Spencer Jack Rolls Us Through Washington Cascades John Wayne Trail Tunnel

Saw what you see here via incoming email, this morning, from FNJ, also known as my Favorite Nephew Jason. The first email had several photos with no explanatory text. The second email provided explanatory text. What follows is that explanatory email, followed by my explanatory espousing... 

Hi FUD --

I thought you'd enjoy seeing these photos. And I figured they might need some explanation.

Today, Spencer Jack drove me to the top of Snoqualmie Pass where we parked at the former Hyak railroad station.  Spencer motored his electric scooter back west through the defunct Snoqualmie Tunnel which is now part of the John Wayne Iron Horse Trail which traverses the state laterally.  

The trail was full of other tunnel enthusiasts who either walked, biked, or jogged the 2.3 miles from one side to the other.   FNSJ was the only one I saw using a scooter.  Spencer then phoned me once he found daylight by exiting at the west portal. He warmed up a bit and then returned into the dark tunnel and headed back to Eastern Washington to reunite with myself.

He really enjoyed this. 

We continued over a second mountain pass -- that being Blewett Pass -- before settling in Leavenworth for the evening.   

Leavenworth is currently constructing an Alpine Roller Coaster at the west end of town. This looks so cool and I'm sure it will be a big tourist draw.

Hope all is well in TX.   

-- FNJ

PS -- On your next road trip up to Washington, be sure to take I-90 over the Cascades. You will hardly recognize it. It's so much wider and smoother than it was years ago. And beautifully landscaped and designed.  It's worth the trip.

____________________

Leavenworth is my favorite of Washington's themed tourist towns. Leavenworth is Bavarian themed. I have had many a fine time in Leavenworth. During summer the town is packed with tourists. I imagine the town is enjoying somewhat of a post-COVID boom. 

The John Wayne Trail tunnel opened soon before I moved to Texas. I've never been through it.

I did not know I-90 over Snoqualmie Pass has had some sort of makeover. I last drove over that pass in July of 2001 on my way to my mom and dad's 50th wedding anniversary party. The I-90 pass over Snoqualmie Pass had been rebuilt back in the 1970s, with parts of the freeway elevated high above the tree-line, and thus impervious to avalanches. I remember that period of road construction being a major pain to drive through.

Seeing these photos of a former train tunnel through the Cascades, and Spencer Jack having fun motoring through the tunnel, and thinking about Leavenworth, has me thinking about how in Washington, no matter which direction you go from Spencer Jack and FNJ's home base of Mount Vernon, it is a scenic wonderland of varied attractions. I can not say the same about my current location.

Six months ago I thought I was likely going to be driving over Snoqualmie Pass on a roadtrip back to Washington. But, sadly, that is not going to be happening...

Windless HOT Morning Fast Walk Around Sikes Lake

With this ongoing heat dome caused heat wave I have been going for my daily aerobically induced endorphins activity earlier than my norm, to try and escape the HEAT being too blistering.

This morning it was to Sikes Lake I ventured. As you can see, little wind was blowing, thus providing no wind chill from the 95 degrees.

I was able to satisfy my endorphin addiction, but at the cost of being an overheated sweaty mess. 

In this view you are looking north across Sikes Lake. You can see a few geese in the water, but most were shade seeking under trees.

Today has me wondering if I should maybe seek help from a drug addiction therapist to see if there is some salubrious alternative to these endorphins to which I am addicted.

Such really is an annoying monkey to have on ones back...

HOT First Day Of Sauna Summer In Texas

It was to Lucy Park I went this morning, an hour earlier than my norm, hoping to avoid extreme HEAT, with the earlier time providing more shade than what happens as the hours get closer to noon.

The extra shade part of the plan worked. But the avoiding the extreme HEAT, not so much.

Five degrees shy of 100.

It does feel sorta good getting the experience of what amounts to being in a high humidity sauna bath.

Or steam bath.

But, I think I need to lose at least 20 pounds before I venture to a tropical location...

Highs In The 100s, Clear Skies Expected This Weekend

 Saw that which you see here, this morning, on the front page of the online version of the Seattle Times.

I remember living in Washington where a day heated into the 80s was a rare hot day. 

Now in my current Texas location, a day chilled into the 80s is relief from day after day 100 degrees and HOTTER.

As I run my A/C day and night, friends up in Washington have been telling me they have had to keep the furnace on, well into June, due to it being so cold.

One side benefit of all that rain and chilly temperatures is photo documented in the above photo. All that deep green color, which is why Washington is known as the Evergreen State, and Seattle is known as the Emerald City....

