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.

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.

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.

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. 

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.

HOT Humid Sikes Lake Saturday

On this final Saturday of the 2026 version of May, it was back to Sikes Lake I ventured today, for the first time in a week or two or three, for some HOT humid nature communing.

The photo documentation is the view from the rocky shore of the east side of Sikes Lake, looking southwest.

There was some cooling wind action today, as evidenced by the ripple of waves on the lake. But, the cooling wind was not of sufficient strength to counteract the HOT humidity.

Thunderstorms are on the weather menu for this afternoon.

Final May Friday HOT Hiking Wichita Bluff Nature Area

It was back to the Wichita Bluff Nature Area I ventured on this final Friday of the 2026 version of May for some HOT nature communing. Even though it was before 10 in the morning the temperature was already well into the 80s, heading to a possible record-breaking high today of nearly 100 degrees, as measured by the Fahrenheit method.

In the above photo documentation, you are looking northeast. One would never know that at this location you are near the center of a somewhat large city. One sees no signs of human habitation.

Hiking the Wichita Bluffs has greatly gained in popularity, judging by the surprising number of fellow nature communers I have come across nature communing this past week. 

The second photo documentation is looking the same direction, but with me in the view looking consternated. 

Trying to take a selfie photo with the phone always seems to make me look consternated.

I was feeling way HOTTER than I look in the photo documentation. One sees no evidence in the form of beads of sweat.

I think I am gradually getting to an improved level of fitness which will make for doable Cascade Mountain hiking next summer.

I hope....
 

Today's Possible Record Breaking High In Wichita Falls

Apparently, the record high for this day in May is 98 degrees as measured by the Fahrenheit method. The current prediction is for today's high to be three degrees short of the record. But, the weather predictions here are frequently inaccurate, so it won't shock me if we get over 98 degrees today.

And, it is over a month til Summer arrives. I suspect we are heading towards a record-breaking HOT Summer. 

My A/C just cycled on, and is currently keeping me cool.

A few winters ago, a severe Winter storm knocked out power to most of Texas, with a couple days the temperature going below zero.

I hope I don't get to find out if it worse to have the power go out when the temperature is in the near 100-degree zone. 

Remembering Mom & Dad Visiting Texas

This morning, whilst looking through my HUGE archive of photos, I came upon a folder of photos taken the first time my mom and dad came to visit me in Texas.

I am not sure, but I think the year was 2005. I have zero clue as to the month, but clearly, judging by mom and dad's attire, this was a visit which did not happen during the HOT time of the year. 

I do recollect giving mom and dad cowboy hats and insisting they put them on when I was taking a photo of them

The location of the above photo is Lake Grapevine, that I remember, for sure. One of my favorite locations in the Dallas/Fort Worth zone.

On their first visit to Texas mom and dad were coming from Washington, I think, via their RV. I remember they stayed in an RV park in Arlington.

Their second, and final visit to Texas, took place, I think, in 2012. That time they drove a non-RV vehicle from their Yuma location in Arizona. I remember visiting mom and dad in Yuma, way back near the turn of the century, on a drive back to Texas, from Washington.

If mom and dad's last Texas visit was in 2012 that would have been after I'd begun documenting my existence in blog form. I shall see if I can find blog posts documenting mom and dad's final Texas visit, but not right now. 

UPDATE: I was wrong. It was in November of 2009 mom and dad made their final Texas visit. I blogged about it several times, with the first being Mom & Dad Are Here In Texas.

Nephew Jason Early Skagit Valley Tulip Report

The above photo illustrated the following email from my Favorite Nephew Jason...

FUD -

Our mild Spring has brought the Skagit Valley Tulips to an early bloom. If you are heading this way to enjoy the spectacle, the next few weeks would be ideal.  

Hope all is well in Texas.

-FNJ 

FUD is short for Favorite Uncle Durango. You can likely intuit what FNJ is short for. 

Those tulips which Jason photo documented are part of the landscaping at his Fidalgo Drive-In, in Anacortes.

I have not flown out of this town since way back in July of 2019. Flying up to Washington in April would be a bit jarring, as in I am already used to HOT weather. We've gone over 100 degrees, already, this year. A mild Spring in Washington is way colder than a mild Spring in Texas.

