Up Late September 18 Thinking About Gar The Texan's New Wife Search

I think it is 3 days in a row now that the sun is getting up before me.

I think this directly correlates to my new habit of viewing the sun setting whilst being aerobically stimulated. I like my new habit.

But, I do not like waking up after the sun does.

More than one person has asked me what's become of the Queen of Wink.

Well, the Queen of Wink is fine, but she has had to concentrate on her realm, which has left little time to be on the computer.

As for Gar the Texan. Okay, okay, no one has asked about Gar the Texan.

So, Gar the Texan is taking off for Germany tomorrow, staying in Europe for over a month, doing an intensive hunt to find a new wife.

I am assuming Germany is just the base of the wife search operation and that the actual search will take place in other countries. It seems to me, and I have done extensive thinking on this subject, knowing as I did, that a German was not a good match for Gar the Texan's extremely quirky personality, that an Italian, Spanish, Dutch or Swedish wife might work.

It will be interesting to see what Gar the Texan brings back with him from Europe this time.

In the meantime, I am going swimming.

Early Evening On The Cool Tandy Hills In Not So Cool Fort Worth

This new in the evening sunset activity kick I am on is sort of addictively fun. I got aerobic in bi-pedal mode earlier today. And before that I got aerobic in water immersion mode. Since I'd already been in bi-pedal mode today, that ruled out biking tonight out of Gateway Park or River Legacy Park.

That left the Tandy Hills as the natural choice for some sunset evening activity.

You are looking at the stunning skyline of beautiful downtown Fort Worth, in the picture, sitting under what looks like a hydrogen bomb exploding. I am fairly certain no hydrogen bomb was exploding over Fort Worth, rather hydrogen explosions on the sun were creating a big lighting effect over Fort Worth.

I have to say, hiking the Tandy Hills in the evening at 90 degrees is way cooler than hiking the Tandy Hills at noon at 85 degrees. Lots of shade. No blaring sun overhead. A strong breeze.

I was startled, on Lost Sunglasses Ridge, to hear auditory noises behind me. It was s human warning me that he was coming up behind me. A jogger. Guys jog on the Tandy Hills in the evening. I think I have seen that before, years ago.

In previous times I was not so rigid with my hiking schedule. I am working on loosening up my rigidity.

I started my sunset Tandy Hills Hike from the top of Mount Tandy, under the long shadow of the Fort Worth Space Needle.

The first thing one sees as one enters the Tandy Natural Zone is the Tandy Hills Shrine. Which, as you can see, is getting quite elaborately detailed. I added an element tonight, but felt at risk of upsetting the delicate balance.

I have so discombobulated my hiking and biking regimen, I have no idea what I am going to do on Saturday. I am sure it will all sort itself out.

Pedaling Across Arlington's Village Creek Then Seeing More Fort Worth Homeless People Suffering Without Sidewalks

The City of Arlington park crews are very efficient. Last night I learned that, except for the mountain bike trail, you'd hardly know River Legacy Park had been flooded a week ago.

Today I decided to head to Village Creek Natural Historic Area in Arlington to see if the efficient City of Arlington park crews had been equally efficient with that park.

They had.

I was amazed to be able to see how high the flood reached and how much of the park had been under water.

A couple days ago I showed you the view in the picture with some water still flowing over the dam/bridge and with a thick layer of mud covering the paved trail. Today, as you can see, the mud is gone, the dam/bridge is back being a dam/bridge.

A few days before I showed you the mud left by the receding flood, I showed you the actual flood. Had I been standing then, where I was standing today, to take a picture, I would have been in the process of drowning.

For the second time in 2 weeks I have been pedaling along the Pioneer Trail of the Bob Finlay Linear Park, in Interlochen, and someone stops me to ask for directions. This time it was a guy trying to find his way back to Division Street. There are basically 2 ways in and out of Interlochen. I can see how someone might get lost in the maze of streets and canals.

Last night I had an armadillo encounter at River Legacy. Today I had one by Village Creek. Both times I was not fast enough drawing the camera to aim and shoot a picture, before the critter escaped from my view.

What is speeding up the armadillos? My previous experiences with those cute little beasts have had them being very cooperative photo subjects.

