Playing With Lucy Park Tyrannosaurus Before Suspension Over Wichita River

After a month of being in what is known as the Texoma Zone it seems that Lucy Park has become my Saturday commune with nature Wichita Falls place to go.

And so it was to Lucy Park I went today.

I have yet to learn why Lucy Park is so named. I am assuming it is not some sort of tribute to Lucille Ball.

What you are looking at in the first picture is what is part of what is known as Lucy Land in Lucy Park. I think this is supposed to represent the remains of a dinosaur. From the big head in the foreground I am guessing this dinosaur was a Tyrannosaurus Rex.

After playing for a few minutes in Lucy Land I headed northeast along the banks of the Wichita River, eventually coming to the Lucy Park suspension bridge suspended above the Wichita River.

Last week the flooding Wichita nearly touched the suspension bridge. This week, due to diminished deluging, the Wichita water level had fallen.

When I got to the bridge I saw a lady was slowly, gingerly pushing her bike across the bridge.

Of course I could not resist walking fast onto the bridge, quickly turning it into a Galloping Gertie.

I was a distance away, but I am fairly certain when she turned around the look on her face was not happy. However, she did not yell at me to cease with the rocking.

Does it surprise any of you not familiar with Texas to see that Wichita Falls, in the Texas Panhandle Plains Region, looks like a lush tropical jungle in some of these locations I am showing you?

No bug bites today. Either the heat has killed off the biters, or the Cutter bug repellent is working. Or maybe a little bit of both...

Something Fishy In My New Wichita Falls Neighborhood Not Found In Fort Worth

From around the age of 5 til I was around the age of 18 I lived across the street from a city park, that being Maiben Park in the little town of Burlington, Washington.

From around the age of 18 til about a month ago I did not live across the street from a city park.

Where I am currently aboding I don't even have to cross the street to be in a Wichita Falls city park known as Weeks Park.

An extremely short distance from my abode there is another park. I have seen this park referred to as being South Weeks Park. Or maybe South of Weeks Park. All I know for sure is this other park is not directly connected to Weeks Park.

One sees no signage naming this other nearby park when one is visiting that park. But, if one wanders around the park eventually one sees a big boulder with a plaque attached. Which is what you see above.

On the plaque one sees the closest thing to a park name that I have found.

KID FISHING & CASTING POND

This Fishing Pond is regularly stocked. During the warm time of the year the stocking is Channel Catfish. During the cold time of the year the stocking is Rainbow Trout.

This park was the first park I saw upon my arrival in Wichita Falls. It intrigued me the first time I drove by it, due to being surprised to see a large number of people fishing, including two of what appeared to be old ladies. This reminded me of my Grandma Vera, who loved to fish.

The day I took these pictures there were not too many people fishing. About a week prior, on my way to the nearby Walmart, I was surprised to see dozens of kids fishing. The next day I learned this was a regularly scheduled Wichita Falls city program.

Kids can fish without needing a license. People who are not kids require a license.

As you can see the Fishing Pond has a lot of that Wichita Falls requisite.

Benches.

This town must have more benches, per capita, that any other town in the world.

In the above picture, in the background, above the fountain, you can see a gazebo atop a grassy knoll.

The grassy knoll did not look to be much of a hill climb, but looks proved to be slightly deceiving.

The population of Wichita Falls is about eight times smaller than the town I lived in prior to moving here.

Why is it Fort Worth has no stocked pond for kids to fish in? Fosdick Lake in Fort Worth's Oakland Lake Park would make for a wonderful stocked fishing pond. Of course, the lake would need to be de-polluted so the Not Safe To Eat The Fish You Catch signs can be removed.

Fort Worth is sadly lacking in the parks department.

Literally.

I think I may have mentioned that lacking in the parks department thing before.

Above you are looking at yet one more thing you will find lacking in most Fort Worth city parks. A restroom facility with running water.

In this case a non-controversial uni-sex restroom.

The Shadow Of The Tandy Hills Thin Man Cannot Be Seen In Wichita Falls

No, that is not the Shadow of the Tandy Hills Thin Man you are looking at here.

It is highly likely I will never again see the Shadow of the Tandy Hills Thin Man.

What you are looking at here is the Shadow of the Mount Wichita Thin Man.

