More Fort Worth Bridgey McBridgeface Nutty Nonsense With Other Real Bridges

A couple weeks ago I blogged about a fresh Fort Worth embarrassment. That being the public being asked to come up with names for Fort Worth's three simple little bridges built over dry land.

Construction of which took seven years.

Over dry land.

The moronic Fort Worth public figures responsible for the bridge boondoggle idiotically claimed, over and over and over again that the three bridges were being built over dry land, to save time and money.

Making that idiotic claim when there was no option other than building the bridges over dry land, due to the fact that there would be no water under those bridges til a cement lined ditch was dug under them, with Trinity River water diverted into the ditch. 

To further elaborate on how idiotically moronic this building over dry land to same time and money claim is, well, what if the cement lined ditch was installed first. Well, there would be no way to cross the ditch, til bridges were built.

So, clearly there was no option other than building the bridges over dry land.

Regarding that blog post about the naming of those three pitiful freeway overpass looking bridges, Steve A made an amusing comment...

Steve A has left a new comment on your post "Fort Worth's Bridgey McBridgeface Bridge Name Nonsense Boondoggle":

How about "The Montlake Bridge Would be Green with Envy" as a name for one of the bridges. In Seattle, they weren't as clever as Fort Worth. In Seattle, they dug the ditch (called the Montlake Cut) for the ship canal and THEN built the bridge. Just the reverse of what Fort Worth did. Hence, my proposed name. We could call it MBWBGWE for short.

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Actually, there are two bridges over the Montlake Cut in Seattle. The first one built after the Montlake Cut was first cut. And then a few years later Interstate 5 came to town, requiring a massive double decker bridge high above the Montlake Cut.

And, for some unfathomable reason Seattle never felt the need to ask the public to suggest names for these bridges.

Yesterday the Fort Worth bridge boondoggle came back to mind when the entity known as Nutty McNutt pointed me to what you see at the top. A photo of the Astoria-Megler bridge under construction.

A blurb from Wikipedia about Astoria-Megler Bridge...

The Astoria–Megler Bridge is a steel cantilever through truss bridge in the northwest United States that spans the lower Columbia River, between Astoria, Oregon, and Point Ellice near Megler, Washington. Opened 57 years ago, in 1966, it is the longest continuous truss bridge in North America.

The bridge is 14 miles (23 km) from the mouth of the river at the Pacific Ocean. The bridge is 4.067 miles (6.55 km) in length and was the final segment of U.S. Route 101 to be completed between Olympia, Washington, and Los Angeles, California.

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Construction of this big bridge across the Columbia River began November 5, 1962, completed by August 27, 1966.

Completed in less than four years.

When Fort Worth began construction of its three little bridges over dry land, marking the start with a TNT exploding ceremony, it was with an, at the time, astonishing four-year construction timeline.

To build three little bridges over dry land.

Three little bridges which ended up taking seven years to build.

Over dry land.

The bridge which connects Astoria to Megler was built over a deep, fast moving river that was subject to tidal changes due to being so close to the Pacific Ocean.

I have driven over that bridge over the Columbia multiple times. It is one of the most adventurous river crossings I have ever crossed, particularly the section which quickly goes high, so that Portland bound ships can get past the bridge.

I wonder how long it would take Fort Worth to build a bridge like the Astoria-Megler Bridge over the Columbia? 20 years? A century? 

Driving With Linda Lou To Lucy Park's Emerging Green Leaves

This first Tuesday of the third month of 2023, it was with Linda Lou onboard, I drove back to Lucy Park for some high-speed nature communing.

Since I was last at Lucy Park, two days ago, leaves have begun sprouting on some of the trees, such as the one you see above, a harbinger of the arrival of Spring in a couple weeks.

Today's nature communing may be the last for a couple days. Storms are scheduled to begin arriving later today, and last, to varying degrees of severity, through Thursday.

As you can see, clouds have already arrived, ahead of the storming. 

Tomorrow I will likely be at the Wichita Falls Public Library during my regular nature communing time of the day. I need to replenish my reading material supply...

