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...

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.

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.

Final Day Of March Hiking Green Lucy Park Backwoods Jungle

It was to Lucy Park I ventured on this final day of the 2026 version of March, to hike the Lucy Park Backwoods Jungle, which was significantly greener when last I hiked this location.

Spring has definitely sprung. Two weeks ago, at this Lucy Park location, the color scheme was primarily brown, with very little green.

Today may be the last time I hike the Lucy Park Backwoods Jungle for a while, what with thunderstorms and rain on the menu for later today, and following days. With heavy downpours and tornado potential.

Tomorrow there is going to be the biggest statewide test of the Emergency Notification system, with radio warnings, phone text messages, sirens and who knows what else, starting around 10:30 in the morning, if the info I heard on the radio is accurate.

Nature Communing Lucy Park's Jungle-Free Backwoods Jungle

It was to Lucy Park I ventured this third Wednesday morning of the 2026 version of March, for some actual salubrious outdoor nature communing, after several days of avoiding such, due to the chilly windy outdoor conditions, which have now abated, with today's high getting into the 80s, if the prediction is accurate.

I speed hiked the Lucy Park Backwoods Jungle today, photo documented above.

I thought the Lucy Park Backwoods might be in near jungle mode, but the Lucy Park trees have not greened up as much as the trees seem to have greened in non-park locations.

Maybe the temperature is a few degrees cooler in Lucy Park, due to the lack of blacktop and heat producing vehicles which warm up the trees lining streets in town, hence causing the Lucy Park trees to more slowly start to sprout leaves.

Anyway, it was mighty nice to get a dose of endorphins, today, after experiencing withdrawal symptoms the past several days.

Thursday the temperature is scheduled to get into the 90s, so I should have another good day of nature communing tomorrow.

Thursday Lucy Park Nature Communing With Yellow Wildflowers

Yesterday I blogged about a Chilly Wednesday Pink Purple Walk Around Sikes Lake in which, after seeing a flowering tree being a harbinger of the coming Spring, I made mention of the fact that soon wildflowers would be coloring the Texas landscape.

And now, just a day later, I found myself nature communing at Lucy Park, seeing the landscape being colored by the bright yellow wildflower you see photo documented above.

I know the name of some Texas wildflowers, like Bluebonnets and Evening Primroses, but I do not know the name of this beautiful bright yellow wildflower.

The nature communing was pleasant today, though I was overdressed in sweatpants. The temperature was in the upper 60s, heading to a high in the 80s on this first Thursday of the 2026 version of March.

Thunderstorms are again on the weather menu for today and tomorrow. 

Final Day Of February Lucy Park Backwoods Jungle Nature Communing

On this final day of the 2026 version of February, it was to the Lucy Park Backwoods Jungle I ventured for some salubrious nature communing and that activities resulting endorphins.

The temperature was in the mid 70s whilst I nature communed, heading for a predicted high of 86 degrees as measured via the Fahrenheit method.

Thunderstorms are on the weather menu for tonight. And the next several days.

It has been a while since I heard a thunderclap.

I filled up my gas tank this morning, anticipating a big price increase due to Trump's illegal attack on Iran.

Gas was $2.19 when last I pumped, before today. This morning the price per gallon had gone up to $2.46.

Dozens of Iranian grade school kids killed in a missile strike on a school. 

Depressing...

Extremely Windy Lucy Park Red Flag Warning

It was back to Lucy Park I ventured on this next to last Thursday of the 2026 version of February, for some extremely windy nature communing.

The extreme wind, low humidity and warm temperature resulted today in a Red Flag Warning for North Texas, Oklahoma and Kansas.

A Red Flag Warning indicates there is extreme wildfire danger. 

Today I did not go too far onto the Lucy Park suspension bridge over the Wichita River, due to that extreme wind causing the bridge to sway in a way which took crossing it out of my comfort zone.

Lucy Park Backwoods Jungle Nature Communing

It has been a few days since I got myself some endorphins acquired whilst nature communing. So, today, President's Day, also known as Monday, the third such day in the 2026 version of February, I drove to Lucy Park to nature commune through the Lucy Park backwoods jungle.

As you can see, via the photo documentation, the Lucy Park backwoods jungle is currently not in jungle mode, what with the complete absence of green leaves and green grass or any other green foliage.

The backwoods was a bit muddy due to Saturday's rain. 

The temperature was in the upper 60s during my nature communing time this morning. Heading to a high today somewhere in the 80s.

It seems like only a week or two ago the temperature at my location was below zero. 

Had you told me then that within a week I would be feeling the need to turn my interior climate control system from heat mode to air-conditioned mode, I would have thought such a prediction was ridiculous.

Monday Lucy Park Nature Communing With Snow Avoiding Risky Bridge

It was to Lucy Park I ventured, this first Monday of the 2026 version of February, hoping to acquire some endorphins via aerobic stimulation from fast walking whilst nature communing.

As you can see via the photo documentation, there is still snow and ice on the ground, slowing up fast walking in many sections of the trail.

