Visiting Big Bend National Park and Terlingua While Getting Hot Hiking & BBQing Labor Day Hot Dogs

After swimming in the almost cool pool this morning I took a virtual trip to Big Bend National Park and Terlingua.

In 2 months, in November, the International Chili Championship takes place in the former ghost town of Terlingua. Terlingua is the Chili Capital of the World, ordained as such by those who ordain such things.

By the time I was done with Big Bend and Terlingua it was time to get out of here and do some laboring on Labor Day.

I decided to labor up and down the Tandy Hills. The air was heated only to the mid-80s. A good wind was blowing. But, somehow I managed to experience the hills like it was 110.

In other words, hiking on Labor Day turned me into a sweaty, wet mess.

I was dried up by the time I got back here to barbecue my Labor Day hot dogs, well, more precisely, Labor Day Polish Kielbasa.

Up Late On A Happy Labor Day In Texas

The Texas sun woke up before me this first Sunday of September.

Labor Day.

The birds are silent this morning. Labor Day must be a holiday for them too.

I was having myself too much fun over at Miss Puerto Rico's last night. This likely was the cause of the rare anomaly of my rise after the sun.

I will need to be wearing my sunglasses when I go swimming in a few minutes.

I have no idea what labors lay ahead of me on Labor Day. Besides laboring in the pool.

Gagging Behind A Really Bad Fort Worth Polluter

I was appalled on my way to Wal-Mart Neighborhood Market to see aluminum cans flying out of the bed of a pickup as it pulled on to the 820 freeway. Freshly appalled, was I, at this very common Texas trash disposal method.

And then, minutes ago, as I pulled back on to the freeway, after I'd finished with Wal-Mart, I was appalled to see a pickup spewing the worst exhaust pollution I'd ever seen.

I thought I did not have time to get a picture before I exited the freeway at the John T. White exit. So I did not reach for my camera.

I quickly changed that plan when I saw the spewing pickup get off the freeway at my exit. I started snapping pictures. And then I was right behind the pickup at the redlight.

I was already gagging from the fumes when I was still on the freeway. Being behind the guy was unbearable. I pitied the vehicle occupants to his right.

The driver saw me taking pictures and seemed to get agitated. Then the light turned green and the plume of gray continued on its way. How has this guy not been stopped? I'm almost 100% he does not have a valid inspection sticker.

Putting out that much pollution, with others having no choice but to breathe it, really needs to be a serious crime with a serious penalty. I can still smell the fumes.

I've had me a day. So, I'm heading over to Miss Puerto Rico's for some diverting entertainment. Hopefully smoke-free.

Having Fun Getting Overstimulated On The River Legacy Park Mountain Bike Trail

I have now had my first mountain bike ride in over a year. I went to River Legacy Park today around noon. The mountain bike trail has become very popular. The parking lot was almost full. A lot of bikers were hanging out in groups. It was being like the parking lot at the Slick Rock Trailhead in Moab.

The previous time I went a long time without mountain biking was due to the trails being badly damaged by storms. The River Legacy trails were flooded, that time, with a lot of wind damage.

If I remember right the flood/wind damage kept me off the River Legacy trails for a long time, maybe 6 months. I remember when I first pedaled there again I had trouble with the first drop, wobbled and had to jump off the bike. It was only on my second time around, that time, that I got my mountain bike legs back.

Well, today it was like I'd not been off my bike for a year. I sailed down the first drop and zipped up the other side. Same with the next drop. I was being sort of amazed at how much obviously stronger I am being. I had no idea.

Mountain biking was being way funner than I remembered. It is way more intense than pedaling on a smooth paved trail. On a mountain bike trail, particularly one like River Legacy, you have to be constantly alert, lest you run into a tree or miss a curve. It's very stimulating.

I'm thinking testing out my new power legs on the Cedar Hills State Park Dorba Trails would be interesting. I used to go there all the time. But, nowadays it seems foolish to drive 50 miles, round trip, to ride a bike.

I went 11.934 miles today, in an hour and 12 minutes, plus some seconds, the number of which I have forgotten.

When I pedaled the River Legacy Park paved trail a couple days ago, a few miles in, I discovered my mesh shorts had developed a malfunction. Today a few miles in I made the same discovery about another pair of biking shorts. I bought a new pair at Wal-Mart on my way back here. We'll see how long they last without an unfortunate splitting.

