Seattle's Waterfront Ferris Wheel Has Me Wondering About Fort Worth's Waterfront Attractions

In the picture, I am guessing you're thinking you are looking at an artist's rendition of the future Lake Granger and the future stunning skyline of beautiful downtown Fort Worth.

Well, you would be guessing wrong.

What you are looking at is the current state of part of the stunning skyline of beautiful downtown Seattle.

With a new addition. That round thing at the bottom of the picture, in the middle, is a 175 foot tall Ferris Wheel, stuck on the end of Pier 57. The Ferris Wheel's air-conditioned gondolas are currently being installed, with the Ferris Wheel open for spinning this coming 4th of July.

When I first read about this Seattle Ferris Wheel my reaction was the same that I had when I first read about Fort Worth's Cowtown Wakepark. That there is no way this is going to make a financial go of it.

Unlike the Cowtown Wakepark, the Seattle Ferris Wheel is a private operation, not part of any bizarro vision run amok.

I opined my opinion about the Seattle Ferris Wheel to a fellow Washington exile in Texas. That person opined that he thought this would be a very popular addition to the Seattle Waterfront.

Then I read the comments to the Ferris Wheel article in the Seattle Post-Intelligencer, where a lot of people were opining that this Ferris Wheel is a good thing, with many anxious to ride it.

One guy commented that in addition to air-conditioning and heating the gondolas should also have windshield wipers.

I think my negative reaction to the idea that a Ferris Wheel would succeed on the Seattle Waterfront was caused by the way Texas has altered my perceptions.

Basically, I forgot what a tourist trap Seattle is these days. It's not a seldom visited outpost, like Fort Worth, where you don't see throngs of tourists or out of state license plates.

The last time I was in Seattle was Thursday, August 7, 2008. I spent most of the day in Pioneer Square. Then about 2 in the afternoon I walked to Westlake Center, and then through Pike Place Market to the Seattle Waterfront.

I was so used to the ghost town-like downtowns of Fort Worth and Dallas that I was sort of shocked at the amount of humanity on the streets of Seattle, with Pike Place and the Waterfront being a human traffic jam.

Five or Six cruise ships now use Seattle as their homebase. I suspect those boats account for some of the throngs of people.

If the Trinity River Vision Boondoggle ever comes to fruition I wonder if we will see throngs of tourists on the waterfront of Lake Granger, that being the ever shrinking pond that is a key part of the vision? Will there be a Ferris Wheel? Will a cruise ship take visitors on a cruise up the, likely to be infamous, un-needed flood diversion channel to nowhere?

Running From A Mount Tandy Downpour Thinking Of Driving North To Alaska & Getting Washington Apricots

A doctor's appointment in Euless this morning took up the entire morning, thus my regular endorphin inducing aerobic stimulation, via fast walking motion, had to be postponed.

I did get in some endorphin inducing swimming this morning.

By the time mid-afternoon arrived the air was heated to the mid 90s. And not very windy.

And then, quite suddenly, the predicted clouds arrived, followed by wind and a dropping temperature.

So, I decided to drive to the top of Mount Tandy and have myself a real fine time doing some hill hiking.

But, that did not work out.

When I parked on top of Mount Tandy I saw lightning striking to the south of me. I took off down Mount Tandy anyway. I was halfway down Mount Tandy when I stopped to take the picture you see above of the stunning skyline of beautiful downtown Fort Worth. As you can see, the sky looks a bit foreboding.

I took the picture, stuck the camera back in its pocket and then a downpour began to pour down an ultra copious amount of wetness.

Heading East from Town Talk on Randol Mill Road
You Can See it is a Bit Stormy

I ran like the proverbial bat out of hell back up Mount Tandy to the shelter of my vehicle. I do not remember the last time I ran so fast or got so winded from running. Which means I sort of got my endorphin inducing aerobic stimulation.

After the aborted hill hiking I drove to Town Talk.

I always seem to find good stuff at Town Talk on Wednesdays. Today it was apricots. I forgot to look on the box to see if these are Washington apricots. I don't remember if Washington apricots are ripe by early June. I suspect not.

I will go try one of the apricots right now. One bite and I should be able to tell you if it is a Washington apricot.

Well, blindfolded I don't think I would have guessed apricot, so I'm guessing this is not a Washington apricot.

Speaking of Washington, one of my two siblings, who are still residents of Washington, that being my big sister, took off for Alaska this morning in her giant RV, along with 3 dogs and my first ex-wife.

My sister is going to email me pictures and then I am supposed to blog them on a blog that my sister set up, the login info of which I have not yet been sent.

I like taking a vicarious trip via someone's pictures, so this virtual Alaska trip should be fun. We will be going all the way to the Arctic Circle.

Changing the subject from the Arctic Circle to ice closer to home.