Hot First Monday Of March At Sikes Lake

On this first Monday of the third month of 2023, it was back to Sikes Lake I ventured to join the throngs enjoying the balmy 80 degree plus temperatures.

Which would make that the Gray Lagoon of Sikes Lake, you see above, looking west from the bridge at the west end of the lake.

It is currently noon on Monday, which is why I am hearing tornado sirens doing their regularly scheduled system check.

Quiet has again returned.

If you have never heard a tornado siren, well, they are loud. Think the loudest siren you have ever heard and double or triple the decibel level.

I have only once heard the tornado sirens go off due to an actual tornado. That was when I lived in far east Fort Worth.

We are currently scheduled to have two days this week with thunderstorms, possibly severe, predicted. Thunderstorms and tornadoes go together. A severe thunderstorm brings with it the conditions that can cause a tornado. 

Sunday Exploring Lucy Park Backwoods With Mud & No Snakes

Back to the Lucy Park backwoods I ventured on this first Sunday of the third month of 2023. As you can see, recent rain has greened up the ground, but, so far, not much new leaf action.

That aforementioned recent rain did leave a few muddy areas, easily detoured around. I have had a couple sticky incidents with Lucy Park mud in the past. The worst being bike related, coating on so much mud the bike became inoperable.

The outer world is being heated into the high 80s today. So, I kept a careful watch for anything slithering. 

The biggest snake I have ever seen in the wild I saw in the backwoods zone of Lucy Park, a couple summers ago. It was at least six feet long. And thick. It slithered into brush before I could take its picture.

But, I saw nothing reptilian today. Not even little lizards.

More rain is on the weather menu for the coming week. 

Nature Communing At Flood Free Lucy Park After Yesterday's Deluge

Yesterday's nature communing at Lucy Park was under a mostly clear blue sky.

But, by the time I left Lucy Park a storm was brewing. Soon after returning to my abode the storm was done brewing and was spewing lightning bolts, hail, rain and wind.

The rain continued for hours. By late afternoon a moat surrounded my abode.

By the time the sun finished yesterday's illumination duty the sky was beginning to return to being blue.

By the time the sun arrived, this morning, to begin its daily illumination duty, the sky was totally blue, with nary a cloud to be seen.

And so, this morning, I ventured back to Lucy Park, expecting to possibly find the park in flood mode. 

Well, no flooding was found, but the Wichita River is flowing a lot more water than it was yesterday, as you can see, above, via the view, looking south, from the middle of the Lucy Park suspension bridge.

So, March at my Texas location has roared in like a lion, with more roaring predicted in a few days...

Lucy Park Pagoda Blooming Before Thunderstorm Comes Booming

 At 11 this morning, arriving at Lucy Park, the sky was blue, which you see photo documented above. The weather prediction was for thunderstorms to arrive around noon. I scoffed at this, thinking no way.

And now, back at my abode, at half past noon, thunder is booming, lightning is striking, and the outer world is looking mighty stormy on this second day of the third month of 2023.

Just a sec, I will go take a pic from my kitchen window vantage point, hoping to manage to photo document the hail hailing, or a lightning strike.

The road has become a river. A moat almost surrounds my abode. But, the photo did not manage to photo document either the hail or the lightning, but did manage to photo document how we went from that clear blue sky a few minutes ago, to the above dark drippy scene.

I forgot to mention, at the photo at the top, of the burned-out Lucy Park Pagoda, signs of life have appeared, with flowers blooming through the fire flamed ground around the former Pagoda.

This storm today is likely a sign of a wild wet thundering March month now underway...

Goodbye To February With Hot Walk Around Sikes Lake

Above you are looking west across the rocky beach at the east end of Sikes Lake, on this final day of the second month of 2023.

Today is being the most pleasant, weather-wise, so far in 2023.

Almost 80 degrees, a cooling breeze blowing, nary a cloud in the bright blue sky.

Seems like just a couple days ago we were freezing with a coating of ice. It seems like that because a couple days ago we were freezing with a coating of ice.

That icy nonsense should be over til next winter, at my location.

I hope...