I'd not climbed to the summit of Mount Wichita since a horrific incident a week or two ago when I was assaulted by swarms of various biting insects.

Today there was not much bug biting danger due to two things.

One being that a strong flying insect grounding wind was blowing.

The second reason for reduced bug biting danger was I was covered by Cutter Flying Insect Repellent.

I only made it three times to the summit of Mount Wichita today. The mountain's trails were not in top shape due to mountain climbers climbing when the mountain was muddy from the recent deluges.

Four youngsters joined the Old Thin Man climbing Mount Wichita today. One of the youngsters was of the female type and was wearing what must have been mountain climbing flip flops.

When I was a youngster flip flops were called thongs, before that thong word got co-opted by skimpy swimwear.

Mountain climbing with flip flopping thongs as ones footwear did not seem like a good idea to me.

Anyway, I had myself such a mighty fine time seeing my thin mountain shadow today I may return tomorrow...

Visiting A Swinging Bench With Massive Mansions At Hamilton Park In Wichita Falls

Today my commune with nature took place at yet one more Wichita Falls city park that is less than a mile from my abode.

Hamilton Park.

I don't know if this park was named after the Founding Father Hamilton named Alexander, who was shot and killed by Aaron Burr, or a famous locally Hamilton.

What I do know is several of the mansions along Hamilton Road across the street from Hamilton Park appeared to be inspired by houses from the Colonial era, like Jefferson's Monticello. One of the mansions looked like the White House was the inspiration.

In my memory the only place I have been which looks like the Hamilton neighborhood is Beverly Hills in California. At some point in time a large number of people in Wichita Falls must have been making a large amount of money.

In the Dallas/Fort Worth metro mess zone the only location I ever came across remotely close to this Wichita Falls collection of old mansions with massive grounds was in Dallas around White Rock Lake.

I think I have already a mentioned a time or two that Wichita Falls has more park benches in more locations than I have ever witnessed in any other town.

Of all the Wichita Falls parks I have visited Hamilton Park had the most unique park bench I have seen yet. That of which I speak is that which you see above. This bench was a bench swing, which swung quite vigorously.

Mr. Galtex is a well known aficionado of benches, traveling all over the world looking for special places to sit. Methinks Mr. Galtex would really like this swinging Hamilton Park bench.

Also, in this picture, in the background you see something rarely seen in a Fort Worth city park, which I have seen in all the Wichita Falls city parks I have visited.

A modern restroom with running water.

Wichita Falls is a modern American city, unlike that Texas town I once lived in for far too long....

Spencer Jack And Grandma Cindy Trying To Make America Great Again

I really don't know what to make of this which showed up in my email this morning.

Spencer Jack in the grasp of his Grandma Cindy wearing a baseball cap with Donald Trump's demented "MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN" slogan.

Spencer Jack's dad, my Favorite Nephew Jason, is a progressive liberal sort. All the Joneses are liberal progressive sorts except for the Black Sheep Jones who barely made it out of high school. I think there are two, maybe three of those.

Spencer Jack's Grandma Cindy used to be married to one of the Jones boys.

I do not know if Grandma Cindy has somehow turned into a reactionary right wing racist bigoted who has turned Spencer Jack into a Trump-er.

I suspect not.

My best guess is that when Spencer Jack took his dad to the Trump Rally in Lynden, Washington, a month or two or three ago, that baseball cap was purchased from one of the bizarro vendors of Trump paraphernalia which sprout up like mold outside Trump Rallys.

And that Spencer Jack wearing that baseball cap is intended to be some sort of twisted irony.

I have no way of knowing if Grandma Cindy's use of the V sign is meant to be the Hippie Peace Sign version or the Churchillian Nixonian V for Victory version.

It just occurred to me that if America was not already sufficiently Great, that having a nation where all the kids were as Great as Spencer Jack, well, that would make America Great Again, eventually....

Have A Drink From The Wichita Falls Golden Fountain

Here you are looking at an excellent example of why I am liking Wichita Falls much more than my previous location.

My new abode is on Taft Boulevard.

A couple days ago, whilst talking to Tootsie Tonasket, I crossed Southwest Boulevard to South Taft Boulevard, for the first time.

Suffice to say, I need to make video of that road.

So, I'm heading south on Taft Boulevard, being regaled by Tootsie Tonasket, when suddenly the Lake Wichita Dam pops into view.

