Remembering San Juan River Bridge Leaps To Many Memories

Another memory from Microsoft's OneDrive Memory from this Day that I remember fondly. Though this took place in October, not April.

Way back in the final days of 1993 I was on my way to Moab. The day before had been spent at the Grand Canyon, overnighting in Flagstaff.

On the way to Moab I drove into Monument Valley. Driving in Monument Valley one feels like one is in a movie.

Leaving Monument Valley, continuing north, you leave the Navajo Nation when you come to the border between Arizona and Utah, with the San Juan River marking the border, at the location where I left Arizona to cross into Utah.

Crossing that bridge upon which you see me standing atop the arch, to the left of the bridge, I saw this incredible looking lodging facility nestled against the cliff. I remarked that one day I want to come and stay there.

The next day, in Moab, was New Year's Day of 1994. That day I went to Arches National Park and Canyonlands National Park. From Islands in the Sky in Canyonlands, I saw mountain bikers biking the valley, far below.

I vowed then that when I was back in Washington I would get a mountain bike and return to Moab to mountain bike.

I did so, but it was a couple years later that I made it back to Moab with my bike, to ride with a group called MudSluts.

Before returning to Moab, I went houseboating on Lake Powell. This was a group adventure involving six floaters in one boat and two vehicles. I made the reservations for the trip, the houseboats, North Rim Grand Canyon log cabins, the Lodge in Zion National Park, Excalibur in Vegas and a fun oasis called Stovepipe Wells in Death Valley.

But, the best reservation I made that trip was booking rooms at that lodging facility I'd seen when crossing the San Juan River, years previous, the San Juan Inn in Mexican Hat.

Five years later the Lake Powell houseboat experience was repeated, with a larger group of floaters. That time we also stayed at the San Juan Inn in Mexican Hat.

I forgot to make mention of the Moki Dugway.

Leaving Lake Powell, the route to Mexican Hat, well, the one I chose, both times, takes one to the brink of a precipice. A big warning sign tells you to stop and assess the risk. The Moki Dugway is a primitive road which steeply switchbacks back and forth to the valley floor.

The driver in the second vehicle had a panic attack, so a driver from my vehicle took over driving the other vehicle while the panicked driver put a pillowcase over his head and swilled vodka. His wife was also borderline hysterical.

The second time down the Moki Dugway three vehicles were involved. No one panicked that time. At least, no one panicked that I was aware of.

So, did the San Juan Inn in Mexican Hat turn out to be as fun as I hoped?

Yes, it did. The San Juan Inn has a trading post attached. And a restaurant, where everyone running the place was Navajo. Our waitress was always a friendly Navajo beauty who greatly appreciated our interest in her people. This location was my first experience of having Indian Fry Bread. So good.

Our waitress told us several things, including the fact the Navajo refer to themselves as "Dine", which literally means "The People".

I used to go on roadtrips at least once a year. Sometimes real long roadtrips. Since moving to Texas, the only roadtrips have been driving back to Washington several times, once to Arizona.

I don't think roadtripping to Oklahoma and Louisiana count...

Easter Memory Remembering Hiking To Delicate Arch In Arches National Park

Microsoft's OneDrive's Memories from this Day seems to be a gift which keeps on giving. Causing me to remember memories I've not remembered for a while. 

Two of my all-time photos showed up in the Memories from this Day email, on this final day of the 2024 version of March, also known, this year, as Easter.

The photos were taken with my long gone Casio digital camera with its unique selfie taking feature, years before phones made the selfie thing a common occurrence.

These two photos were taken in Arches National Park. That would be one of the state symbols of Utah in the background, known as Delicate Arch.

Staring at the camera lens, with me, that would be Wanda. 

The hike to Delicate Arch is one of the most scenic hikes I have ever hiked. There is some elevation gain, but not too strenuous an elevation gain. 

You do not need a ranger to guide you on the Delicate Arch hike, like you do on Arches National Park's Fiery Furnace hike.

Memories of trails from years past makes me wonder if I will ever once again see myself on a scenic trail in a scenic wonderland...

Passing Deception About Terrifying Bridges In The U.S. & Beyond

The Windows Edge browser has this Microsoft Start page which is a sort of aggregator of all sorts of information. With many various scroll through galleries on various subjects.

Such as what you see screen capped above.

"25 Terrifying Bridges in the US and Beyond"

I saw that which you see above and thought that this looked like Deception Pass Bridge in my old home zone of Washington.

I thought, this must be a Deception Pass Bridge look-alike, that Deception Pass Bridge can't be one of 25 terrifying bridges in the US and beyond.

So, I scrolled through the gallery, and, sure enough, I got to #23 and saw it was Deception Pass Bridge which was supposedly terrifying.

The text explaining why Deception Pass Bridge is supposedly terrifying....

23. Deception Pass Bridge — Oak Harbor, Washington

This gem of the Pacific Northwest looks like a pretty standard commuter bridge but it’s like something out of a horror movie. First off, there’s the name, which brings to mind urban legends about the ghosts of reckless drivers who may have plunged over its railings. 

