Spencer Jack & Jason Take Us To Birch Bay With Loretta Lynn & Bing Crosby

That is Spencer Jack, on the beach at Birch Bay, looking at the view through binoculars, or maybe his phone.

Yesterday Spencer Jack's dad, my Favorite Nephew Jason, emailed me asking if I knew Loretta Lynn got her singing start whilst living in Whatcom County. That being the county where Birch Bay is located. 

I replied to Jason's email and made mention of the fact that there is a movie telling the Loretta Lynn story, called Coal Miner's Daughter, based on Loretta Lynn's autobiography titled Coal Miner's Daughter.

I also made mention of the fact that Bing Crosby owned a mansion type home, slightly south of Birch Bay, overlooking the water. Bing Crosby was way before Jason's time on the planet. He probably had never heard of Bing Crosby, til I mentioned the name.

Any, below is the email text from Jason which arrived with the photo of Spencer Jack at Birch Bay...

FUD----

I've always liked country music. Wasn't aware a movie on Loretta Lynn existed. Perhaps I will watch it sometime. And next time I'm up in Birch Bay with Spencer, perhaps we will search for the Bing Crosby Mansion.  That's news to me.  Perhaps he moved out because of the "Birch Bay odor."  I was just talking to a guy who lives there yesterday about that smell.  But I kind of like it. Smells like Summer fun times. Spencer and I did enjoy a sunset there this July following a wedding. I can see if I have a photo.

Hope all is well in TX. Summer is not yet over here in the PNW. Heat records are still being shattered and we desperately need rain. I am very surprised we haven't had more California-like wild/urban fires.  If the current trends continue, one will soon be able to wade across the Skagit River. Large sand bars have formed in the middle of the river between the two Burlington/Mount Vernon bridges.  

I don't think this global warming thing is a hoax like the stolen 2020 election and the China flu.  Lol.

FNJ

_____________________

I need to see some photo documentation of the shrinking Skagit River. I did not know my old home zone was in drought mode, like my current home location is.

I have never heard of the "Birch Bay odor" before. Birch Bay smells like saltwater. Same as Jason, I have always liked that smell. And when it is combined with smoke from campfires, well, that is a real good thing.

Jason has been several people's number one suspect being the Birch Bay Postcard Bandit. For multiple reasons Jason has not been on my suspect list. Now I wonder...

Joining Throngs Of Sikes Lake Walkers Enjoying A Relatively Chilly Temperature

It was to Sikes Lake I ventured this morning for my daily commune with nature via high speed walking.

A pleasant bout of high speed walking at a relatively chilly temperature in the low 70s.

In the photo documentation we are looking east at one of the Sikes Lake gazebos. The Sikes Lake gazebos come equipped with a drinking fountain. That is the vertical thing you see sticking up between the gazebo and the paved trail.

The paved trail around Sikes Lake is 1.1 miles. I walk at high speed, three times around the lake.

At Sikes Lake, as has been the case of late at all my walking locations, there is a noticeable increase in the number of people enjoying being outdoors without feeling like you're walking in a sauna steam bath.

As you can see it is another blue sky cloud-free day at my location in North Texas. We are officially in a drought, with possible water restrictions likely arriving soon, if rain does not arrive in copious amounts.

Cool Suspension Lizard Chasing In Lucy Park

As you might intuit via the photo of the Lucy Park suspension bridge across the Wichita River it was to this location I drove on this first Monday of the 2022 version of October to do some squirrel and lizard chasing.

The temperature was barely 70 when I arrived at Lucy Park somewhere between 11am and noon. I am enjoying the drop in temperature way more than I remember ever doing so in years previous.

But, soon, that jungle-like foliage you see surrounding the suspension bridge is going to disappear.

Green will be replaced with brown.

Now that I am back in my abode, the outer world has heated up.

The air-conditioner just turned on.

Soon that will no longer be happening, replaced by the heating version of conditioning the air becoming the norm....

First October Sunday Walk Around Sikes Lake With Geese Floating

On this first Sunday of the 2022 version of October, it was to Sikes Lake I ventured today, to join the throngs walking the trail around the lake, enjoying the relatively chilly 75 degrees, with little wind blowing.

That convoy of geese you see navigating the lake, in the middle of the picture, must not have received, yet, the memo telling them it is the time of year where they need to be flying south for the winter.

It has been several weeks, again, with zero rain. Sikes Lake, and other area lakes are beginning to shrivel again.

I almost do not remember what a cloud looks like...

Chilly Lucy Park With Wildflowers

On this first day of the 2022 version of October, it was back to Lucy Park I ventured, to commune with nature via walking fast in air chilled to 72 degrees.

Today I came upon the patch of color you see above. I am fairly certain these are not wildflowers.

Due to the perfect blue sky weather there were hordes of disc golfers golfing in Lucy Park today. Usually when there are hordes of golfers I find myself dodging a disc or two. But, not today.

As soon as I exited my vehicle today a little boy ran out of the Lucy Park log cabin and began chattering at me, trying to show me something. I acted like I knew what he was showing me and that seemed to please the little fellow, who kept on chattering, following me on the other side of the wrought iron fence with surrounds the log cabin. Where were the parental units who should have been keeping an eye on the kid, I wondered?

A half hour later when I returned to my vehicle I saw the same scenario play out with the little boy and another stranger walking by, with the kid following the stranger, along the fence. 

So, that has been my exciting first day of the new month. And now it is time for taco salad...

Shadow Of Wichita Bluffs One-Armed Thin Man With Wild Horses

It was back to the Wichita Bluff Nature Area on this last day of the 2022 version of September, with the Shadow of the Thin Man chilled by a temperature in the 70-degree zone, with a strong wind blowing. 

Today was the busiest I have seen the west Wichita Bluff Nature Area parking lot. A lot of people were enjoying the break from the HEAT.

As for the wild horses.

No, those are not wild horses frolicking on the Wichita Bluffs. This herd of wild horses is frolicking somewhere between Sun Lake/Chander and Maricopa.

My Arizona sister sent this picture to my phone yesterday. She had previously told me the wild horse herd has grown way bigger than the couple times I saw the wild horses on our drive to the Penny McDonalds in Maricopa.

Thinking about the Penny McDonalds in Maricopa had me realizing it has been over three years since I have been to Arizona. The last time was in July of 2019. In the two years prior to that last trip to Arizona I had driven there twice and flown there five or six times. 

A lot has happened in the past three years. COVID comes to mind. And other things...

Back To Lucy Park With A Big Tree & No Jungle Grass

It was back to Lucy Park I ventured on this final Thursday of the 2022 version of September. The temperature was barely into the 80s, with a strong wind gusting. Making for an extremely pleasant communing with nature.

I do not know why I never noticed the big tree you see above, before. It is a HUGE gnarly thing with whacky looking limbs looking menacing.

This tree is located near where I park. I think I am usually fiddling with my music device when I walk by it, which may be why I never noticed it before.

Continuing on past the big tree I was soon in the Lucy Park backwoods jungle where I immediately thought something seemed off. Dense boy that I be, it took me a minute to figure out what was wrong.

Since I last walked the path through the Lucy Park jungle, the tall grass, taller than me, has disappeared. Mowed down and removed. I suspect there was some worry that, with the grass turning brown, it could easily turn into a big wildfire.

With the tall grass gone the jungle look is also gone. Also gone was any worry that I might come upon a large slithering reptile.

As you can see, once again, the sky at my location on the planet is void of any clouds. Clear blue no matter what direction you look..

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...