My computer based weather monitoring device started blinking indicating a Special Weather Statement from the National Weather Service had been issued...

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
in effect until Wednesday, Jun 6, 5:00 PM

...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR... EASTERN JOHNSON COUNTY SOUTHEASTERN TARRANT COUNTY

AT 425 PM CDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE METEOROLOGISTS DETECTED STRONG THUNDERSTORMS ALONG A LINE EXTENDING FROM 3 MILES EAST OF FORT WORTH TO 3 MILES EAST OF KEENE...MOVING EAST AT 15 MPH.

CITIES IN THE PATH OF THESE STORMS INCLUDE ALVARADO...ARLINGTON... BURLESON...CROWLEY...DALWORTHINGTON GARDENS...EDGECLIFF...EVERMAN... FOREST HILL...FORT WORTH...HALTOM CITY...KEENE...KENNEDALE... MANSFIELD...PANTEGO...RENDON...RICHLAND HILLS AND VENUS.

PENNY-SIZED HAIL AND WIND GUSTS TO 50 MPH CAN BE EXPECTED FROM THESE STORMS.

The Possibly Avant-Garde Tall Weed Infused Fort Worth Freeway Landscaping

Weeds Grow Wild  on Eastchase & I-30
in Fort Worth

When I was in Arizona a couple months ago I was not long out of the airport when I began noticing that, no matter what road or freeway I was driven on, landscaping made the landscape look real nice.

The Phoenix metro area's landscaping along roads and freeways was not just cactus and palm trees, there was also color involved in the form of many Bougainvillea plants.

For years I've been making note of the fact that Fort Worth does not landscape (or de-litter and de-weed) the two freeway exits to the town's #1 tourist attraction, that being the Fort Worth Stockyards.

A couple days ago, when heading towards Wal-Mart after biking along Village Creek I noticed the landscaping at the Eastchase Parkway overpass over I-30. I was appalled.

Yesterday the red light stopped me right before crossing the overpass, so I quickly grabbed my camera and took the photos you see above and below.

I see this type of Fort Worth only landscaping at all the Fort Worth freeway exits, entries and overpasses that I frequent.

Heading North Past Weeds on Eastchase Parkway

It occurs to me that this landscaping style may be a purposeful thing. Maybe some abstract avant-garde landscaping design designed to make people from other towns green with envy when they see the cool futuristic Fort Worth landscaping.

Other towns in the Dallas/Fort Worth Metroplex subscribe to the more conventional West Coast/Arizona style of landscaping.

Arlington, for instance. The new overpasses over I-30 are very Arizona-esque with the way the road has been tarted up with murals and landscaping.

Arlington's next neighbor to the east, Grand Prairie, also does a fine job with its landscaping and tarting up its freeway exits.

Just north of my abode, the first exit from the I-820 freeway to the town of Hurst, is a nicely landscaped welcome to the town.

North Richland Hills is very Arizona-esque with the landscaping on its major boulevards.

And then there is Fort Worth. Very perplexing.

Today's Incoming Storm May Be As Bad As The Deadly Storm Of June 2007

The view in the picture is looking west from my secondary viewing portal on the outer world.

I see no clouds in the sky no matter which direction I look, west, east, south or north.

Beginning yesterday the weather predictors have been predicting incoming extreme weather, heading in from the west.

Yesterday there were some big, ominous looking clouds hovering about, but no precipitation precipitated, no lightning struck, no thunder boomed.

Part of the National Weather Services Alert regarding the incoming dire weather makes one think it is going to get rather stormy here....

IN THE PAST...WE HAVE HAD EPISODES OF HEAVY RAIN WHEN THESE CONDITIONS OCCUR. FOR EXAMPLE...18 JUNE 2007 FOSSIL CREEK FLOODED IN HALTOM CITY...AND PECAN CREEK FLOODED IN GAINESVILLE. THE FLOODING RESULTED IN FOUR DEATHS AND OVER 30 MILLION IN DAMAGE. WE CANNOT FORECAST THAT THIS EVENT WILL BE THAT BAD NOR PIN DOWN AN EXACT LOCATION...WE CAN SAY THAT CONDITIONS MAY BE SIMILAR AND THE POTENTIAL IS THERE. THE HEAVY RAIN POTENTIAL WILL LAST TUESDAY THROUGH THURSDAY AND INTO FRIDAY AS WELL.

I do not know why the National Weather Service shouts its alerts with CAPITAL letters.

It is interesting the National Weather Service is mentioning the killer Fossil Creek flood of 2007.

Since the tragic 2007 events on Fossil Creek, millions upon millions of dollars have been spent to prevent a similar tragedy from happening.

But, those millions have not been not spent on the Fossil Creek floodplain, instead the millions have been spent on the Trinity River as it flows through the north side of Fort Worth's downtown, where there are already big levees in place that have prevented flooding for over 50 years.