Then, there’s the constant barrage of fog and mist that cover your windshield and make the crossing a white-knuckle experience for many. Deception Pass Bridge just gives off an eerie vibe all the way around.

____________________

Deception Pass Bridge connects Fidalgo Island to Whidbey Island. The bridge is way closer to the Fidalgo Island town of Anacortes than it is to the Whidbey Island town of Oak Harbor.

Over the course of my time on planet Earth, I have driven, and walked across Deception Pass Bridge dozens upon dozens of times. I have never experienced the bridge barraged in fog and mist, making the crossing a white-knuckle experience. 

As for the Deception Pass name bringing to mind urban legends of ghosts of reckless drivers plunging off the bridge. I do not recollect such ever happening. Yes, there has been a suicide jump a time or two or three. 

The actual reason for the name is explorer George Vancouver gave it the name "Deception" because it had misled him into thinking Whidbey Island was a peninsula. 

The only time Deception Pass might be thought to be scary is when there is a big tide differential causing the water in the Pass to look like extreme rapids. That is a sight to behold.

Remembering Moab Fiery Furnace Gemini Bridges Porcupine Rim Slick Rock

Yesterday I found myself lamenting about how long it has been since I have been in Utah.

It was a photo of Bryce Canyon that had me realizing I've not been in Utah this century. There was a period back in the last century where I found myself in Utah once a year. Usually including a multi-day stay in Moab, the Mountain Biking Capital of the World.

In the Moab area there are miles upon miles of mountain bike trails. That would be the Slick Rock Trail you see above. Me on the left, Big Ed on the right. If I remember correctly, Wanda took the photo.

I did not complete the entire Slick Rock Trail. My mountain biking skills were not up to it. But, I did manage to bike the entire Gemini Bridges Trail. The Gemini Bridges part of the trail was a bit scary. To bike this trail required one vehicle to be left at the end of the trail, so as to drive back to the trailhead where the vehicle which delivered the bikes to the trail was left. 

That same mountain biking week in Moab that I biked the Gemini Bridges Trail I also biked the Porcupine Rim Trail. This turned out to be the most difficult bike ride I have ever been on. This trail also involved multiple vehicles. My van was left at the end of the trail. I forget the precise logistics. I was so exhausted by the end all I wanted to know was where was my van parked.

The Porcupine Rim Trail starts with an ascent of a couple thousand feet, eventually reaching Porcupine Rim, a steep drop off to the valley below. From that point to the end it was mostly a strenuous downhill coast. I do not ever remember being so exhausted as I was by this bike ride.

Moab is also near to two of Utah's National Parks. Arches National Park and Canyonlands National Park.

In Arches National Park you will find the Fiery Furnace Hike. This is a ranger guided hike, requiring registering at the ranger station at the entry to Arches, and paying a hiking fee. It was 10 bucks when I last hiked the Fiery Furnace, back in the late 1990s.

The reason the Fiery Furnace hike requires a ranger to lead is because the hike is a maze of slot canyons in which it is easy to get disoriented and lost. It can get way too HOT. The Fiery Furnace has seen some fatalities over the years.

In the above photo that is Big Ed helping his sister, Lydia, cross a deep chasm.

Deep into the Fiery Furnace the ranger calls for a rest stop. During this period the ranger regales the hikers with tales about the Fiery Furnace.

I am fairly certain I will never mountain bike any of the Moab area trails again. But, I sure would enjoy hiking the Fiery Furnace trail again, that and all the other trails in Arches National Park.

It was the view from Islands in the Sky, in Canyonlands National Park, back on New Year's Day of 1995, that I saw mountain bikers way below, thinking to myself, that looks fun. So, upon returning to Washington I bought my first mountain bike, and by the next Spring I returned to Moab and had myself a mighty fine time mountain biking.

I forgot to mention that after lamenting to myself yesterday about it being so long since I've been in Utah, this morning's email's Microsoft OneDrive Memories from this Day, included the photos you have seen in this blog posting. 

However, these photos were taken in October, not March....

Acquiring Endorphins At Sikes Lake With A Terrible Tuesday Tornado Memorial Sidetrip

The past couple days I have not acquired my required dose of endorphins via aerobic stimulation, due to not wanting to be in the outer world with it being wet and cold.

Pushing a shopping cart for a half hour, in Walmart, really does not suffice in the endorphin acquisition department.

Without my endorphin fix I start to get grumpy. I assume this to be like the withdrawal misery a drug addict experiences when a drug fix is not to be had. I also assume endorphin withdrawal is likely much milder than withdrawal symptoms from something more potent.

So, today, on this final Thursday of the 2024 version of March, with the outer world back being warm, I ventured to nearby Sikes Lake for some high-speed endorphin acquisition.

Along with a lot of other people enjoying the return to non-winter-like conditions.

Today I exited the Sikes Lake trail at the west end to enter the Wood Memorial Park.