Chilly Early Sunday Morning In Texas Getting De-Flocked & Chrome

A few minutes ago a bird gave a false alarm tweet announcing the arrival of the sun on the first Sunday of September. But, I think we are about a half hour away from that glowing orb doing its daily duty of lighting up the place.

And heating up the place. It is 67.7 out there right now. I had to shut the windows and turn off the ceiling fan last night, due to shivering.

I had myself some major nightmare related tossing and turning last night. So much tossing and turning that I've got myself some major muscle soreness going on this morning.

I am hoping the major muscle soreness is alleviated by a salubrious swim this morning. If the major muscle soreness is not alleviated by swimming I don't see a bike or hike expedition in my future for the day.

On a totally unrelated note, I have switched to using the Google Chrome browser. It seems to work way better than the Flock browser I had been using.

Cold Front Drops Texas Temperature With Snow On The Prairie

You are looking at Snow On The Prairie in the picture. That is the name of the white flower.

Today so many of the white flowers were blooming on the Tandy Hills that it was real easy to see how it got its name.

A cold front arrived overnight, dropping the temperature to 60 this morning, with the pool not much warmer than that. Which had me wondering how it is I managed to get in that water in the middle of winter?

In just a couple months we will be at the time of the year when there can be real snow on the prairie. Last winter at one point there was almost a foot of real snow on the prairie.

This morning I took a virtual trip down to Alpine. Alpine is out in far West Texas, near Big Bend National Park. Alpine is a popular tourist town. The original Reata Restaurant is there.

When I was a kid my brother and I were avid agate hunters. That seems like a long time ago. I wonder if my brother remembers being an avid agate hunter? I think my brother and I would have really liked visiting Woodward Ranch, by Alpine. This ranch is famed for its agates and other gemstones.

I don't think I've spoken to my brother since April of 2006, at my nephew's wedding reception. He was way over weight at that point in time. Since then he has moved to Maricopa, south of Phoenix, and has lost the weight, according to reliable sources.

Phoenix is in the Valley of the Sun. I do not know if Maricopa is in the Valley of the Sun. I do know that that yellow flower in the picture is a Sunflower, or at least a good imitator of a Sunflower. This particular Sunflower was blooming solo today, surrounded by Snow On The Prairie.

A Cold 60.9 Saturday September Morning In Texas

It is cold this first Saturday morning of September. My computer is back vexing me again this morning. It is starting to seem like some sort of perverse video game.

Right now it is suddenly back behaving properly again. It is as if it spins out of control, and then when I go to do something, like blog, it then behaves itself.

This is likely just the calm before another storm. Or the eye of the computer hurricane is passing over me right now.

60.9. I believe that is about 8 degrees colder than the predicted low. I'm thinking the pool is going to be extra refreshing this morning.

I think another bike ride may be in my future today. Maybe. But right now I'm heading out into the icy air to get in a frigid pool.

Biking The River Legacy Park Trail With Snakes, Attack Grasshoppers And A Roller Blading Wheelchair Bound Granny

You are looking at my newly reactivated bike on the middle of the bridge across Hurricane Creek in River Legacy Park in Arlington, today, around noon.

My second bike ride since re-acquiring that ability did not see the same seating discomfort as the previous pedaling. I guess my program to amp up the ampleness of my boney derriere is already paying off with greater cushioning.

I have pedaled the River Legacy Trail many many times over the years. I remember a period after my return from Washington in April of 2006, where for 6 months, or so, pedaling hard daily, almost, was my mode of therapy.

During that period in 2006 I found myself noticeably getting stronger. And faster. Eventually I did the pedaling in the highest gear. The fastest I ever completed this particular ride had been in a little over 53 minutes.

Well.

Today, right from the start I was moving fast. This particular trail changes direction a lot. It is windy today. Sometimes the wind was behind me, others I was pedaling in to it.

Well.

I stopped to take pictures or drink water several times. Even so, I somehow managed to break the pedal time record today, returning to my vehicle in less than 52 minutes. That is 11.744 miles in 52 minutes.

In the picture on the right, above, we are at the 7 Mile Marker at the east end of the River Legacy Park Trail. The long range plan is for the trail to continue from this point and eventually join the Trinity Trails in Dallas. That would be a really good thing.

Previously, when heading into a strong headwind I would switch to a lower gear. Today I did not feel the need and found myself going into the wind at 14 mph.