HOT Sikes Lake Fishing On A Federal Juneteenth Holiday

Can you see the four fishermen fishing in Sikes Lake today on this special Juneteenth federal holiday?

I got my outer world exposure an hour earlier than I usually do, hoping to avoid getting overheated in the HOT heat.

It did not work. The heat dome hovering overhead is getting to be a bit oppressive, even though the temperature was nine degrees shy of 100, the humidity made that relatively cool temperature feel way too HOT.

I have often seen fishermen and women fishing in Sikes Lake. I have only seen a fish caught one time. And that was by a fisherwoman.

I did not know, til hearing so on the radio, whilst walking around Sikes Lake, that due to June 19 falling on a Sunday, the Juneteenth federal holiday is today, closing the post office, banks and federal offices.

Happy Juneteenth Father's Day

I really do not like how it seems to be that time is flying by faster all the time.

Hard to believe it has been five years since I had a Father's Day McDonald's Buffet with my dear ol' dad.

At that point in time I blogged about that particular Father's Day in Dad's Father's Day McDonald's Buffet With Uncle Mooch & Tillie.

A screen cap of such is what you see above, with dad staring at the camera whilst holding one of his McDonald's favorites, likely an Egg McMuffin.

Today is the first time the new Juneteenth holiday and Father's Day are happening on the same day.

I had a nice HOT Father's Day hike in Lucy Park this morning, feeling a bit melancholy. So much has happened and changed since five years ago today. And before you know it, another five years will fly by...

Saturday At The Wichita Falls Farmer's Market

I needed to get new reading material on this 3rd Saturday of the 2022 version of June. So, it was to downtown Wichita Falls I went this morning.

And, since it is only a couple blocks from the library parking lot, after checking out some books, I walked to the Wichita Falls Farmer's Market.

The Farmer's Market was busy. The first time since the COVID nightmare that the Farmer's Market seems back to normal. There seemed to be more arts and crafts type vendors than farmers selling produce.

The guy in the blue shirt, on the right, sitting down, is playing a piano. The sound of the piano playing was amplified, making for a festive sound track for the Farmer's Market.

The above is inside the Wichita Falls Farmer's Market building. As you can see, lots of arts and crafts, with no farmer's produce to be seen. Well, seen in the photo. To the right there was a farmer selling watermelon, onions, cabbage and tomatoes, among other stuff produced on a farm.

Next month the Watermelon  Festival happens at the Wichita Farmer's Market. I have gone to that event twice. It's a fun one. Particularly if you like watermelon, which I do. That and the watermelon seed spitting contest is highly entertaining.

Thunderstorming is on the agenda for this evening...

Not Taking Off Clothes Pickle Balling In Texas

I saw that which you see here, yesterday, on Facebook, and wondered why anyone would want to do this.

Or watch this.

The Pickle Ball fad has made its way to Texas. I doubt the clothing optional version has made it to Texas.

My Arizona sister and her first husband are avid Pickle Ballers. I am almost 100% certain my Arizona sister and her first husband have not participated in a clothing optional version of Pickle Ball.

Way back in January of 2018 I was in Arizona for 21 long days. Mom and I got her a transit chair to wheel mom around on. My sister and her first husband were playing in a Pickle Ball Tournament, in, if I remember right, Mesa. Mom and I were spectators, which was rendered doable due to that transit chair.

Watching Pickle Ball is entertaining, even with the Pickle Ballers properly clothed.

Roasting Day After Day Over 100 In Wichita Falls

Well, according to the latest 12 day forecast we Wichita Falls fellows get a two day break from being heated to 100 degrees, or HOTTER.

I do not remember this much HEAT during my previous HOT years in Texas.

Meanwhile my old home zone of the Pacific Northwest is being chilled about half as hot, with refreshing day after day of rain adding to the chill.

I Went To School With Archie Bunker

I saw that which you see here on Facebook.

A YouTube video from All in the Family, where Archie Bunker makes an Editorial Rebuttal on a New York City local TV news show.

I watched this and something dawned on me that had not previously dawned on me. Some people who were school classmates of mine have become modern era equivalents of Archie Bunker.

With me reacting to the nonsense they spew the same way Archie's son-in-law, Michael, and daughter, Gloria, react to Archie's ignorant nonsense.

I have lost track of the number of times I have been appalled by idiotic ignorant nonsense I read on Facebook coming from people who went to the same school I did, but somehow ended up with a different education.

Anyway, you can watch this amusing Archie Bunker All in the Family YouTube clip below...