I remember way back in July of 2008, flying up to Washington, to spend a month. I was shivering cold the entire time. My little sister got so tired of me whining about being cold she bought me a jacket at Costco, which still hangs in my closet.

Sunny Hot Sunday Goosing Sikes Lake

 On this third day of Spring, the 4th Sunday of the 2026 version of March, it was to Sikes Lake I ventured for some salubrious endorphin acquisition.

A nice breeze was blowing, making the 85 degrees, as measured by the Fahrenheit method, not feel too HOT.

The temperature predicted for today is 100 degrees. I suspect the high will end up being higher than 100, since yesterday's predicted high of 97 turned out to be 101.

In the above photo documentation, we are on the west side of the lake, looking southeast. That is a flock of geese lined up on that cement structure which spans the lake. I have no clue what the purpose of that cement structure is.

Or why those geese are lined up on it, instead of enjoying floating on the lake.

My old home zone of Washington state is having a record-breaking heat wave, along with the rest of the west coast. The heat wave is causing the snow pack to melt at a flood causing level. 

There is no snowpack anywhere near my current Texas location in danger of being melted by the current heatwave. 

Hot First Day Of Spring Sikes Lake Nature Communing

The temperature was almost 80 degrees, as measured by the Fahrenheit method, when I ventured to Sikes Lake for some pleasant nature communing, along with a surprisingly large number of fellow nature communers.

As you can see via the photo documentation of the view from the rocky eastern shore of Sikes Lake, looking southwest, it is a clear blue sky day, on what I think is the first day of the season known as Spring. But my wall calendar is telling me yesterday, March 19 was the day Spring arrived.

I must go Google now to find out, for sure, what season I am currently experiencing.

Well, according to Google my calendar is erroneous. The Vernal Equinox is happening today, March 20.

It seems like only a few weeks ago we were experiencing extreme Winter weather, with snow and a couple days with the temperature sub-zero. It seems like only a few weeks ago, because it was just a few weeks ago.

And now look at what our predicted high is two days from now, that being the day known as Sunday.

100 degrees in March just seems wrong. I suspect we are heading towards a record-breaking HOT summer. 

Snow-Free Monday Return To Lucy Park's Pagoda Replacement

A couple years ago, the Lucy Park Japanese Pagoda-like structure burned down. Eventually the Pagoda-like structure's remains were removed.  The local newspaper, that being the Wichita Falls Times Record News, never had an article about this happening. Was it arson? Or struck by a lightning bolt? 

Last week when I had myself a slippery icy visit to Lucy Park I saw some construction activity happening at the Japanese Pagoda-like structure location.

Today, I returned to Lucy Park for some fast-paced salubrious endorphin acquisition, along with nature communing to see that the construction of the Japanese Pagoda-like structure is complete. The new structure does not look at all Pagoda-like.

Today will be the third day in a row where the temperature in the outer world, at my location, reaches into the 80s, as measured by the Fahrenheit method, making this second Monday of the 2026 version of February another HOT day.

Most of the snow has melted. The only snow I saw today was the remains of a pile due south of my driveway.

Having A Hot Very Merry Mexican Christmas

I do not remember there being a previous Christmas where I felt the need to turn on the air conditioning.

But, such is the case on today's Christmas.

I will be adding to today's heat via the Mexican food I am making today. Tacos, chile rellenos, and all the other Mexican food regulars, with guacamole being the only cooling element.

I think I shall try to find time to do some nature communing in today's summer-like temperature...
 

Sunny Semi-Chilly October Wednesday Sikes Lake Walk Around

The outer world temperature at my North Texas location dropped into the 40s, last night, as measured by the Fahrenheit method.  Thus, I found need of a thin blanket in the middle of the night.

The big chill has not cooled the running water which runs into my abode enough to make a cold shower need some hot water added.

An hour and a half before noon, on this next to last Wednesday of the 2025 version of October, the temperature had risen to 70 degrees, again as measured by that aforementioned Fahrenheit method.

Which made for a pleasant, sunny, semi-cool walk around Sikes Lake, which you see photo documented above, from the lake's rocky east shore, looking slightly southwest.

The next few days are predicted to be stormy, with the storms in the form of rain and thunderstorms.

And continued semi-chilly temperatures