I had no idea this was so close to my abode.

Less than a mile to the dam, so that is where I went today for my daily commune with nature.

As for the excellent example of why I'm liking Wichita Falls. At the base of the dam, on the south side of the parking lot there is the golden drinking fountain you see here, brought to water drinkers by the Wichita Falls Runners Club, who invite thirsty people to "HAVE A DRINK ON US".

I have seen more drinking fountains and park benches in one month in Wichita Falls than I saw in 15 years in Fort Worth.

And I have yet to find a Wichita Falls park without running water and restroom facilities, with none with the Fort Worth outhouse norm.

I harp on the Fort Worth penchant for outhouses absurdity because it has long annoyed me. And I've long had an aversion to outhouses. Seeing rows of such things in a modern American city park just seems bizarre and embarrassing to me.

But, I can only surmise that most Fort Worthers never venture to another town, not even surrounding suburbs, to get a clue as to how backwards their town is in so many embarrassing ways.

Like having parks with no running water to wash ones hands. Some Fort Worth parks don't even have outhouses, let alone running water. Mallard Cove Park comes to mind. For some reason Quanah Parker Park has a water fountain, but nary an outhouse, let alone a modern restroom facility.

In addition to seeing more water fountains and benches in one month in Wichita Falls than I saw in 15 years in Fort Worth, I am surprised, no matter which park I go to, by how many Wichita Fallers are out and about enjoying the parks. Walking, biking, bench sitting, picnicking, fishing, boating.

Just today, on my jog across Lake Wichita Dam I was passed by at least a couple dozen bikers, coming at me, and coming up behind me. Along with the bikers I came upon at least a dozen walkers.

In the above picture we are looking northwest across Lake Wichita at the Mount Wichita mini-volcano on the other side of the lake.

I sort of lost my affection for the Mount Wichita mini-volcano after my last visit when I was savagely attacked by hordes of biting insects.  When the bug population dies down in a month or two I likely will return to Mount Wichita.

Unless it is too HOT....

Is The Lake Worth Gator Population Floating To Downtown Fort Worth To Rock The River?

I saw this this Monday morning on Facebook via a Facebooker I assume may be a relative of the notorious Texas governor who preceded the current notorious Texas governor.

It has been known for a couple months now that alligators have been migrating to Fort Worth's Lake Worth from their long time abode in the Fort Worth Nature Center & Prairie Preserve's bayous.

Last year a blind alligator somehow made it past the Lake Worth dam all the way to the area where America's Biggest Boondoggle operates its Rockin' the River Happy Hour Inner Tube Floats in the polluted Trinity River.

With such evidence as the fact a blind gator can journey past the dam, combined with the fact a flock of clear-eyed gators has taken up residence in Lake Worth, is The Boondoggle going ahead with this year's enticing locals, who lack sufficient entertainment options, to get in the water at the imaginary island with the imaginary pavilion?

If Rockin' the River does take place this year, and if a gator floats in among the floaters and takes a bite or two or three, whose liability is it? The floaters who The Boondoggle makes sign some sort of pseudo legal document prior to getting in the water?

Or, with that document ruled irrelevant, does the law suit liability go to The Boondoggle?

Or is it the City of Fort Worth which will be held responsible for allowing something so irresponsible to happen as allowing such events to take place in a polluted river where it had become known that alligators were in town?

Has the Fort Worth Star-Telegram addressed these issues, with me missing the addressing?

No Hand Washing In Fort Worth City Parks

Yesterday when I got goosed in Lucy Park I took a picture of the sign you see here. A couple days ago I blogged about the wayfinding signage one finds all over Wichita Falls.

This would be another example of that wayfinding signage.

Can you spot the item on this sign that one would be unlikely to find in a Fort Worth park?

Okay, well, I guess one would not find a Fort Worth park sign pointing one to a waterfall, a park named O'Reilly or a place called Lucy Land.

But, it is a sign pointing toward "Restrooms" which I am focused on, which one is unlikely to find in a Fort Worth park.

One also is unlikely to find a sign pointing one to running water where one might get a drink or wash ones hands after using one of Fort Worth's parks many outhouses.

During my month of staying in North Richland Hills, prior to the move to Wichita Falls, I discovered that all the parks I visited, big and small, in the suburbs of Fort Worth, towns like Haltom City, Watauga, Keller and NRH had modern facilities in their parks.