Among the many useless things the Trinity River Vision Boondoggle is doing, one useless, unneeded part of this misguided project is fixing a non-existent flood problem on the northside of downtown Fort Worth, by building a giant flood diversion channel, so the levees that have prevented a flood for decades, can be removed.

While no Fossil Creek Vision has been created to solve the actual, real, serious, deadly existing flood problem on Fossil Creek.

Fishing & Walking With The Snakes & Indian Ghosts Along Village Creek

Futile Village Creek Fishing

I was not in the mood to get too HOT today during my daily salubrious endorphin inducing aerobic stimulation.

With very little wind blowing, and the temperature nearing 90, I knew my delicate sensibilities would be better suited, today, for a nice cool walk under the big trees in the Village Creek Natural Historical Area.

I was not alone. A lot of people were taking a walk today with the Indian Ghosts which haunt this area.

I came upon a mom with 3 kids, fishing. That is them, above, in the picture. The picture was taken from the dam bridge that crosses Village Creek in this location, with the trail continuing on, turning into the Pioneer Trail of Bob Findlay Linear Park.

Where the mom with 3 kids are fishing is the location, where, years ago, I saw a huge water moccasin cross the creek and make a bee, I mean, snake line towards me. I quickly roller bladed to safety.

Snake in the Water

I climbed down the embankment to where the mom with 3 kids were fishing and told the mom about Chisholm Park, in Hurst, which has a stocked with fish lake. And shade. The mom was glad to learn of the park in Hurst. Apparently her oldest boy is a nut about going fishing, but seldom catches anything.

A short distance from where the futile fishing was taking place I came upon the snake you see above. I have no clue as to what type snake this is. It was not aggressive. It seemed to be enjoying itself in the water flowing over the dam.

Changing the subject from snakes to something else.

I think I must have had really bad nightmares last night. I've had this horrible sense of foreboding all day long. I thought a nice, long swim this morning would shake the sense of foreboding. But, it did not.

I think maybe I am having this sense of foreboding due to the fact I keep procrastinating dealing with fraudulent thievery perpetrated by something called M-Cube, in cahoots with Facebook, AT & T and their local enabler called Hawk Electronics.

Are You Heading To Seattle For The Fremont Solstice Parade Naked Bike Ride?

You have less than two weeks to get yourself to the Seattle zone if you want to participate in the Republic of Fremont's annual Solstice Parade Naked Bike Ride.

This year the Solstice Parade does not take place on the Solstice, due to the Solstice taking place midweek, on Wednesday, June 20.

The Fremont Solstice Parade happens 4 days prior to the Solstice, on Saturday, June 16.

I have never attended the Fremont Solstice Parade, but I have been in the Republic of Fremont many times.

Way back when there was a communist nation called the Union of Socialist Soviet Republics, Fremont seceded from the American Union and tried to join the Soviet Union. This attempt failed. However, when the Soviet Union collapsed, the Republic of Fremont acquired some Soviet artifacts, like a statue of Lenin, and, if I remember right, the remains of a missile.

As you likely can guess, Fremont is a rather liberal, free-spirited section of the rather liberal, free-spirited city of Seattle.

I can't quite imagine Fort Worth or Dallas having a naked bike ride as part of a Solstice Parade. I don't know why.

I can imagine Austin having a naked bike ride as part of a Solstice Parade. Austin is where Hippie Hollow is. And I've heard both males and females are seen topless at Barton Springs. I have not personally witnessed this, however.

You can go to the Seattle Post-Intelligencer and read So You Want To Be Naked In The Fremont Solstice Parade to see more photos and read the guidelines for your naked bikeride.

I Did Not Get Too Hot On The Tandy Hills Today

In the picture we are looking north, on top of Lost Sunglasses Ridge, in the noon time frame, on the Tandy Hills.

As you can see, clouds were blocking direct solar radiation from getting me hot, unlike yesterday, when I got way too HOT hiking.

Since the noon time frame the skies have brightened a little.

I heard, on the radio, during a news break from Rush Limbaugh's ranting, that we have some likely incoming rain clouds, heading this way from the west, scheduled to arrive on Wednesday. Apparently these incoming rain clouds have the potential to drop a lot of rain.

So, tomorrow may be my last day of salubrious endorphin inducing aerobic stimulation til the hills dry out.

Olive The Prairie Dog Officially Anointed Official Mascot Of The Tandy Hills Natural Area

Olive the Prairie Dog
Official Mascot of the Tandy Hills

Today, in Don Young's Prairie Notes #66: Sea of Gold we learned  it is now official that Olive the Prairie Dog is the Official Mascot of the Tandy Hills.

Last month Olive the Prairie Dog had a lot of people being very concerned about Olive suddenly, mysteriously, disappearing.