Clear Blue Warm Walk With Linda Lou In Lucy Park

Warmth has returned to the outer world at my location. Yesterday's chilly fog eventually lifted, along with the temperature. By the time I drove to Walmart around 5, Sunday afternoon, the temperature was over 80, and I was over dressed and over heated.

Around 10 last night all weather hell broke loose with a sudden extremely strong wind burst, with a downpour of rain. This only lasted a few minutes. I expected to see a lot of wind damage this morning, particularly at Lucy Park, what with all the trees.

But, I saw no wind damage anywhere.

The walk with Linda Lou in Lucy Park was extremely pleasant today, back in cargo shorts and t-shirt.

Back to the subject of going to Walmart yesterday. A week or two ago, Madame McNutty rode to Walmart with me. Upon parking I was surprised to see two vehicles, parked next to each other, both with Washington license plates.

During my entire time in Texas I have seen very few Washington license plates. As I sat there one Washingtonian came back to his car, with a kid holding a helium balloon. They drove away before I could say howdy.

When I came back out of Walmart a guy was standing by the other Washington license plated vehicle, which was a large pickup truck. I said something like "You from Washington?" To which he said he was not, that it was his girlfriend's truck. To which I said I am from Washington and seldom see Washington plates in Texas.

So, a couple days ago I park in the same Walmart location, and that same Madame McNutty rode to Walmart with me. And I again looked at that same pickup with the Washington license plates parked at the same location.

And, then, last night, that same pickup was parked in that same location again. This time I photo documented the license plate.

So, I am thinking this Washingtonian must work at Walmart. Either that or this Washingtonian spends a long time in Walmart, shopping, because the pickup was still there when I left to head back to my abode...

Foggy Semi-Warm Nature Communing Walk In Lucy Park

On this final Sunday of the second month of 2023, it was to a foggy Lucy Park I ventured today for the first instance of nature communing in several days.

I have mostly avoided the outer world the past few days due to the temperature being below freezing, along with a strong wind blowing.

Today the outer world was heated to 54 degrees by the time I arrived at Lucy Park, about an hour before noon.

With absolutely no wind blowing.

A little rain and some thunder is on the weather menu for the rest of today. So far I have seen no drippage, other than fog, and no thunder booms.

I expected Lucy Park to be visitor-free today, due to the foggy chill.

I was wrong.

There were multiple disc golfers, and fellow walkers enjoying the foggy conditions which are very reminiscent of a winter day in my old home zone of Washington, where one expects such due to the proximity to large bodies of ocean water. 

At my currently location there are no large bodies of water in any direction for hundreds of miles...

Snowy Daffodil BBQ Swimming Invite From Nephew Jason

Incoming email from FNJ (Favorite Nephew Jason) this morning, with an BBQ swimming party invitation...

Hello FUD --

Thought I'd send you a picture I took yesterday of some snow dusted daffodils across the street from your brother's soon to be residence.

[Hank Frank's house is pictured just to the right]

We are having a late winter freeze here, like much of the country. Tonight's temperatures are predicted to be in the teens.  

Changing the subject, I had a nice visit with Judy, Jeff and Pam on President's Day when they made their annual trip down to my restaurant for Fish and Chips with Ivar's Clam Chowder.   

Perhaps we can all get together this summer to celebrate a septuagenarian's birthday. I think that would be fun. Perhaps a BBQ at Birch Bay State Park. 

Does the 2nd Friday in August work for you? Low tide is at 8:30 am that morning, and high tide is at 4:30 p.m. So, I figure we can all go swimming around 2, when the water is bath like and then have a potluck afterwards. And a campfire on the beach.

 

Just an idea.

A warm summer's afternoon sounds delightful right now.

Hope all is well,

- FNJ

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A warm Washington summer day does sound delightful right now, with the outer world chilled below freezing at my Texas location, with a gusty wind making it really feel way colder than the current 30 degrees.

I have not been to Birch Bay State Park since August of 2017. The Judy, Jeff and Pam to which Jason refers are my Aunt Judy, Cousin Jeff, and Jeff's current wife, Pam. August of 2017 is the last time I saw Judy, Jeff and Pam...