Walking Lucy Park Backwoods Jungle Without Snakes

This morning for reasons we need not talk about I drove to the eastside of Wichita Falls. This put me in the vicinity, sort of, of Lucy Park.

And so by 11 this morning I was at Lucy Park to do some nature communing in the Lucy Park backwoods jungle area.

As you can see via the photo documentation, the Wichita River is running low, despite some rain falling last night.

Last year I made note of the fact that the grass in the Lucy Park backwoods jungle zone grew to being taller than me, as in over six feet tall. This was a tad unnerving, activating the fear of snakes in the grass.

A few weeks ago someone set fire to the Lucy Park Japanese Pagoda.

I think the Pagoda fire, at the edge of the Lucy Park jungle, caused a rethinking of what to do about that tall grass. As in the tall grass is now being regularly mowed, totally changing the Lucy Park backwoods jungle experience.

I sort of like it. One can easily now walk off trail, making your own route through the woods, with no fear of snakes slithering unexpectedly.

Today I ran into one of the walkers I regularly see at Lucy Park but had not seen of late. He told me he'd been hiking the Wichita Bluff Nature Area, til yesterday, when he came upon two large rattlesnakes taking up residence on the Circle Trail cement.

That information put the kibosh on hiking the Circle Trail in the Wichita Bluff Nature Area. I have a strong aversion to all snakes, with the strongest aversion being to rattlesnakes.

Of the deadly snakes in Texas, I have seen more rattlesnakes than any other. I've only had a couple encounters with copperheads, water moccasins and cottonmouths...

Saw No Snakes Rolling With The Indian Ghosts Before Voting For Leonard & Lane Tomorrow

I took my handlebars to Arlington today to roll my wheels with the Indian Ghosts who haunt the Village Creek Natural Historical Area.

That would make it the Village Creek, formerly blue, Bayou that my handlebars are looking at.

Years ago, early this century, or maybe late in the previous century, when I first saw this location the overlook was made of wood, the bayou was a big open pond.

It was in that big open pond that I saw my first collection of water moccasins slithering in Texas water. I asked a couple guys what they were looking at, they told me water moccasins. I had no way to know if they knew what they were talking about.

The snakes I saw slithering that day may have been simple ordinary harmless water snakes of some sort. But, seeing those snakes that day and being told they were water moccasins, well, it made me very wary of Texas water, a wariness that has expanded since from just a simple snake fear.

There were a lot of people at Village Creek enjoying this balmy Sunday in Texas. Mostly walkers, some dog walkers, a few bikers, one skateboarder.

One pair of the walkers appeared to be a bit elderly. I thought to myself that I hoped I was still out and about on a Sunny Sunday if I get to be that elderly.

That then had me thinking about Fort Worth's Mayor, Betsy Price. I may not like the bad political behavior of Betsy Price, but I do like how she is a big advocate of bike riding. I hope if I get to be as old as Betsy Price I am still riding a bike.

Yesterday I was on the Tandy Hills at the same time I was riding with the Indian Ghosts today. On the Tandy Hills I only saw one other person.

On all sides of the Tandy Hills, except the north side, the Tandy Hills are adjacent to residences. There are no walking distance residences near the Village Creek Natural Historical Area parking lot.

So, why are the Tandy Hills so lonely, most of the time? The Village Creek Natural Historical Area is in Arlington. The Tandy Hills Natural Area is in Fort Worth. Do Fort Worth people just not like their natural areas as much as Arlington people like their natural areas?

Arlington does seem a bit more sports minded than Fort Worth, what with having an NFL team and a MLB team playing in town, while I don't think Fort Worth has any professional sports teams calling the town home, not even an extremely minor league baseball team calls Fort Worth home anymore.

Is Fort Worth the biggest city in America without any major league team of any sport calling the town home?

Anyway, I had myself a mighty fine time rolling my wheels today, except for the fact that everywhere I drive I see the landscape littered with election signs. I'm so confused now by all the signs and mailers in my mail when I go to vote tomorrow I likely will be only voting for two candidates on the ballot.

Marty Leonard and Jim Lane.

Because I have a flawless record of never voting for anyone who wins, except for the last TRWD Board Election when I voted for Mary Kelleher and she won with the most votes in TRWD election history.

Maybe I should re-think who I am voting for and vote for Craig Bickley and Michele Von Luckner and hope that a miracle strikes twice.....

Walking Backache Pain Free At Village Creek Not Wanting To Bury My Heart At Wounded Knee

I think it was a virtual visit with my therapist, Dr. L.C., that made my back pain go away.

I'm feeling recovered.

I went on a non-strenuous walk in the Village Creek Natural Historic Area to stretch the formerly aching back area.

Walking amongst the ghosts of Village Creek seemed particularly poignant today, due to re-reading Dee Brown's Bury My Heart At Wounded Knee.

The Indian tribes had already been run out of Texas by the time covered in Bury My Heart At Wounded Knee.

Two things of interest in the Village Creek Bayou today. One is the bird head sticking up through the greenery. The other was several water snakes out in the water, past the bird. I've no idea if they were water moccasins. They were big, though.

I've had more than one conversation with Washingtonians today that have me being a bit of a melancholy baby. I'll get over it. I hope.

Looking For Snakes & Armadillos In Arlington's Village Creek Natural Historic Area

In the picture you are looking at a colorful tree in the starting to green up Village Creek Natural Historic Area in Arlington.

I used to see a lot of armadillos in this natural area. I can't remember the last time I saw one.

Village Creek Natural Historic Area is also the location where I've had more snake encounters than any other outdoor spot.

I've seen Copperheads, Water Moccasins and Rattlesnakes.

And my one and only Alligator Gar sighting. Since I saw an Alligator Gar in Village Creek I have never gotten back in a Texas lake.

I was a bit under dressed for being outdoors today. As in I got chilly. It was about 50 with a strong wind, hence the Wind Chill Factor making it feel colder than 50.

The air was heated to 44 this morning when I went swimming. With a strong wind. But the water was so much warmer than the air it felt like it was a heated pool. Which it is not.

I don't think I will be getting in the pool tomorrow morning.