On my way back from Village Creek Natural Historic Area I was heading north on Bridgewood Drive, by the Family Dollar store, when I saw a pair of what appeared to be homeless people trudging up the hill, a middle age woman pushing a cart with her possessions. Her equally middle-aged male companion carrying what looked like a knapsack. Or hobo bag.

This presented a duo photo documentary opportunity. A photo showing both Fort Worth homeless people and the lack of a Fort Worth sidewalk.

Now, this is no isolated in the middle of nowhere location. Family Dollar was across the street. Dollar General was ahead of them. And Krogers.

Yes, you in the civilized parts of America reading this, in Fort Worth, Texas there are grocery stores, in heavily populated neighborhoods, with no sidewalks for residents to use to walk to the grocery store.

Over the years walkers have worn a dirt path leading to Krogers. And another one on the other side of the sidewalk-less street. The pair of homeless people were not using the dirt path, I assume because it was easier to roll the cart on the street.

Now, I don't know what happened to me, but as soon as I had an impulse to pull into the Family Dollar parking lot to snap a picture of the homeless/sidewalkless pair, I had some sort of pang of conscience, thinking that would not be right to do, even though the photo would be from behind them, no faces shown.

I don't know what caused this sudden failing of my usual instincts. Maybe my brain is being over oxygenated by too much bike riding.

Does anyone know how many homeless people there are out on the mean streets of Fort Worth?

Up After The Sun September 17 With An Offer To Help With My Bad Grammar

It is the morning of September 17 and, as you can see from the view from my bedroom window, I am up after the sun.

I'm thinking these sunset bike rides I've been going on have me sleeping real good. Way too good.

This morning looking at my Feedburner stats I see that this very blog you are reading has lost about half its subscribers over night.

How does that happen?

Yesterday it was something like 555 subscribers. This morning there are 274 subscribers.

I actually do not understand the whole subscribe to a blog thing. If you like a blog why would you simply not just add it as a bookmark? Why would you subscribe to it? I think I need to get Feeds for Dummies. I recollect that Blogging for Dummies was a big help to me.

Speaking of helping me. As is common knowledge, I am severely challenged in the writing department, what with my bad grammar, bad spelling and poor sentence structure.

Well, this guy named Griff Gregory was looking for info about the movie, The Last Picture Show, and he came upon my webpage about Archer City. Griff says he'll be happy to edit my verbiage. I don't know when I have been so touched by such a kind offer.

Here is what Griff had to say....

I ran across your site when looking for information on The Last Picture Show.

The verbiage on the page needs a good edit. I’d be happy to clean it up for you if you wish. Otherwise, when one goes to read your writing, it is diminished by the poor grammar, run-on sentences, etc.

I’m not trying to insult you, but rather to say I’d be happy to edit it for you.

As for the pictures, thank you for posting them. They truly portray the town at least as it is portrayed in the movie.

Best wishes,

Griff Gregory

I probably need to see what I wrote on that webpage. It was written a long, long time ago.

Sunset At River Legacy Park With Armadillos, Flat Tires & No Homeless People

I am back from my sunset bike ride at River Legacy Park.

I saw some remnants of the flood, mostly some dried mud on the pavement, but other than that, and the closed mountain bike trail, River Legacy Park is back up and running.

With an awful lot of people back up and running and blading and biking and walking.

The soccer field, that a week ago was under several feet of water, tonight had dozens of feet on top of it playing soccer.

I have never seen so many bikes on the River Legacy paved trail. It felt congested at times.

I liked it.

Unlike the Trinity Trails in Fort Worth, tonight I saw no apparent homeless people on the River Legacy Trails.

I was not able to get good sunset pictures tonight, not like I was able to while pedaling the Trinity Trails the past couple nights. Why? I am not sure. It might have something to do with way more trees interfering with a direct shot.

I did not see a single firefly. But, I did have an armadillo encounter of the very quick kind, so quick, he or she, was gone before I could get my camera aimed at it. I was glad to see the little guy or girl had survived the flood.

A hapless soul had a flat at about the 6 mile mark. I saw him trying to fix it on my way out. On the way back I passed him walking his bike. So, I slowed to pedal beside the guy and empathize with his pain. I had to walk my bike out from that location once, in 100 plus degree heat. I called for rescue and was met at Collins Street. This guy had it way better, due to it being way cooler. Like barely 90.

There were a surprising number of solo bikers of the fit female persuasion tonight.

