Madame McNutty Wants Me To Drive Somewhere Scenic

What you see here is a screen cap from the online front page of the Sunday 9/11 Seattle Times. 

This definitely fits into the category of things I see in the Seattle Times about something in Washington, that I could never see in the Texas online newspapers I read, showing a similar scene in Texas.

Well, that is not totally accurate. There are frequent wildfires in Texas, but not in scenery of the sort you see above.

I had a dialog on Facebook yesterday regarding Washington scenery. The dialog was between myself and the entity known as Madame McNutty, or MM.

Following are three lines from that dialog...

MM---What are you up to today?  You should get out of town, go for a drive or something.

Me---Go for a drive? You really have zero clue what it is like here. NO matter what direction you go it is all the same, flat nothing, for miles and miles. 

MM---It is hard for me to understand how you could've gone from beautiful Washington to flat nothing! When I think about Washington and all the beautiful places we could drive to in a half hour or less, it makes me so homesick!!!

Madame McNutty was in Washington a couple weeks ago, for a couple weeks. She returned to Virginia, sick with COVID.

What MM says is so true. Where we lived, in the Skagit Valley, you could drive a few miles to the west and be at a saltwater beach, or drive a few miles to the east and be up in the mountains. Drive 60 miles south and you're in Seattle, 45 miles north and you are in another country, called Canada. A few miles more and you are in the beautiful city of Vancouver.

You could drive west a few miles, to Anacortes, and get onboard a ferry to go to the San Juan Islands, or Victoria on Vancouver Island. These are real islands, surrounded by real water, not imaginary islands, such as those no one has yet seen in the Texas town of Fort Worth.

North of my current location, across the Red River, to Oklahoma, one can find some scenic scenery in the Wichita Mountains. The Wichita Mountains are about 70 miles from where I am sitting at the present time.

Dam Visit To Lake Wichita On The Boardwalk With Dead Fish

With a wind blowing with temperatures in the 80s it seemed like a good day to visit Lake Wichita and do some dam walking.

As you can see, nothing is spilling over the Lake Wichita dam spillway, not for a long long time.

 Now we are on the other side of the dam, walking to the end of the Lake Wichita Boardwalk.

And then looking at how far the lake is from having water spilling over the spillway. This is the lowest I have seen Lake Wichita since I have been living in the neighborhood.

Still on the Boardwalk, looking across Lake Wichita to the Mount Wichita mini-volcano at the west end of the lake. The mini-volcano is that little bump on the horizon.

Still on the Boardwalk, looking north at the lake side of the dam, and the Lake Wichita floating fishing dock. We will go there next.

It looks as if the Lake Wichita floating fishing dock might not be currently in float mode.

Now on the currently possibly not floating Lake Wichita floating fish dock, looking south at the Boardwalk. All that wood sticking out of the water is the remains of the Lake Wichita Pavilion, which was a big tourist attraction a century ago, and which burned down in the 1950s.

Still on the Lake Wichita floating fish dock, looking west, with that Mount Wichita mini-volcano looking slightly taller.

Currently Lake Wichita is having an excess algae problem due to the drought and the day after day after day of HOT temperatures. This has resulted in killing fish in the lake.

I saw two turtles in the lake today, so the algae isn't killing them, yet...

Goofy Google Memories From September 9

Another Google look back at my memories from this September 9 day, which I do not much remember.

Upper left, that would be me, in the Fort Worth Stockyards, in front of a Durango banner. 

Took a second to figure out the upper right is my bike handlebars pointing at Lake Wichita, with Mount Wichita in the distance.

Under Mount Wichita in the distance is a sign indicating the Texas town of Sanderson. I have never been to Sanderson. That town is in West Texas, I think. I will see if I made a webpage about Sanderson. Seems like I did after someone from Sanderson asked me to. 

Yes, found it. Sanderson. In what is known as Big Bend Country.

Under the Sanderson sign that looks to be the Wyler Aerial Tramway. I have never had the pleasure of riding in this tramway, hence it is not a memory of mine.

The Wyler Aerial Tramway takes you from El Paso up to the top of Ranger Peak, in the Franklin Mountains.

So, this time only two of the five memories are things I actually remember.

I am guessing that is El Paso in the photo to the left of the Wyler Aerial Tramway. 

I wish I had more exciting memories than what Google indicates I have...

Walking Around Sikes Lake With Geese Thinking About Elsie Hotpepper

It was back to Sikes Lake I went today on the second Thursday of the 2022 version of September.

