Another Day Another Wichita Bluff Nature Area Hike

With the outer world temperature in the relatively chilly low 80s, and with a strong wind chilling, it was back to the Wichita Bluff Nature Area I ventured today for some high-speed communing with nature.

In the above photo documentation, we are on the Circle Trail, at the highest area of the Wichita Bluffs, looking northeast at the picnic pavilion which sits at the Wichita Bluffs summit, with a commanding view of the vast miles upon miles of nothingness, all the way to the horizon.

The trail through the Wichita Bluff Nature Area has multiple side trails, with each having at least one rocking bench. In the instance you see above you can rock on that bench whilst looking north towards Oklahoma.

As you can see, it is another cloud-free day happening at this location on the planet. A little of what is saturating Florida right now would be welcome here, and other drought-stricken areas of America...

Relatively Chilly Walk Around Sikes Lake With A Blue Heron

With the temperature in the relatively chilly 80-degree zone it was to Sikes Lake I ventured today for a high-speed commune with nature.

As you can see, we are free of clouds currently, so there is no sun blockage coming from the sky. The only sun blockage at Sikes Lake is via the few bushes and trees.

And the gazebos. There are four or five gazebos one can sit under to escape the glare of the sun. 

Crossing the bridge at the west end of Sikes Lake, I saw a big blue heron in the Green Bayou of Sikes Lake.

Well, I think this is a blue heron. What I know for sure is the bird is blue.

The natural cooling is being a real good thing. Last night the temperature got down into the 50s. Still felt no need to pull a blanket over me.

Cool Monday With Complex Wichita Bluff Nature Area Hoodoo Cairn

Yesterday, the day known as Sunday, I drove to Lake Wichita Park to do some high speed walking.

Upon arrival, in the shadow of Mount Wichita, I was surprised at how much the lake has shrunk, exposing a wide beach.

When I started seeing photo worthy scenes I reached into my pocket to pull out my phone. And it was not there. I forgot the phone at home. So, no photos.

But, today, the day after Sunday, known as Monday, I did remember my phone when I drove to the Wichita Bluff Nature Area to do some high speed hilly hiking.

And so, with that phone in hand, I was able to photo document the Hoodoo Cairn you see above. This may be the most complex feat of Hoodoo engineering I have come across in all the years I have been photo documenting Hoodoos.

Make note of the balance beam in the middle, teetering above a flat rock base. And above that two small rocks acting as bracing.

In all my years of seeing these type constructions I have never seen one in the process of being constructed.

The outer world temperature got down to 58 last night. It was 80 and windy by the time I got to the bluffs at around 45 minutes before noon.

The air-conditioner has not cycled on yet today. This is the first time in a long time that that has happened.

A harbinger of cooler days to come.

It is going to be so nice to be back in long pants again...

In Wichita Falls Fall Is Like Summer But With Pumpkins

Saw that which you see here, last night, on Facebook, and thought it to be amusing, because it is so true.

From the City of Wichita Falls, Texas Government...

It's Fall y'all! You know what that means?

Nothing. Zero. Zip. Because it's still 97 degrees outside today. It's like Summer, but with pumpkins...

Jason & Spencer Jack Take Us On Whidbey Island Tour

Incoming email from my Favorite Nephew Jason, last night, photo documenting a day trip Spencer Jack took his dad on, exploring Whidbey Island.

First the email, then the other instances of photo documentation in addition to the one above...

FUD --

Thought you'd enjoy these PNW photos from the last full day of Summer.

Spencer and I drove me the entire length of Whidbey Island starting at the Mukilteo-Clinton ferry until we reached the tropical-like sandy beaches of Mutiny Bay.  I hadn't known of Mutiny Bay until unfortunate events of late, in which a float plane apparently nose-dived into Puget Sound presumably killing all 10 on board.   Looked for plane parts, but only found seashells and lots of driftwood.  Weather was in the upper 70s, so wading in the water felt refreshing.

Stopped by the Lagoon Point community--a first for me.  Spencer and I considered buying a summer beach home in this small community--similar in size to Birch Bay, but later after finding out that a tiny cabin waterfront lot sells for over a million dollars, we have since decided to save our money for other adventures.  Like getting gas for our truck.  Gas here is currently still $4.50.

We moved north to the Coupeville ferry dock.  On public boat launch dock, we met a couple locals, who appeared to be enjoying too much of our local legal weed.  After helping them secure their boat to the dock, they invited Spencer, who can easily pass for 21, and myself to the local bar for happy hour. 

We kindly declined and moved uphill to the newly refurbished Fort Casey.  Many of the closed off areas are back open, clean, and well-lit with historical placards and directional signs.   The last time I explored many of these parts was with a favorite Uncle as a kid in the 1980s or early 1990s before much of these areas we closed off.    I wish I would have taken pictures of the reopened bunkers, but I didn't think to do such.   I will be sure to put this on my 'to-do' list for you.

Hope all is well in TX and I hope someday soon you can return to the PNW and explore one of the longest islands in the United States.

I am guessing the above is the ferry about to dock at Clinton, on Whidbey Island.

Above that looks to be Spencer Jack on, maybe, what Jason describes as the tropical-like beaches of Mutiny Bay.

 And FNJ on that same beach, I think. 

Above I am fairly certain that is Spencer Jack, at Fort Casey, on an overlook looking over the upper part of Puget Sound.

Fort Casey is the remains of an actual fort, built during the era of the Spanish-American War. It is a large complex of bunkers, tunnels, big guns, catwalks, observation towers and more. More than once I took Jason and his little brother out to Fort Casey to have fun getting scared in the dark tunnels.