I tell you. A small, yet significant, percentage of Texans are getting themselves in shape. Did I mention River Legacy Park is in Arlington, one of the towns at the top of the Men's Health list of towns being way too busy with adult procreative activities? It helps to be in good shape for such things. I think Arlington is aiming to be near the top of the Men's Health upcoming list of the Fittest Towns in America.

I am trying to do my part. Even though I live in Fort Worth. Where it is pretty hopeless to get on any sort of most fit list.

Hoping To Take A Sunset Bike Ride At River Legacy Park, But Not On The Mountain Bike Trails

You are looking at a flooded River Legacy Park the time previous to the most recent flooding. The most recent flooding was worse than the previous one.

I learned today that the water has receded enough to re-open the park to pedaling on the paved trails.

Which I think I will do in a couple hours.

I also learned today, via a report from Glenn, on the DORBA (Dallas Off Road Bicycle Association) website, that the damage to the mountain bike trail is extensive. Some flooding may need to be pumped out, some areas have been totally altered, some basically destroyed.

A lot of work has gone into making the River Legacy Park Mountain Bike Trail. All voluntary. I believe the work to repair the trail starts this weekend.

The second picture is also from the last flood. The Trinity pushed hard against the new, at that time, pedestrian/bike bridge across the river. But the bridge held. I am assuming the bridge held up against the most recent flood, as well.

It will be interesting to see what I am going to see on my sunset ride tonight. I hope I see at least one firefly.

Below is Glenn's report, of the areas he was able to assess, of the damage to the River Legacy Park Mountain Bike Trail....

Well, I was able to navigate about two and a half miles of the trail today. So here is your Tuesday update.

The creek crossing bridge is out but was retained by the chain.

The old original drops through the creek bed are seriously muddy and silted but have no significant erosion.

EKG is off line completely. Even the bypass is seriously muddy. The climb to the top of the ridge that drops into the EKG exit is eroded and obstructed.

The EKG entrance is a total bog with water more than a foot deep. The EKG exit is totally blocked. I don't know about the rest of the loop.

The bridge into South loop appears to be undercut and the waterline in the adjacent undergrowth indicates that the water was four to five feet over the bridge.

The concrete crossing that served as the South Loop exit is gone.

The trail from south loop up and over Ricks Ridge is not eroded but is littered with tree falls, rubble and debris.

Starting about 100 yards from the top of the ridge the trail is a running water path and was impassable.

On the inbound side there is standing water beginning about two hundred yards west of the evacuation road. with various obstructions along the way.

The Tree Bridge Loop (noted for the wooden ramp over a large tree) is totally blocked on the entrance side, the ramp and associated tree, have been moved down trail and are now out of line with the trail. The exit to this loop is also mostly blocked.

The trail from the Tree Bridge loop back to the Majestic Oak Corner is in good shape but with much debris to be moved.

Oak that has has it's roots undercut and is leaning at a sharp angle over the trail. I doubt that it will make it until the Workday.

The Majestic Oak Corner is a wreck. Totally blocked on the entrance side and a mess on the exit.

Gordon's loop is partially blocked at the entrance and is a deep pond at the back with the trail being totally under water for some distance.

It appears that the water was at least briefly, several feet deep in the parking lot and across the entrance and exits to the trail. The Kiosk shows signs that the water got as high as the bottom of the posting box (i hope i kept copies of that stuff). There are large trees that have floated into the picnic table area, and the water line in the adjacent underbrush indicated significantly high water completely across the lot.

What I don't know....

I suspect, but don't know, that the Prairie Loop is a muddy mess for now with some sections in the west end likely under water.

I am told that some sections of North Loop may be part of a small lake that has formed and according to Parks Mgr. Armando may have to be pumped out.

Glenn

The Greenest Summer I've Ever Seen Is In North Texas

Nary a cloud in the sky above the Tandy Hills today. The humidity has dropped under 50%, so it is being not quite so muggy. That and a slight breeze helps.

Is this the greenest summer in North Texas history? I've not been here all that long, but it is the greenest summer in my short North Texas history.

I thought I'd be more snake vigilant after my recent encounter with a 6 foot long version of the creature God used to tempt Eve to eat an apple.

But today I was lost in thought, walking across a trail wannabe, when the thought crossed my mind that I needed to be reptile vigilant.