That CAUTION sign you see at the entry to the Lucy Park suspension bridge always strikes me as a bit goofy. I'll enlarge the CAUTION sign to render it easily readable.

Who in their right cautious mind would cross a suspension bridge about which you are being warned it is unstable?

I heeded the warning and did not risk crossing the bridge. 

The predicted temperature high for today is 67 degrees as measured by the Fahrenheit method. Tomorrow the predicted high is in the 70s. 

I doubt the snow and ice will last much longer.

First Nature Communing Of The New 2026 Year

Eleven days into the new year of 2026 it was to Lucy Park I ventured this second Monday of the new year to do my first nature communing of the new year.

As you can see, via the view of the Lucy Park suspension bridge, the sky is almost clear of clouds. What you cannot see is there is zero wind blowing, hence absolutely no wind chill. What you also cannot see is that even though there is no wind chill, the outer world air is still quite chilly, above freezing by quite a few degrees, but, still chilly.

There were a few others nature communing in Lucy Park, today, but none showed up in the photo documentation.

The reason I have done no nature communing this year, til today, is I have been a bit sick for the first time since well before COVID. 

A cold.

Clogged up, coughing, sore throat, sneezing, watery eyes.

Now that I am on the recovery side of being sick, I hope it is, once again, many years before I enjoy that experience again...

First Lucy Park Nature Communing Of The New Year

On this first day of the new year, also known as January 1, 2026, it was to Lucy Park I ventured to commune with nature via hiking the Lucy Park Backwoods Jungle, which currently does not look like a jungle, due to the utter lack of any greenery.

The temperature whilst I was nature communing was somewhere in the 40s. The sky was mostly free of clouds. No wind was blowing.

I'd never seen the Wichita River water so clear as it was today.

If there were fish in the river I would have been able to see them. I was able to see the river bottom, something I had not seen before. Seeing such one could see how shallow the river is. Maybe waist deep, at the deepest.

New Year's Eve was quite quiet at my location. My New Year's Eve party consisted of pizza and an adult beverage in the form of beer. 

My only New Year Resolution is to try and get in better shape via losing some weight so as to comfortably fit into a swimsuit to feel presentable on a tropical beach.

I was up way before the crack of dawn on this first day of the new year. A good start to a new year...

Christmas Eve Eve Shadow Of The Lucy Park Thin Man Nature Communing

 A couple days into winter, the morning of Christmas Eve Eve, it was to Lucy Park I ventured, for the first time in several weeks, to have myself some salubrious nature communing in pleasant, summer-like weather.

Which would make the above photo documentation the Shadow of the Lucy Park Thin Man.

As you can see, above and below, the predominant color scheme of Lucy Park is now not too colorful. Mostly brown.

What you see above is a look at the current state of area of Lucy Park which I refer to as the Lucy Park Backwoods Jungle. Currently not in jungle mode.

Entering Lucy Park today I saw something I've never seen, previously, at my current Texas location.

Three deer running alongside the Wichita River. 

Upon parking and exiting my vehicle I hoped to be able to photo document the deer. I did see them again, but not close enough to photograph. And they were being chased by a dog, which had the deer leaping and moving real fast.

How did three deer find their way into the heart of a congested urban zone? 

If I saw deer at nearby Lake Wichita Park, that would not surprise me, as that location is at the edge of the urban zone.

Of late my nature communing has consisted of walking in Walmart, observing all the various human forms. Such is not great exercise. I feel well exercised by today's nature communing in Lucy Park.

The reason my nature communing of late has been taking place indoors is because the temperature has been in the freezing zone. But, yesterday a heat wave arrived, which is scheduled to continue for several days.

Today I suspect I will be switching my interior space's climate control back to air-conditioning mode. Something I do not remember ever doing, previously, a couple days before Christmas...

Chilly Day After Thanksgiving At Lucy Park

It was back to Lucy Park I ventured on this day after Thanksgiving, for some nature communing along with burning some of the excessive calories gained from yesterday's Thanksgiving buffet.

As you can see via the photo documentation, the deciduous trees have lost all their leaves. The evergreen trees remain green, because that is how they are programmed.

Whilst walking a strong wind was blowing. The temperature was chilled into the low 50s, with that strong wind making it feel real cold. 

A few days ago I was at Lucy Park in shorts and tank top. And I overheated. Today I was in sweatpants, hooded sweatshirt, wool hat. And I did not overheat. Instead I got cold.

Winter is less than a month away. Not looking forward to freezing temperatures and snow. 

Sunday Lucy Park Duck Pond Nature Communing

On this next to last Sunday of the 2025 version of November, with winter less than a month away, it was back to Lucy Park I ventured on this sunny day, to commune with nature.

I usually park at the Lucy Park log cabin parking lot when doing Lucy Park nature communing. Today I opted to break that repetitive pattern and instead parked at the Lucy Park duck pond parking lot.

Which would make that, in the photo above, a look at one section of the scenic Lucy Park duck pond, currently populated by more geese than ducks.

