Breezy Return To Cool Lucy Park With Hillbillies

 

Clouds have again left town, leaving a bright blue sky behind, with a wind blowing around 30 miles per hour, with a temperature in the 70s, making for a pleasant return to Lucy Park, to commune with nature via fast walking a few miles through the Lucy Park backwoods jungle.

In the photo documentation, the reddish brown that you see on the right is dirt, with the trail passing over it. The reddish brown you see on the left is the Wichita River, with the only thing passing over it, for quite a few miles, is a pedestrian suspension bridge.

The pleasant weather brings out alot more people than when the local weather is in sauna steam bath mode. This pleasant period will not last long, before being way too cold becomes the norm.

This morning I got an odd thing from Virginia, via Madame McNutty.

Apparently the McNutter has been tinkering with making this year's Christmas card. Seems way too early, to me, to be fussing about such things.

I guess it is sort of cute, Jed, Granny, Jethro and Ellie May, being the Appomattox Hillbillies.

I am certain of the identity of only one of the Hillbillies, as that is clearly Madame McNutty being Granny Clampett. The McNutty resemblance to that loveable TV character is uncanny.

I have spoken to the 2022 version of Granny McNutty on the phone a few times of late, to find that her voice is also very Granny Clampettish....

Walking Scenic Circle Trail To Its Termination

It was to the east parking lot access to the Wichita Bluff Nature Area that I parked today. But, I did not walk the Circle Trail west to the Nature Area. Instead, I walked the Circle Trail east, to its current termination point, as seen in the photo documentation.

By this point in time I thought this termination point in the Circle Trail would have been terminated, with the connection to the Circle Trail, in Lucy Park, completed.

If I remember correctly the final thousand feet of trail were to be temporarily gravel, instead of concrete, pending additional funding. But, that has not happened, neither a thousand feet of gravel, or additional funding.

This section of the Circle Trail, from the east Wichita Bluff Nature Area parking lot, east to the current termination point, runs parallel to the Wichita River. This is one of the more scenic sections of the Circle Trail, with much of it shaded by big trees.

As you can see, there is some cloud action blotting the usually all blue sky. This morning those clouds did some dripping.

Lucy Park Close Encounter With Imaginary Snake

Yesterday, at Lucy Park, I was way under dressed, shivering in shorts. I bailed on the walking after about ten minutes. And as soon as I got back to my vehicle rain began dripping in semi-copious amounts. First rain in a long time.

Today, on this second Sunday of the 2022 version of October, it was back to Lucy Park I went. 

The outer world was chilled to 67 degrees. And today I managed to be over dressed in sweatpants and long sleeve t-shirt.

No rain dripped today.

But, as I was walking quickly along, ahead of me I saw what looked to be a big snake. Which is what you see in the middle of the above photo documentation, on the left side of the trail.

My instinctual reaction said snake ahead. My rational reaction quickly said it is too cold for a snake to be slithering around.

It turned to be nothing more sinister than a stick, a tree limb fallen from a tree...

Where In The Pacific Northwest Are David, Theo & Ruby?

Incoming four emails last night, asking the question, "Where in the PNW are David, Theo & Ruby?"

Each email had one photo, with text saying Hint #1, Hint #2, Hint #3, with the final email text saying "Not sure if this a place you’ve ever explored. It would have looked much different when you were a kid and even, I think, most of the time you lived here."

When I saw the first photo hint, that being the one above, before I read the text in the 4th email, which said "not sure if this is a place you've ever explored," I thought it was likely Birch Bay. 

Then the next hint...

Definitely not Birch Bay.

On to hint #3...

The Padilla Bay tide lands south of Bay View State Park, maybe? But this does not quite look like the Padilla Bay tide lands.

On to the final hint...

Well, I believe I have driven by this location a number of times, driving Interstate 5 between Tacoma and Olympia.

That would make where David, Theo & Ruby are in the Pacific Northwest to be the Nisqually National Wildlife Refuge.

I do not remember this area as developed, like it is now. I do not remember if this was a National Wildlife Refuge when I lived in Washington. I just remember this location, where the Nisqually River empties into Puget Sound as the Nisqually Mudflats.

I wonder where in the Pacific Northwest David, Theo & Ruby are going next?

Cloudy Chilled Wichita Bluffs With Noisy Jets

It was back to the Wichita Bluff Nature Area I ventured today.

In the above photo we are at the highest point on the Wichita Bluffs, looking east towards the stunning skyline of beautiful downtown Wichita Falls.

Do you notice anything unusual in the photo documentation?

If you thought clouds to be the thing unusual, you thought correctly. I cannot remember when it last was that clouds blotted out a clear blue sky at my planetary location.

Today, in addition to the clouds blocking the sun, the temperature was barely in the 70s, with a strong wind blowing. 

Above you are seeing the dueling benches lookout, looking out over the Wichita River coursing through the the Bluffs.

This is another look at that cool gray sky.

It sounded like a war zone walking the Wichita Bluffs today. Jet after jet after jet after jet was soaring low and fast over the Bluffs.

At times two jets flying parallel.

It is not unusal to see an air force jet flying out of Sheppard Air Force Base. But not the multiple instances that were happening today...

Walking The Lucy Park Jungle Desert With Germans

It was back to Lucy Park I ventured today for some semi-chilly fast walking.

I mainly walked in the Lucy Park backwoods zone, which, up til a couple weeks ago, looked like a jungle.

Now, as you can see via the photo documentation, the backwoods zone looks as if it is trending towards becoming a desert.

I think I have made mention previously of the fact that I frequently find myself, whilst in Lucy Park, how to get to the waterfall.

Today it was a pair of German tourists trying to figure out, by looking at one of the many maps conveniently installed in Lucy Park, how to find the waterfall.

I think I can understand why the map might be confusing, even though you can find the waterfall on the map. I assume the confusion comes from trying to figure out where you are currently on the map, so you can figure out the route to the waterfall.

In addition to the multiple maps signs, there are also smaller signs, with a photo of the waterfall, with a big arrow pointing the direction to the waterfall. Maybe more of those directional arrows need to be installed.

I remember my first visit to Lucy Park. A large event was taking place, of the sort I have never seen in Lucy Park since. It was hard to find a parking spot, even though there are plenty of places to park in Lucy Park on a non-event day.

A Texas Travel Center is located across the Wichita River from Lucy Park, accessed via the suspension bridge I may have mentioned previously.

On that first visit to Lucy Park the Texas Travel Center had set up an informational kiosk. The nice lady manning the kiosk gave me Texas themed chapstick. I asked her how you get to the falls. She pointed towards the river, and said, just walk the trail along the river and it will lead you right to the waterfall.

And so it did, it was that easy...

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...