I got my first vote for my run at being mayor of Fort Worth today. Very encouraging.

I believe River Legacy Park has re-opened. The mountain bike trail is a mess that will require a lot of time to restore. However, I believe the paved trail is back functioning. I think this may be the location of my sunset bikeride tonight.

Maybe I will be able to get a picture or two of a firefly or two.

19 Steps Towards Making Fort Worth Cool & Hopefully More Satisfied

Just a few days ago we learned, via Men's Health magazine, that several Texas cities ranked high as Most Sexually Satisfied Cities, with Austin scoring #1 in one prized category, that being condom sales.

In the overall rankings Indianapolis was #1, with two Ohio towns, Columbus and Cincinnati # 2 and #4, respectively. San Antonio came in #6 in the overall Most Satisfied rankings.

Meanwhile, up in the more frigid Pacific Northwest, Seattle, Spokane and Portland did not do so well. However, Boise came in #9.

That is not the usual look at the stunning skyline of beautiful downtown Seattle in the picture. The view is looking west at downtown from the east side of Lake Washington, with the Olympic Mountains in the background. The cliche view, of Seattle, is the Space Needle in the foreground, then the downtown skyscrapers, with Mount Rainier hovering in the background. That cliche view is why first time Seattle visitors are often surprised to discover the town is virtually surrounded by mountains, if they are so blessed as to be visiting on one of those rare uncloudy days (you are welcome Lesser Seattle people).

Today, from Forbes Magazine, in yet one more ranking list of dubious authority, Seattle is ranked the #3 Coolest City in America. With only Las Vegas and, the coolest, New York City, being Cooler.

For the Sexiest City rankings Men's Health based its ranking on the aforementioned condom sales, birth rates and sales of sex toys from retailers Babeland and Pure Romance.

Sounds very scientific.

Forbes based its Coolest List on a Harris market research company poll in which Harris asked adults from across the U.S. which of the 40 largest metropolitan areas in America are "The Coolest."

The Top Ten Coolest, according to Harris and America are....

1. New York City
2. Las Vegas
3. Seattle
4. Chicago
5. San Francisco
6. Orlando
7. San Diego
8. Los Angeles
9. Miami
10. Washington, D.C.

I have opined previously that Seattle is like one big theme park, so it being cooler than Orlando is no huge shock to me. But, cooler than Los Angeles? I really like Los Angeles. Although, Seattle is a bit more easily accessed and has more going on in close proximity.

I am guessing the people of Seattle are too busy having fun, in their cool town, to have as much fun with the type adult entertainment that has Indianapolis, Columbus, Cincinnati, Salt Lake City, San Antonio and Boise top-ranked in the Men's Health Sex in the City rankings.

I am shocked, shocked I tell you, that Fort Worth is not in the Top 10 of Coolest Cities. I am sure if Fort Worth had made this list a city-wide celebration would already be in the works.

I am also sure, once the Trinity River Vision clears up, that the rest of America will start to perceive Fort Worth as cool.

I have some suggestions on how to make Fort Worth cooler, prior to the TRV being ready to float boats and inner tubes.

1. Remove all outhouses from all public parks. Replace the outhouses with modern restroom facilities with running water.
2. Expand library hours and keep libraries open 7 days a week.
3. Build a safe, clean town swimming lake and provide provide transportation to the town lake for the town's kids.
4. Build sidewalks along all the roads people walk beside.
   
5. Quit calling the area of town where there are museums the "Cultural District." That just ain't cool.
6. Landscape all exits from freeways.
7. Quit calling the collection of downtown parking lots "Sundance Square."
8. Actually build a downtown square and then name it "Sundance Square."
9. Clean up all boarded up eyesores in the Fort Worth Stockyards National Historic District.
10. Either totally fix the bumpy bricks on Camp Bowie Boulevard, or pave the boulevard over with regular concrete. Trust me. There ain't nothing cool or remotely unique about that tiresome brick road.
11. Fix the eyesore sections of Lancaster, Rosedale, Berry, North Main and any other road in Fort Worth that would be right at home in a 3rd, 4th or 5th world country.
12. Do actual needed flood control work to mitigate the dangers from flash floods.
13. Fix the current corruption that runs the City of Fort Worth and the Fort Worth School District.
14. Restore Heritage Park to its rightful glory.
15. Remove any barbed/concertina wire fencing in the downtown area.
16. Build a streetcar system circulating people from downtown to the Stockyards to the newly re-named 7th Street Entertainment District, formerly known as "The Cultural District."
17. Build the best Homeless Shelter System in America and show the rest of the country how to get people back on their feet.
18. Fully fund and implement the Master Plan for Tandy Hills Natural Area.
19. Remove the entry fees for the Fort Worth Nature Preserve. No cool city charges a fee to its citizens to enter a public park that property taxes, and other taxes, have already paid for.