With more than two-thirds of fall already gone, the leaves in the trees have mostly fallen, rendering the landscape much less green than just a short time ago. Now yellows and browns are the predominate color screen, though we do see some green in the above photo documentation.

The temperature was barely in the 50s when I was in nature communing mode. But, I did not feel at all chilly, even though I did not have on cold weather outerwear, just my regular nature communing attire of shorts and a tank top. 

Rain and thunderstorms are on the weather menu for later today, and tomorrow. 

Sunday Blown Cold Off Wichita Bluff Nature Area To Lucy Park

The leaves in the trees at my North Texas location have finally received the memo telling them it is time to change the color of the leaves from green to eye pleasing shades of golden yellow.

Even the Wichita River, as seen in the above photo documentation, is matching the new leaf colors, viewed this second Sunday of 2025's November, in Lucy Park.

A bit before 11 this morning I drove to the west entry to the Wichita Bluffs Nature Area for my nature communing. The temperature was barely in the 50s. A strong wind was busy blowing. I exited my vehicle and re-entered it a few seconds later, deciding it was too cold, and that nearby Lucy Park, would not be as exposed to the gusting wind.

Tonight the temperature is again predicted to dip below freezing, into the 20s. The past few days there have been freeze warnings, but no freezing has happened. I suspect such will no longer be the case by tomorrow morning.

Will tomorrow be that dreaded day where I switch my climate control from air-conditioning cooling, to heat mode? I hope not....

Sunday Lucy Park Backwoods Jungle Hike With Tyrannosaurus Rex

 On this first Sunday of 2025's November, it was to Lucy Park I ventured for some salubrious nature communing gained via joining the throngs, well, three other people, hiking the Lucy Park Backwoods Jungle.

Before entering the Backwoods Jungle I stopped to admire and photo document the Lucy Park archeological site.

No signage informs the observer which creature's remains the observer is observing.

Methinks it looks like it may be the remains of a T-rex.

Let's see if I can spell the full name without getting red flagged.

Tyrannosaurus Rex.

Spelled correctly on almost the first try. I was missing an 'n'.

Continuing on from the Lucy Park archeological site I soon entered the Lucy Park Backwoods Jungle.

The Wichita River is looking peaceful and serene as it flows through the jungle. This location is near where I encountered the biggest snake I have ever come across whilst in the outer world. That was several years ago.

Currently it is too cold for snakes to be slithering. A few weeks ago, when the outer world was heated closer to 100 than freezing I would have been vigilantly on the lookout for snakes as I made my way through the dense jungle.

Returning to Standard Time has caused me some confusion. Every six months I have trouble remembering how to change the time on some of my devices. I am grateful for the devices which can change the time without any input from me, like my phone, the TV, and the computer.

It is almost noon, Standard Time. My stomach is still on Daylight Savings Time, thus hungry. This calls for an early lunch today...

Strong Wind Blows Me To Lucy Park For Chilly Nature Communing

At my Texas location on the planet the wind has been busy blowing hard the last two days, with gusts nearing 50 miles per hour.

I am just about 100% this particular wind gusting has nothing to do with that super powerful Melissa Hurricane which is wreaking havoc a few miles to the east and south of my location.

It was to Lucy Park I opted to venture for some nature communing and endorphin acquisition and dodging blowing debris.

As you can see via the photo documentation of the Lucy Park suspension bridge over the Wichita River, the leaves have only barely began to lose their green color. That green color may start rapidly departing after tonight, as the first freeze of the freezing season is predicted for the next couple nights.

The wind chill today had me out of shorts and in sweatpants and a long sleeve shirt for the first time in many months. Seems weird to go so rapidly from being in the 90s a couple days ago, to freezing tonight.

The route to Lucy Park takes me by MSU (Midwestern State University). I was shocked, shocked I tell you, to see the annual MSU Christmas display is already arriving. I forget the formal name of this HUGE installation. I think it is Burns something or other.

We have not even arrived at Halloween yet. Why is Christmas arriving so soon?

Windy Shadow of The Lucy Park Thin Man Hiking Backwoods Jungle

 

It was to Lucy Park I ventured this next to last Monday of the 2025 version of October, for some extremely breezy nature communing, with wind gusts nearing 50 mph at times.

You can sort of see my shorts are being wind whipped, via the above photo documentation of the Shadow of the Lucy Park Thin Man.

For many months now I have not been able to hike the trail around the Lucy Park Backwoods Jungle, because the last time the Wichita River went into flood mode it left behind a big log jam on top of the trail, with extremely tall grass preventing walking around the log jam.

One does not make their way through extremely tall grass in a place where one has seen extremely big snakes.

Today, when I saw the tall grass had been mowed, I was optimistic the log jam had been removed. But, as you can see via the photo below, the log jam is still jamming the original Lucy Park Backwoods Jungle trail.

But, what you cannot see in the photo of the log jam is that a new trail has been blazed, around the log jam. 

So, for the first time in a long time I was able to hike the entire Lucy Park Backwoods Jungle. This pleased me greatly.

I can tell I acquired a lot of endorphins today....