As you can see, geese have taken over the Sikes Lake gazebo you see here.

That gazebo was the location of the last time I saw the elusive Elsie Hotpepper, in person. Walking by this gazebo today I strained my memory to try and remember when that was that I last saw Elsie Hotpepper.

I know it was pre-COVID. I think it may have been at some point in time during the year of 2018. That would make it around four years since the last, in person, Elsie Hotpepper sighting.

I can not remember when my last drive to the Dallas/Fort Worth metroplex took place. That also was pre-COVID. For years I made a once a month trek to DFW.

COVID put an end to a lot of repetitive habits. And spawned many new repetitive habits...

Fort Worth Style Outdoor Plumbing Arrives Overnight At Wichita Falls Lucy Park

This morning I drove a senior citizen to two pharmacies, the library, and Lucy Park. 

Upon arrival at the Lucy Park log cabin/swimming pool parking lot I was surprised to see something I've not seen in any of the Wichita Falls city parks, which were a common feature I was frequently appalled by in the city parks of Fort Worth.

Outhouses, in Fort Worth city parks with zero modern facilities.

Fort Worth, a town where modern plumbing is such a novelty that multiple saloon and restaurant venues in Fort Worth's only tourist attraction, the Fort Worth Stockyards, have signage letting customers know they have indoor plumbing.

Here is an example of such, at a music venue called Big Balls of Cowtown.

Live Music, Modern Swing, Indoor Plumbing, Air Conditioning and more...

Long ago I made a webpage titled Indoor Plumbing in the Stockyards. Click the link to see more goofy examples of businesses touting to their potential customers that they have indoor plumbing.

Every once in a while, there will be an article in a Fort Worth publication bemoaning the trouble Fort Worth has attracting corporations to locate in Fort Worth. I think I have pointed out a time or two that it might not make a good impression on corporation re-locaters to see city parks with outhouses, and no running water. And so many streets without sidewalks. And a primitive public transportation system.

Anyway, back to those outhouses showing up in Lucy Park. Since yesterday a temporary tent structure has showed up, along with a roped off area, and signs with numbers on them, such as 1K, 2K, indicating some sort of running event is about to take place in Lucy Park.

Apparently, with so many running that the two Lucy Park modern restroom facilities needed outhouses added to handle the expected crowd...

Post Labor Day Lucy Park Lizard Walk

It was back to Lucy Park I went today, the day after Labor Day, to commune with nature via a few miles of high-speed walking.

In the photo we are heading towards the Lucy Park backwoods jungle, under the sun blocking protection provided by the shade of the forest of trees.

As you can see, as summer nears its merciful end, the outer world has turned green at my North Texas location. The rain of the past couple weeks took the grass out of its brown state and back to a more aesthetically pleasing green.

I came upon no snakes or alligators today. I did have multiple encounters with small reptiles, as in lizards. Lizards are cute. Little lizards do not trigger, in me, the repulsed reaction triggered by snakes and alligators.

The temperature was in the 80s whilst walking today. Each day, of late, is seeming more pleasant than the day before...

Google Looks Back At My Labor Day Memories

 Of late the daily Google look back at my memories from this day have been a bit nutty, as in I have no memory of what Google is suggesting is something I would remember.

But, on this Labor Day of 2022, I do remember most of the memories Google is suggesting I remember, though none of what I remember happened on Labor Day.

The upper left was an elk herd we came across on the way to Ocean Shores, on the Washington Pacific coast, in August of 2001. Dad was driving, mom riding shotgun, me in the back seat. 

To the right of the elk herd I am assuming that is me laying on the dock, but where or when, I do not remember.

Below that is a group photo of a herd of my relatives, at a family reunion on July 27, 2002, in Lynden, at the fairgrounds.

Below that reunion photo, on the left, that is a cropped off picture of dad and mom, at the aforementioned Ocean Shores, on that same day we saw the large elk herd.

Next to mom and dad I assume we are looking at a Texas county courthouse, but which county, or when, I do not remember.

There must be some way to stop these daily memories from Google...

Sunny Sunday Sunflower In Lucy Park With No Snakes Or Alligators

It was back to Lucy Park I ventured on this first Sunday of the 2022 version of September. I soon came upon a patch of sunflowers which matched my sunny disposition on this day before Labor Day and the unofficial end of Summer.