And then suddenly a lot of people were very happy upon learning of the news of Olive's safe return.

In this month's Prairie Notes Don Young had this to say about Olive and her disappearance and return...

Debora and I were amazed by the overwhelming response to the disappearance and return of Olive the Prairie Dog. The hills are literally her front yard. As a pup, she took to them quite naturally, navigating the tall grass by leaping and floating like Michael Jordan to get her bearings. She knows the creeks and valleys like the back of her paw. She's known by every Rabbit and Roadrunner and loved by every Kid on the Prairie. So...

By all the power vested in me, I hereby anoint Olive the Prairie Dog, the Official Mascot of Tandy Hills Natural Area.

It's about time.

I went to the Friends of Tandy Hills Natural Area website to see if the latest Prairie Notes were posted yet, so that I could link to them, to find they were not, but I did find a page about Olive the Prairie Dog where I saw my name mentioned in a way that made me feel good.

I like feeling good. It happens so seldom.

Hot Hiking The Tandy Hills With A Missing Hotpepper & Cats

Green Leafs Above
Dry Tandy Falls

I'd not been on top of Mount Tandy for well over a week, til today. Since I was last at that location the wildflowers have pretty much left the scene, as has the field of green.

The prairie has now turned brown, despite last week's 3 days of rain.

I am now wondering if somehow the Tandy Hills missed out on getting hit by any of the downpours, because today I found Tandy Falls being Tandy Dry Falls, with Tandy Creek dried up.

The outer world is currently heated to 95 degrees at my location, with the 45% humidity making it feel like 102.

Who figures out what the temperature really feels like?

I do know that by the end of my hill hiking today I was a very hot sweaty mess. But, a strong wind blew across the prairie atop Mount Tandy, which quickly had me cooled down. A little.

Changing the subject from one type of hot to another.

I am very concerned about Elsie Hotpepper. I do not think I've heard from Ms. Hotpepper since May 31. I do not remember Elsie going missing this long before. Calling the Hotpepper Hotline gets a leave a message message.

Changing the subject from missing Hotpeppers to cats.

Yesterday a strange phenomenon occurred on Facebook. Miss Connie had been posting photos of her cute new kitty. Then, right on top of the latest cute Miss Connie kitty photo, CatsPaw posted a photo of her new kitty. I do not think Miss Connie and CatsPaw know each other or that both got themselves new babies on the same day.

If I had to choose which was the cuter kitty I think I'd have to go with Miss Connie's. I've always been partial to orange cats.

Now you are probably wondering who I think is cuter, Miss Connie or CatsPaw. Well, that is a very dicey question to answer. I'll have to go with the fact they are equally cute.

Spencer Jack Did Not Go To The Fort Worth Zoo With Me On Saturday

That is Spencer Jack in the picture, taken yesterday at Woodland Park Zoo in Seattle. Spencer Jack took his mom, Jenny, to the zoo to meet his aunt, that being my eldest sister, and his namesake, that being my ex-wife.

Behind Spencer Jack is part of the African Savanna exhibit. When the African Savanna opened in 1980 it was the first of its kind, won awards and spawned similar exhibits in other zoos.

Only the Bronx Zoo in New York City has won more Best National Exhibit awards from the Association of Zoos & Aquariums than Woodland Park Zoo.

My sister had not been to Woodland Park Zoo since the exhibits went natural. I don't think she'd been there since back when Bobo the Gorilla was the big attraction.

I forget when, exactly, but back in either the late 60s or early 70s there was a massive bond issue in the Seattle zone called Forward Thrust. Voters approved all sorts of things. Like building the (now dead) Kingdome, fixing up Pike Place Market, upgrading Woodland Park Zoo, building water treatment plants on Puget Sound and Lake Washington, that returned those bodies of water to their former salmon supporting clean glory, and I forget what else.

The voter's rejected building a rail transit system. That is now seen as a big mistake that only started to get rectified in the 1990s.

My sister takes off for Alaska next week, with Denali National Park as one of her destinations. I don't know if she took Spencer to the Northern Trail exhibit yesterday. It is made to look like a trail in Denali National Park. My last visit to Woodland Park Zoo was soon after that exhibit opened in 1994. I remember coming face to face with a big black bear, underwater, and being a little startled.

I've only been to the Fort Worth Zoo once. I did not find it a very pleasant experience.

I remember my first year in Texas some friends had friends visiting from Washington and they took the Washingtonians to the Fort Worth Zoo. I remember one of them verbalizing being amazing at some of the tackiness, mentioning one thing in particular, saying something like, "They have ad signs all over, that'd never fly in Seattle, things like Cheetah Exhibit Sponsored by Cheetos."

I remember being appalled by the aquarium. It smelled really bad and had all sorts of sea critters roaming around in one big tank.