So, I'm guessing all the hiking and swimming has made me a much stronger biker. It will be interesting to see how biking an actual mountain bike trail goes. I'll try that when the River Legacy Mountain Bike Trail dries out.


Pedaling past the now, sort of, mothballed Huffines Development at Bird's Fort, freshly aggravated me today. There was one lone piece of heavy equipment digging at something. All has returned to green from the Huffines scaring, so it now looks like a park again. I know there is no money for such a thing, but this is such a greenbelt gem it seems sort of criminal that this piece of green, in the center of this huge Metroplex zone, might be ruined, rather than added to River Legacy Park.

In the picture, if the Huffines Development gets built, you would be looking at buildings in the view you see here. You would no longer pedal this paved trail with the illusion that you've left the city.

There were a lot of bikers pedaling today. And several joggers. I used to have this trail pretty much to myself. I tell you, Texas is getting in shape. Well, some of Texas is getting in shape. The strangest thing I saw today was at the 5 Mile Marker. A guy on roller blades was pushing what I assumed was his very elderly grandma who was in a wheel chair.

I can not imagine pushing someone in a wheel chair that far on this trail. I have roller bladed it twice, with the second time having me badly overheat, to the point I had to call for a rescue.

I had a big snake encounter today. I was moving about 20 mph, came around a corner and swerved to miss a snake. I hit the brakes and turned around to get a picture, but the beast slithered quickly away before I could get a picture.

I also had an ugly grasshopper encounter. They are very annoying. They sit on the cement and then hop up right as you pass them. One hopped up today and hit me and got inside my shirt. That had cause a wreck potential. I was able to reach behind and shake it out of my shirt. A grasshopper feels very scratchy when stuck between a shirt and skin. Not pleasant.

It's time for lunch now. I'm hungry.

A Cold Front Begins To Cool Long Hot North Texas

We are looking through the bars of my prison cell, I mean, bars of my patio railing, at the extreme darkness surrounding the swimming pool on this, the 3rd day of September.

It is almost chilly out there. 70 degrees, heading towards a newly lowered predicted low for today of 58. 58 is going to feel downright chilly. I have long pants out and ready to wear.

There is a chance of dampness today. I hope that holds off until I complete my 2nd bike ride since becoming, once more, wheel-empowered.

I have a lot of webpage making to get done, after being thrown out of that endeavor by computer woes that past couple days.

But. Before I get to that, I am going swimming in the dark. Clothing optional.

Trinity Litter Piling Up Behind Trinity Falls By Gateway Park

Some rain fell last night. So, this morning the Trinity River was flooding over Trinity Falls by Gateway Park. And an awful lot of litter had piled behind the kayak dock.

A week ago, today, 40 some foolishly brave souls were floating on inner tubes in this litter filled river.

Today, along with the litter, a big tree was stuck on top of the dam/trail bridge that crosses the Trinity.

In the distance you can see the Fort Worth Space Needle that sits on top of Mount Tandy. It was likely too muddy to go hiking on the Tandy Hills today. Which is why I took a Gateway walk on my way to Town Talk.

It is in the low 80s, but, that was one humid, muggy walk today. I especially appreciated the Town Talk walk-in cooler. Just a sec, I'll check what the humidity and Heat Index currently is.

Well, I'm surprised. It is currently 84.3, humidity at 57%, with a Heat Index of 88. It felt way hotter than that.

A cold front is supposed to blow in soon. Tonight, or tomorrow, I don't remember.

As I was walking towards the exit from Gateway Park to look at Trinity Falls, a familiar noise came to my ears. The sound of loud diesel engines pumping water. I'd forgotten about the big water sucking operation on the south side of the river.

As I crossed the footbridge to the Trinity Trail, a familiar sight came in to view. Two white pick-ups. I was not close enough to read if the trucks had the Express Energy logo on them. I suspect they did. When I snapped some pictures a guy got out of one of the trucks. It was all seeming way too deja vu to me.

But, I was fairly certain, in this instance, I was in very little danger of having a close encounter with a menacing truck.

Until the vexing wet stuff mucked up the outdoors, my plan today was to go on a ride on my two-wheeled auto-locomotion device. More rain is expected to do some more wetting. I'm sure it will eventually dry out again.

I'd love to stay and chat some more, but I have some other matters I need to attend to. I'll leave you with a look at Trinity Falls, looking west. I am almost 100% certain that is not an adventurous inner tuber that you see out in the middle of the river.