There you go, 19 steps to having Fort Worth being "Cool" in no time. I have no idea what to do to fix Fort Worth's sorry rankings on the Men's Health list.

Up Late In Texas After Too Much Bird Tweeting Torment Last Night

I am up after the sun, well, more accurately, we got up about the same time, this one day past the Ides of September, Thursday morning, the 16th.

I'm thinking these sunset bike rides I've been going on have me sleeping like a baby, without a need for a middle of the night feeding.

By the time I got up, this morning, the birds were done with their daily ritual of greeting the sun with way too much tweeting.

But.

Yesterday all afternoon I was hearing loud tweeting. And then when I got back here. After dark. The birds were still tweeting. It was loud and annoying. Birds don't tweet, normally, after the sun goes away.

After about an hour I was real tired of the constant tweeting. I went outside hoping to shoo away the offending birds, who I assumed were right outside my computer room window.

When I stepped outside, dead silence. Nary a tweet. I figured, well, that shut them up, just seeing a human in their vicinity.

I went back to my computer room and the tweeting was at full throttle. Then I thought, are there birds in my attic? Am I hearing this through the A/C vent?

Then, as a last resort, seeking any solution that provided relief from this avian nightmare, I turned off my computer speakers.

Silence.

I re-started the computer this morning. I have not turned the speakers back on. I'll do that right now and see if the birds return.

Silence.

I was at several websites yesterday that had to do with birding on the Texas Gulf Coast. I'm thinking I may have picked up a bird noise doing that, somehow, that stayed with me.

I am not going swimming this morning. I may go to the Tandy Hills if it is breezy by noon. I may go on a sunset bike ride tonight. In the meantime, and after, I will be virtually traveling all over Texas.

Pedaling At Sunset In Fort Worth Past The Trinity Trail Homeless People

I started pedaling before 7. It really was not as dark as this picture would make you think. In the picture I've just left Gateway Park, crossed the Trinity River on the Dam/Bridge that was flooded, a week ago today, pedaled up to the top of the levee and stopped because the sun was doing some interesting lighting that I thought might make an interesting photo.

Yesterday I came up 5 homeless people walking on the Trinity Trail. Two pairs and one guy solo. I was hoping today to see no homeless people.

Continuing on, in a mile or two I came to a flock of swan-like birds, floating in the Trinity River. I assumed they got the memo from J.D. Granger that the Tarrant Regional Water Board has been working successfully for decades to turn the formerly polluted Trinity River into super clean water, safe to swim and inner tube in.


In the above picture I'm the furthest I made it on tonight's sunset bikeride, to the west side of the I-35 Freeway, a short distance from the Fort Worth Stockyards, which, if I remember right, is a couple more miles of pedaling. That shelter in the foreground is a water oasis.

The above is what I saw when I turned around from the view of the I-35 Freeway and the water oasis, two of the more, uh, interesting, downtown Fort Worth Skyscrapers, peeking up above a line of trees.

Now the homeless person report.

I saw none wandering the Trinity Trails. However, under the Riverside Drive Bridge there was a group of 5 or 6. On my way out, one asked, as I pedaled by, "How's it go'in, man?" I said, "fine."

On the return two of the under the bridge homeless people appeared to be sleeping. None of those still awake howdied me as I passed.

There were a couple females pedaling tonight on the Trinity Trails and one jogging. I would think that group under the bridge might make a girl a bit nervous. I'm not a girl and they made me nervous. The scene had a sort of post-apocalyptic look to it. Blade Runner in Fort Worth.

I'm liking my sunset bike rides. Except for the homeless people part. That and the giant flying things that hit me. Tonight I think I may have been slammed by a bat. Whatever it was, it was big.