day, enjoying the air-conditioned hiking venue.