It Takes One Gateway Park Wheel Roller Only An Hour To Change A Light Bulb

As you can see I was back at my favorite photo op location in Fort Worth's Gateway Park today, rolling my wheels twice over every inch of Gateway Park's mountain bike trails.

How many miles?

I don't know, for sure. Maybe 10, give or take a mile or two.

Prior to acquiring much needed endorphins by aerobically over stimulating I spent an hour, give or take a minute or two, doing an extremely difficult auto mechanic task.

Changing a burnt out left turn signaling light bulb.

One would think this would be easy, and maybe it is, but not for me. I am not auto mechanically inclined.

I have a backlog of blogging fodder currently backing me up. I really do not like a blogging fodder backup.

And then there is Miss Julie,  known as the Queen of Assumption, assuming it was  a good idea to ask me to share a dozen things I am grateful for every day for a week. I can think of dozens upon dozens of things I am grateful for, but I can't think of a reason why I would want to be sharing my gratefulness.

It was the Fort Worth Connie D who started the excessive gratefulness flood.

Just saw an incoming blog comment, commenting about the Prophet J.D. Granger and his festivals. This relates to one of my blogging fodder backups. That being J.D. Granger's Clearfork Music Festival which took place on his imaginary island on the last Saturday of August, which according to one Dallas observer was a big dud.

I will hit the publish button on this particular blogging and then check out J.D. Granger's latest dud....

Rolling My Wheels In Fort Worth's Gateway Park After A Happy Birthday Mom Call

On this day in August, many decades ago, in a town in Oregon named Eugene, my mom and dad's first baby boy was born.

Which is why on my way to Gateway Park today I called my mom and dad to wish them a happy birthday, well, more my mom, since mom did most of the work on this day, long ago.

I'd not rolled over the Gateway Park mountain bike trails in well over a week, as in, I think, two Saturday's ago.

As you can see, via my favorite photo op location in Gateway Park, the sky is currently mostly cloud free, despite the forecast today for thunderstorms.

With rain.

Yesterday in the afternoon a thunderstorm popped up, with lightning bolts and thunder. But no rain hit the ground at my location. That struck me as odd. I suppose the air is so overheated that falling rain evaporates before it hits the ground, hence the extreme humidity.

Early this morning I was pool bound for almost an hour. I think  that is a record, pool time-wise. And then in the noon time frame I rolled my bike's wheels more miles than any time previous in Gateway Park.

The result of all this excessive aerobicizing is I am currently in a state of Euphoric Endorphin Bliss. Also known as EEB. I do not recollect the last time an EEB  bout was a  blissful as this current EEB bout.

If anyone wants to annoy me, with minimal repercussions, now would be a good time do so, whilst I am in EEB mode....

Rolling In Fort Worth's Gateway Park Getting Splashed By Big Trinity River Fish

No. That is not pea soup you are looking at in the picture. Although pea soup does sound real good, even on this not too chilly 2nd day of October.

The pea soup colored water you are looking at in the picture is the some of the pristine water that flows in the Trinity River as it passes past Fort Worth's Gateway Park.

When I stopped my wheels from rolling over the Gateway Park mountain bike trails today and looked over the cliff at the river, I was startled to see a BIG fish jump out of the water, making a BIG splash.

If I were looking at a river in Washington, like the Skagit or the Columbia, I would have thought I'd seen a BIG salmon make a BIG jump.

I then saw several other big fish, submerged barely below the green surface, like the one I zoomed in on above.

I have no idea what species of fish these were, except for being fairly certain they were not salmon.

I had myself a really fine time biking today.

And then I got back to my computer to learn there is a scandal a-brewing.

It always takes me awhile to figure out what is scandalous about a particular scandal when one begins a-brewing. I do not think this particular scandal will take me as long to figure out as it took me to figure out what was scandalous about the Watergate scandal when I learned about that scandal in grade school....

HOT Gateway Park Mountain Biking With Lizards Before Harvesting Giant Town Talk Cantaloupe

My handlebars were back in their regular Saturday position this 2nd Saturday of July, sitting atop a cliff, high above the Trinity River in Fort Worth's Gateway Park.

Today I was sharing the mountain bike trails with more fellow bikers than any previous time at this location.

The Gateway Park mountain bike trail is narrow single track, for the most part.

I prefer to do my bike riding when I'm not either asking someone if I can pass, or being asked by some young speed demon hotshot if he can pass the slow geezer blocking his way.

I keep reading reports about there being a lot of snake activity this summer. So far, I have not been seeing this. I did see a lot of reptile action today in the form of lizards.