In Wichita Falls all the parks I have visited have modern facilities. Including many drinking fountains.

Fort Worth's primitive parks came to mind a couple days ago when I saw the following in the Seattle Times.

Does the FDA know that there is a big American city with parks with picnic facilities with no modern facilities, including no running water?

Now, I know Fort Worth is under some sort of bizarre protective bubble which makes the town immune from the laws which govern the democratic, modern areas of America, hence corrupt judges, corrupt courts, corrupt public works projects and corrupt swindles, like the Chesapeake Energy debacle.

But, shouldn't some state or federal agency intervene in Fort Worth for public safety's sake? And make the town either close its parks lacking modern facilities, or install such amenities.

A few paragraphs from the Seattle Times article about the FDA's complaint about Horizon Air's lack of onboard hand-washing ability, with the points being made also applicable to the lack of running water in Fort Worth's parks...

Wash your hands. It’s an instruction that takes a bit of reminding for elementary-school children and commercial airlines alike, apparently.

Without hand-washing facilities, the lavatories are not sufficient for employees to handle food and ice, the agency said in a tersely worded letter, and “can increase the potential spread of communicable disease.”

“People are in close contact. All it takes is one person with an infection and it can easily spread on an airplane,” he said. “Hand-washing is one of those things you can’t do without.”

___________________

Hand-washing is one of those things you can't do without? Unless you have the misfortune to be picnicking in one of Fort Worth's city parks....

Getting Goosed In Lucy Park Before Getting Drenched In Walmart

This Saturday morning started off with an almost zero visibility fog. I think I mentioned that earlier today.

As the morning progressed the fog lifted, revealing a bright blue sky which had not been visible for many days in a row.

With the return of a blue sky and extreme humidity I felt the need to commune with nature.

Lucy Park was my commune choice for the day, along with a lot of other people.

Lucy Park is the biggest park in Wichita Falls, I think. Maybe Lake Wichita Park is bigger. Today in Lucy Park I discovered a very well done series of ponds, home to flocks of geese, ducks and turtles. With multiple swinging benches hidden in shady locations affording a peaceful relaxing viewing platform.

My first surprise upon reaching this location was that which you see above. A bridge. On the bridge is a sign warning "Caution on Suspension Bridge".

Suspension Bridge?

And then I took one step on to the Suspension Bridge to find myself on the swingiest Suspension Bridge I have ever been suspended on. This Suspension Bridge appeared to be quite an attraction. I watched as vehicles would arrive, park in the pond parking lot and then the vehicle occupants cautiously make  their way across the swinging bridge.

As I walked on the trail that surrounds the ponds eventually I came to a big flock of Geese. I have had run ins with Geese before. Geese can be a bit aggressive. Which was the case today. That goose you see below, with his head bending down, would not let me pass. When I stepped closer he made goose barking noises and moved aggressively towards me. I have had a goose goose me before.  It is a painful bite.

I turned around and re-traced my steps, not wanting to force the right of passage issue with the trail blocking goose.

If you ever find yourself in Wichita Falls and find your way to Lucy Park, you will find the Goose Duck Pond at the southwest side of the park, near the westernmost park entry.

I YouTubed video of swinging across the Suspension Bridge, along with a bit of a look at the east end of the Lucy Park Goose Duck Pond....



Oh. One more thing. The clear blue sky did not last. Around four this afternoon the sky turned dark, soon a strong wind blew, thunder rumbled in the distance. And then came a downpour. A drenching downpour. This seemed a good time to go to Walmart. And so I did. The drive there was a bit challenging. I enjoyed running into Walmart through the drenching rain. Inside the Walmart entry stood dozens of locals not wanting to get wet.

Methinks Wichita Fallers are rain babies. I think they may be out of practice, not yet used to the wet stuff after their five year drought.

A Cold Foggy First Saturday In June

This Saturday is the 4th day of June. When is this reputed Hotter than Hell thing supposed to kick in at my new Texas location?

Currently the outer world is being chilled to 69 degrees. So, my windows are open.

The past week it seemed as if I have moved back to the maritime climate of Western Washington.

Constant cloudy sky with a lot of drippage.

And today I looked out my bedroom window after the sun arrived to see what you see here.

Pea Soup Fog.

With almost zero visibility.