There is a monument in Wood Memorial Park. That is what you see photo documented above.

This memorial memorializes those who died in the 1979 Red River Valley tornado outbreak.

Known in Wichita Falls as Terrible Tuesday.

This memorial is located in the path of the deadly tornado. The Red River Valley tornadoes broke out on April 10, 1979, killing 58 people, injuring 1,927 more.

I have experienced three tornadoes since I have been in Texas. I have never seen the stereotypical twister. All I have seen is a dark, greenish wall cloud, with the tornado somewhere behind the wall.

Microsoft OneDrive Takes Me To Dinosaur Valley With Wanda & Mrs. Lee

Today's Microsoft OneDrive Memories from this Day had one I'd just as soon not remember.

The photo was taken with my now long-gone Casio digital camera, with its selfie taking function, functioning well before taking selfies became something someone does using their phone.

On my left shoulder, in sunglasses, that would be Wanda, first wife of Wally, from Seattle, having flown to Texas about four months after my arrival in the Lone Star State.

On my other shoulder, that would be Mrs. Lee, first name Cathy. Now deceased. The accursed nurse who caused me to think it a good idea to move to Texas.

I am just about 100% certain this photo was taken in Dinosaur Valley State Park. That being my favorite Texas state park. Miles of fun, treacherous mountain bike trails, easy to get lost on...

Windy Monday Lake Wichita Walk With No Rain

Due to wind and rain, yesterday's nature communing took place in the dry confines of Walmart. 

Today, on this final Monday of the 2024 version of March, blue sky has returned, but the strong wind remains blowing.

So, it was to Lake Wichita Park I drove today for some windy nature communing. Which would make that Mount Wichita behind the soldier saluting on Wichita Falls Veterans Memorial.

The rain the past couple days rendered walking on the grass to be a bit muddy. My shoes were caked with mud before I realized I was walking over terrain not conducive to mud-free walking.

Tomorrow there we be some sort of dedication ceremony celebrating the completion of the new entry road and parking lot at this location. I do not recollect ever hearing of a parking lot dedication ceremony before.

I likely will not be in attendance at this ceremony....

Saturday Sikes Lake Coyote Walk

It was to Sikes Lake I ventured on this next to last Saturday of the 2024 version of March, to get me some endorphins via high-speed walking.

The temperature during walking time was in the low 50s. I wish we would return the HOT balmy days of the final weeks of Winter.

In the past couple weeks Sikes Lake has seen the installation of multiple coyotes, serving the same purpose as scarecrows. In this instance the scare coyotes are being tasked with terrorizing the Sikes Lake geese and duck flocks.

Since the scare coyotes have arrived there are noticeably fewer birds flocking around the lake.

Using scare coyotes to cause the geese and ducks to fly to a different location seems much more humane than the mass murder of 387 geese, last year.

A mass murder which generated a lot of protesting.

Apparently, someone is tasked with moving the scare coyotes to new locations, so the geese and ducks never get wise to the fact that these are not real coyotes.

Wichita Falls Pharmacy Visit With Bloody Sideshow

I had myself some police action excitement today. I was taking an elderly man to his pharmacy to pick up some prescriptions. 

Franklin Pharmacy, on Brook Avenue, to be precise. Upon seeing the Franklin Pharmacy parking lot, from a distance, I could see the parking lot was busy. Getting closer I saw that the parking lot was busy due to there being six Wichita Falls Police cars helter skelter on the parking lot.

Upon driving onto the Franklin Pharmacy parking lot I saw a man with a bloodied head, sitting on the parking lot, handcuffed.

I found a space to park next to the police car you see photo documented. The elderly man then went inside the pharmacy to get his meds.

After sitting for about a minute I was suddenly totally startled to find the handcuffed bloodied man outside my window, looking at me and screaming "Take me to the hospital." As a policeman grabbed the bloodied man from behind the bloodied man hollered at me "You're dead!"

A couple policemen then struggled to get the bloodied man into the backseat of the police car.

The bloodied man continued yelling, things like I don't fit in here. The policeman kindly told the bloodied man to just lie down.

After about another minute the policeman opened the door and, I think, removed the handcuffs due to the bloodied man yelling they hurt him.

Eventually the police cars began to leave, and the elderly man returned to the vehicle. I asked if he'd found out what this was about. He was told the bloodied man had been inside the pharmacy, making a scene, when he refused to leave the police were called.

No clue how the man ended up bloodied. To my eyes the police were all acting totally calm, reasonable and professional, like they were well-trained to deal with these type incidents.

Wichita Falls To Be Almost Totally Eclipsed On April 8

This morning's Wichita Falls Times-Record-New has an article about the upcoming, April 8, eclipse.

The article had an interactive feature where you enter your zip code to be shown how close to the total eclipse you are located.

My location is that orange spot you see on the map.

Apparently in Wichita Falls we will experience 95% of the total eclipse. 

The eclipse begins during the afternoon of April 8. I do not know at what time that afternoon I can expect darkness to arrive for a few minutes.