The sunflower posed motionless for me, due to the dead calm at the moment I took the picture. There was an occasional wind blowing, and some sun blocking by passing clouds, which made the temperature somewhere in the 80s feel quite pleasant. 

It was the Lucy Park backwoods jungle I walked today. The recent rain has caused the jungle grass to grow taller than me.

My last visit to Lucy Park I crossed the Wichita River, via the suspension bridge, and had an alligator encounter in Alligator Alley on the Wee-Chi-Tah mountain bike trail. 

Alligators are not allowed in Lucy Park.

But snakes are allowed. As are small lizards.

It was in the backwoods jungle area of Lucy Park where I had an encounter with the biggest snake I have seen in Texas. At least six feet long, and thick. No clue what type snake this was.

That encounter was several years ago. I do not think I have seen a snake since seeing that big one.

I do not like snakes. Or alligators...

Leaving Lucy Park Via Suspension Bridge To Alligator Alley Alligators

 It was to Lucy Park I ventured on this second day of the 2022 version of September, for my daily commune with nature, via endorphin acquisition from high-speed aerobic walking.

Today I exited Lucy Park, via the suspension bridge over the Wichita River, then headed to the Alligator Alley section of the Wee-Chi-Tah mountain bike trail.

I assumed, with the temperature barely in the 80s, that the alligators, reptilian creatures that they be, would be a bit sluggish, with the cooler temperature slowing them down.

I was walking along fairly fast when I came to a quick stop when I saw what you see in the photo documentation.

The gator looked to be sleeping. I lingered only long enough to take a picture, and then skedaddled back across the suspension bridge to the relative safety of Lucy Park.

Where do alligators go when an Arctic blast knocks the temperature down below zero, I cannot help but wonder...

Nephew Jason Taking Me Back In Time To Burlington's Berry Dairy Days

The above photo was included in an email arriving last night, sent by my Favorite Nephew Jason, also known as FNJ. The following is the explanatory text in the email...

 FUD --

At first I thought this may be your big sister with some of her clam digging friends trying to re-live her childhood....but, upon closer inspection I see the photo was dated July 4, 1939, stamped in Sedro-Woolley.

This is the only berry float that I have ever seen that was better than those constructed at 1027 Washington Avenue. Did your dad just make floats for the June Burlington Berry Dairy Days?  Or did he drag them over to Sedro-Woolley for the 4th of July parade?  

Anyway, thought you'd get a kick out of seeing this. Very few berries grown in Skagit County these days. Mostly potatoes. And a lot of the people I saw at the Walmart this morning looked like they only eat potatoes.

Hope you are staying cool.  And slim and trim. 

We are having a hot day here in the PNW.

-FNJ

____________________

The 1027 Washington Avenue, to which FNJ refers, is the address at which I grew up, in Burlington.

During the time frame of growing up in Burlington the town had an annual event called Berry Dairy Days.

This included a parade, with a large children's parade.

The parade gave prizes to the floats determined to be the best. 

I could only find two Berry Dairy Days float photos.

In both photos that is sister Nancy on the left, me in the middle, and little brother, Jake on the right.

The answer to FNJ's question about dragging a float to the Sedro Woolley Loggerodeo 4th of July parade, is yes, we did.

One time only.

I think it was the year our float won the Berry Dairy Days grand prize, which was tickets to the Seattle World's Fair, that that float was in the Sedro Woolley parade. My memory is blank regarding details, such as actually being in that parade, or how we got the float from Burlington to Sedro Woolley.

The last float my dad made was a giant strawberry. On wheels. With little sister, Jackie, riding on top of the strawberry. Dad was inside the strawberry, pushing it the entire length of the parade. I remember the giant strawberry getting stuck crossing railroad tracks, with people helping to get the strawberry moving again.

My favorite of all the parade floats my dad made had zero Berry Dairy theming. My siblings and I were big fans of The Flintstones. Dad somehow made a replica of Fred Flintstone's car. My brother and I did not ride in the Flintstone car, we pulled it.

With Jake attired as Wilma Flintstone, complete with lipstick and a wig. And me being Fred Flintstone. 

I know I must have a photo of the Flintstone float somewhere, but, currently, I can not find it.

Regarding Jason saying they were having a hot day in the Pacific Northwest, I Googled to see what the temperature was in Mount Vernon at that point in time.

88 degrees.

About the same temperature, maybe even a couple degrees hotter, than was the temperature at my Texas location, far from the PNW, at that point in time...