This morning, for the first time this HOT time of the year, the water in the swimming pool is getting near to a lukewarm temperature warmer than the morning air. I prefer my pool dips to be cooling, not warming.

It being Saturday, and since Gateway Park is a short distance away, I did my regular stop at Town Talk to do some treasure hunting.

Today's best treasure was huge cantaloupe. I had one for lunch. Best cantaloupe I've had this century. Best I can remember since years ago, in Utah, camping in a KOA, next to a cantaloupe field.

Also got some jalapenos, dozens of chicken legs, extra sharp white cheddar cheese, jicama, a case of Siggi brand Icelandic style yogurt in the ginger/orange flavor. And likely some other stuff I am forgetting right now.

Today it is scheduled to be heated to over 100 again. But tomorrow, if the temperature predictors are predicting correctly, a cold front arrives, dropping the Sunday down into the low 80s. Not quite a get out the long underwear level of chill. But I will make sure I have a sweatshirt available.

Rain is also in the forecast for Sunday. I'll believe that when I can step outside for a natural shower.

Today I Found Myself Wondering If The Trinity River Vision Boondoggle's Gateway Park Master Plan Includes Zombie Runs

Zombie Run Party Zone

Early this first morning of June of 2013 I had myself a really swell swimming time.

By the time the noon time frame came around I felt the need for some more endorphin inducing aerobic stimulation, so, since it is Saturday, and creature of habit that I be, as in I go to Town Talk on Saturday, I decided to get my aerobic stimulation via mountain biking at Gateway Park.

The north entry to Gateway Park is about a half mile from Town Talk. Maybe less. As I approached the entry I could see something was not normal, in the form of a guy waving a flag.

Turning left into the entry I saw an "Event Parking $10" sign. I stopped and asked the guy what the event was.

Zombie Run, was the answer.

I asked if parking was blocked to the mountain bike trail. He told me I could park easily at the Beach Street entry. So, that is what I did.

I parked, unloaded the bike and headed to the mountain bike trailhead, ready to bail if it was full of Zombies, like the last time Gateway Park had a Zombie Run.

The Zombie Run Party Zone, photo above, is what I saw when I got to the mountain bike trailhead. I pedaled over to the Party Zone to hear loud music and see groups of girls, scantily attired, doing dance routines.

It was very festive. I learned this was the end point for those who successfully run the Gauntlet of Zombies.

Continuing on to the mountain bike trail, I came across no Zombies, at first, but could hear Zombie attacks in the distance. The first section of trail ended up being Zombie free, start to finish. The next section was blocked, eventually, by yellow tape, so I opted to pedal the paved trail, eventually coming to the trail blockage you see below.

The above Zombie was attacking the water supply whilst waiting for incoming runners. A Zombie water table blocked the trail I was on. The water supply under Zombie attack was to the right of the blocked trail.

There were 3 Zombies at the location where the Zombie was attacking the water supply. A group of runners showed up and near as I could tell if a runner made it to the water supply table it was neutral territory, but prior to reaching the Neutral Zone a Zombie could attack a runner, grabbing the runner's 'flag,' thus rendering the runner neutral. Or, maybe dead. I'm not sure.

In the picture above those are all runners, including Wonder Woman, except for the Zombie with her hands high on her hips, on the left.

The Zombies and runners all seemed to be having themselves a really fine time over exerting in the hot humidity.

Finishing my bike ride and continuing on to Town Talk, today my treasure hunting rendered 2 big bags of oranges, something called Greek Yogurt Butter and a large pork loin, among other things I am not remembering right now.

One more thing.

Something called the Gateway Park Master Plan is part of the Trinity River Vision Boondoggle. A few days ago I asked if anyone knows of a time table for the Gateway Park Master Plan, or any part of the Trinity River Vision Boondoggle.

All I heard was crickets chirping.

Today I wondered if these Gateway Park Zombie Runs are more goofy genius from the Trinity River Vision Boondoggle. It sort of fits in with wakeboard lakes, drive-in movie theaters, happy hour inner tube floats and the world's new premiere music venue.....

Almost Going Over A Cliff Again In Gateway Park Without Daylight Savings Time

My handlebars were back in Gateway Park on the FWMBA (Fort Worth Mountain Bike Association) mountain bike trail this first Sunday of the next to last month of 2012.

The location of my handlebars, this time, is different than the last time I took a picture of my bike about to go over a cliff into the Trinity River.