If I remember correctly, and sometimes I do, the last time I was at Fort Casey was with Jason's little brother, my Favorite Nephew Joey, currently the proud papa of Hank Frank.

Joey and I took our bikes on the ferry to Port Townsend, on the Olympic Peninsula, wheeled around town, barely made the last ferry back to Whidbey.

The ferry back was a rough rock and rolling float due to a strong tide. It was well past dark when we got back to my vehicle. The ranger had put a note on my windshield saying he suspected we were returning from the ferry, past the time the gates to the park were locked. Instructed us to the ranger station from whence the ranger nicely opened the gate for us.

Gas in Washington is more than a dollar more than when I last filled my tank in Texas

Seeing these photos sure does make me a bit homesick. You really appreciate a scenic wonderland when you have not seen on in way too long....

Autumnal Equinox Cool Lucy Park Walk

This morning I was in need of books to read, so it was to downtown Wichita Falls I ventured, to that socialist enterprise known as a public library.

Since I was in the neighborhood, and with the temperature being in the relatively cool 80s, after the library, it was to Lucy Park I drove, for a fast walk with Mother Nature.

As you can see, there is not a cloud in the sky, and not just in that little slice of sky you see in the photo documentation. No clouds to be seen, no matter which direction you looked.

I erroneously thought Fall began yesterday on the 21st. But, today, September 22, is the day of the Autumnal Equinox.

All those green leaves you see in the photo documentation should soon be turning into more appropriate Autumn colors, and then disappearing totally, rendering Lucy Park a shade-free zone til the Vernal Equinox, also known as Spring.

I hope we make it through to Spring without Winter delivering a slippery cold white mess, of the disturbing sort we endured the past two Winters...

Potato Harvesting With A Cascade Mountain View

I saw that which you see here, this morning, on Facebook, via Miss Carol B.D.

Miss Carol indicated this was her dinner time view, last night, watching potatoes being harvested.

When I saw this photo I instantly recognized where it was taken from, even before reading Miss Carol's description.

On the Skagit Flats, looking east at the foothills of the Cascade Mountains.

In Western Washington, no matter which direction you look, the horizon is altered by hills and mountains.

Looking west it is the Olympic Mountains that pierce the horizon. 

Being surrounded by hills and mountains sort of makes the sky look smaller.

Now, at my current location, no matter which direction I look, nothing in the form of a hill or mountain pierces the horizon.

Looking out the window in the room I am currently in, all I see is a big blue sky, hovering above utter flatness, with a few big puffy cotton ball clouds breaking some of the monotony.

Some day soon I need to see a mountain. Or an ocean. My sanity is at stake...

Final Day Of 2022 Summer Shady At Lucy Park

On this final day of the 2022 version of Summer, it was to Lucy Park I drove to do some HOT fast walking.

Lucy Park is my only local destination with a lot of trees providing a lot of shade.

And a lot of shade was needed on this last day of Summer due to the temperature being in the 90s by the time I was out in the outer world, about an hour before noon.

The temperature in the 90s. With only a slight breeze blowing. So, little Wind Chill.

Much of the shady walking in Lucy Park takes place off the paved trail, with such necessitated by the fact that long sections of the paved trails are not under tree cover.

And now, continuing on with the last day of Summer, it is time for Taco Salad...

HOT Sunday Walk Around Sikes Lake

The heat has returned HOT on this third Sunday of the 2022 version of September. When I went to Sikes Lake for a walk around, around an hour before noon, the outer world was already heated past 90.

I thought this HOT nonsense was over for the year. But, this coming week, as we end summer and begin fall, the forecasters are forecasting a return to over 100 degrees.

You can not see the whitecaps of the waves on Sikes Lake, but they are there, small, but still there. Strong gusts of wind made the heat a little less HOT.

Today there were a lot of other walkers, joggers, baby carriage pushers, and a rarity, a roller blader.

I do not see many roller bladers in this town. Did that fad never take hold here? Or has the roller blading fad faded everywhere?

A couple months ago I almost bought roller blades, on Amazon. I used to enjoy roller blading. Til I didn't.

And then when first in this town I thought the Circle Trail would be fun to roller blade on. But, when I went to do so I found my roller blades were no longer usable.

That roller blader today has me back thinking I might try that, again...

Fort Worth's Tenuous Connection To Tombstone's O.K. Corral Gunfight

I saw that which you see here in today's, Saturday September 17, 2022 online edition of the Fort Worth Star-Telegram.

I saw this and thought to myself is this another iteration of the Star-Telegram's habit of touting something about Fort Worth as being something special, when, well, in reality, not so special.

 Long ago, back when I subscribed to the hard copy version of the Fort Worth Star-Telegram, I made note of the frequency of what I called the Star-Telegram's green with envy syndrome, where an article in the Star-Telegram would claim that some ordinary thing in Fort Worth was somehow causing towns, far and wide, to be green with envy.

Eventually I made a webpage documenting multiple examples of what I called Green With Envy Syndrome.

So, what is Fort Worth's connection to Tombstone, Arizona's famous gunfight at the O.K. Corral? You can read it yourself by clicking the The famous gunfight at the O.K. Corral: Did you know there was a Fort Worth connection? link and hope you are not blocked by a paywall.

I can tell you the condensed version of the Fort Worth connection to that famous gunfight.

Wyatt, Virgil and Morgan Earp, along with Doc Holliday had that O.K. Corral fight against Ike and Billy Clanton, Billy Claiborne, plus Tom and Frank McLaury. Both McLaury brothers and Billy Clanton were killed in the gunfight.

The McLaury brothers had a third brother, William R. McLaury, who was a Fort Worth lawyer.

And now you know the Fort Worth connection to the famous gunfight at the O.K. Corral...