The Trinity River is that real slow moving slimy green water-like entity you see below the handlebars.

This morning it was a real nice thing to be rid of that annoying Daylight Savings Time aberration that has the sun arriving later in the morning than I prefer.

This morning I went swimming before 7. Yesterday if I had gone swimming before 7 it would have been in the dark.

There was a lot of soccer game action today in Gateway Park. The appeal of that sport has always alluded me.

There were also a lot of disc golfers today in Gateway Park. The appeal of that sport has also always alluded me.

There were not a lot of mountain bikers today in Gateway Park. The appeal of that sport has never alluded me.

I'm am sitting here waiting for the lunch buzzer. When the buzzer buzzes this will indicate that the oven fries I'm frying in the oven are ready for consumption. This morning I BBQed some pork product.

When the buzzer buzzes, lunch today will consist of the aforementioned oven fries and BBQ pork product, plus salad made from Romaine, with yellow peppers, cauliflower, tomatoes and olives. Today's lunch drink is  grapefruit juice lemonade. This tastes better than it sounds.

The buzzer will be buzzing in about 10 minutes. If you want to come for lunch you'd best hurry up and get here.

The buzzer is buzzing. I was off with my time estimate.

Tuesday Afternoon Chills After I Did Not Go Over A Cliff At Gateway Park Pedaling Past The Park's Armadillo Corpse

The sun had not yet heated the outer world to over 100 degrees, today, when I pedaled past the Gateway Park murdered armadillo corpse, on my way to the entry to the FWMBA mountain bike trail.

Due to trees and underbrush providing a thick jungle-like canopy, the almost total shade makes for a totally non-HOT mountain biking experience in Gateway Park.

On Saturday, when my sister who lives in Arizona went hiking with me on the Tandy Hills, she was lamenting about the lack of shade trees along her walking paths in the desert she calls home.

Shade is a good thing.

In the picture above you are looking over my handlebars at the Trinity River. Usually my digital camera somehow turns the Trinity River water into a color that makes it look much more appealing, and blue, than it actually looks.

I don't know what made the difference, but today my digital camera managed to accurately capture the actual slimy green color of the Trinity River, in its current state of being perfect for a bacteria-laden inner tube float.

In the picture it appears I am at the Trinity River's edge. In reality my handlebars are at the edge of a cliff about 40 feet above the river. Pedaling fast on the Gateway Park FWMBA mountain bike trail, if one were to make a wrong turn, at a key point, one might find oneself flying into the river.

As I sit here typing I've been noticing the temperature plummeting, as measured by my computer based weather monitoring device. In a very short time we have gone from being over 100 to a slightly chilly 88, supposedly with light rain, as you can via the graphic below. I must step outside and see if I feel chilly and slightly dampened.

Well, stepping outside I could feel the chill, but I felt no light rain. But, clouds have arrived and I can see where rain might be currently falling on parts of this great metropolis.

This has been a rather rapid invasion of clouds. When I was in the outer world a couple hours ago, at Gateway Park, I don't recollect seeing any clouds.

Gateway Park Mountain Bike Trail Sign Keeps Me From Flying Over Cliff In To The Trinity River

In the picture you are deep in the heart of the Gateway Park jungle, on a mountain bike trail.

That sign tacked to a tree trunk says "TRAIL" with a useful arrow pointing the way.

Without that "TRAIL" sign one might not make the turn and instead continue straight ahead, which in about 15 feet would have you flying over a cliff and falling about 40 feet to the raging waters of the Trinity River.

Til today I'd missed two days in a row of getting my daily salubrious endorphin inducing aerobic stimulation.

Currently the mountain bike trails, along with the paved trails, at Gateway Park, is my favorite place to pedal. Gateway Park is about 4 miles west of my abode, which makes it very convenient.

I am a bit appalled that these trails have long been in existence with me ignorant of their usefulness. It's like all the years I was unaware that I had hills to hike so close to where I live, known as the Tandy Hills.

In my wanton ignorance I used to frequently drive long distances to bike and hike.

Like 25 miles to Cedar Hills State Park in south Dallas to both bike and hike.

Or north to the hiking and biking trails at various parks on Lake Grapevine.

Many a time I've driven 150 miles roundtrip to bike or hike at Dinosaur Valley State Park.

Or east 120 miles to Tyler State Park to mountain bike.

And many other locations, not so far and way too far, like Waco, to find mountain bike trails at Cameron Park on the Brazos River.

And now, I find myself having most of my hiking and biking needs met by locations 4 miles (or less) distant from my living quarters.