Thunderstorms Are On The Weather Menu Along With Collapsing Sikes Lake Dam-Lake Structure

More storming is on the weather menu for this third Friday of May. Currently the outer world is not looking too stormy.

Meanwhile an interesting development at Sikes Lake.

For reasons not known by me there is a dam type structure across the north end of Sikes Lake. The dam which actually makes the lake is at another location. 

A year or two ago I read that Midwestern State University was wanting to get rid of this dam-like structure, but the estimated cost to do so was too high.

And now, it seems Mother Nature is doing the demolition job for free.

A long section of the dam-like structure has collapsed, revealing that the dam-like structure is dirt, covered with concrete slabs. This makes it look like it would not be all that difficult, or expensive, to remove this dam-like structure.

It will be interesting to see what happens next, if anything...

CBS Sunday Morning With Nephew Jason Takes Us To The Skagit Valley Tulip Festival & Roozengaarde

Incoming email from FNJ (Favorite Nephew Jason) with a link to a CBS Sunday Morning look at Skagit Valley Tulips in Bloom.

Click the link to watch the video for a look at my old home zone when the Skagit Valley is in ultra colorful mode.

What you see above and below are a couple screenshots from the video.

The above photo is at the Roozengaarde location.

In the video you get to see what a HUGE operation Roozengaarde is, along with seeing the complex automated way tulips are processed for shipping.

The Skagit Valley Jones Family Compound is close to Roozengaarde. 

When I lived in West Mount Vernon the Skagit Valley Tulip Festival time of the year, lasting a month, was a bit of a nuisance, traffic-wise.

Much has been improved over the years by spacing out various attractions, like adding Tulip Town, turning some roads into one-way only. Helicopters monitoring traffic flow. Busses bussing Tulip Tourists to the Tulip Zone.

And directing tourists heading north or south on Interstate 5 to use any of the Skagit Valley's exits from I-5, then follow the directional signs to the Tulips. Prior to pointing out the multiple exits, most incoming Tulip Tourists would exit the freeway into downtown Mount Vernon. This created massive traffic jams.

I think the last time I was at Roozengaarde was with my mom and dad. They talked me into going to an Easter morning sunrise service at Roozengaarde.

The last time I was in the Skagit Valley during the Tulip blooming time of the year was in April of 2006, when I was in Washington to attend nephew Jason's wedding to his first wife. I do not recollect seeing any tulips at that point in time..

Clear Blue Sikes Lake Sky With Gosling Flocks

No thunder or rain on the weather menu for this third Wednesday of May, for the first time in several days. 

A clear blue sky with the air heated into the mid 70s. Perfect conditions for a walk with the Sikes Lake goslings.

And now the time has arrived for lunch...

Getting Away From Doris Doolittle At Lucy Park With Wildflowers

 After too much verbal abuse from Doris Doolittle, this third Tuesday morning of May, I was in the mood for some peaceful nature communing.

And so I drove to Lucy Park for some fast walking in the Lucy Park backwoods jungle, under a cloudy sky and a temperature in the pleasant 70s, with a slight wind blowing a slightly chilly breeze.

In other words, perfect conditions for a mind clearing walk, erasing Doris Doolittle's verbal abuse from memory.

As you can see via the above photo documentation, April showers have brought more May wildflowers.

I do not know what the yellow flowers with orange centers are called, but they sort of look like daisies.

Possible rain and thunder is on the weather menu today, again, and, again, so far today, nothing...

Monday Morning Sikes Lake Reptile & Gosling Encounters

On this third Monday of May it was back to Sikes Lake I ventured this morning for salubrious nature communing.

We have had four days in a row with the weather prediction predicting thunderstorms and rain, including today. But each day ends up being mostly dry and free of loud booms.

The baby geese, also known as goslings, population seems to be of record breaking size this year. I suppose it may be a post COVID baby boom.

I had a reptile encounter of the non-snake sort today.

A turtle was lounging among the pink evening primroses. Why do I find turtles to be cute, whilst I find snakes to be anything but cute?

Years ago I was swimming in Lake Grapevine, in the DFW zone, when a reptilian head suddenly popped up in front of me. I thought water moccasin and did not know I was able to swim as fast as I swam to get out of the water.

The reptilian head had followed me to shore, which is when I realized it was a turtle that was chasing me, not a snake.

This incident became the last time I have been in a Texas lake...

Surprising 10 Best States In The United States

I seem to be being amused day after day by MSN (Microsoft News) articles which purport to rank this that or the other thing. 

Today's is The 10 Best States in the U.S. According to Americans. 

The explanatory text at the entry to the photo gallery of the 10 Best States...

The United States is vast and diverse, with each state offering unique qualities and attractions. Some states are known for their natural beauty, while others boast bustling cities and a thriving economy. However, which state is truly the best? On an online platform, many travelers and locals shared their views. Let’s see what’s their best...

Well, I do agree with #8 on the list...

The explanatory text...

US News and World Report consider Washington as the finest state to call home, and a passionate explorer firmly believes it. They deeply appreciate the state’s progressive politics and diverse populace, making it stand out from the rest. Moreover, they attribute the state’s awe-inspiring natural beauty, flourishing tech industry, and abundance of outdoor pursuits as factors that make it an exceptional state to live in.

The full list of 10 Supposed Best States in the U.S....

Massachusetts

California

North Dakota

New Hampshire

Minnesota

Virginia

Maine

Washington

Michigan

Hawaii

North Dakota? I have never been to North Dakota, but I have been to that state's sister, South Dakota. South Dakota has the Black Hills, Deadwood, Mount Rushmore, Wall Drug, Badlands National Park, and more.

It makes sense to me to have California and Hawaii on this list, along with Washington. But how is North Dakota one of the 10 Best, instead of states like Oregon, Utah, Arizona, Colorado, Wyoming and, even, New Mexico. 

I was born in Oregon. Oregon is like Washington with the progressive politics. And scenery, such as the Oregon coast, Crater Lake National Park, Mount Hood, Multnomah Falls, Portland, and more.

I like New Mexico. I have had some of my most mighty fine times in New Mexico.

Utah is just about my favorite of the states I have visited. The five national parks, Lake Powell, Salt Lake, and more.

Colorado has a boom town called Denver, Rocky Mountain National Park, Mesa Verde National Park, Great Sand Dunes National Park, Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park, Pike's Peak, Royal Gorge, Vale, Aspen, and more.

Arizona has such diverse scenery, from cactus covered deserts to the Grand Canyon.

Wyoming is where you find Yellowstone National Park and Devil's Tower among many other scenic wonders.

And, what about Alaska, another state I have been to. And Montana.

Not that I have anything against North Dakota, but methinks having that state on this list of the 10 Best sort of invalidates the legitimacy of the list. 

The list would have been even more goofy if Texas was counted in the Top 10...

Why Is Dallas A City People Refuse To Visit Again?

This morning, via MSN (Microsoft News) I scrolled through an article titled Avoid These 10 Cities People Refuse to Visit Again.

One of the ten cities people refuse to visit again surprised me.

Dallas, Texas

The ten cities listed...

Cairo, Egypt

Marrakesh, Morocco

Miami, Florida

Atlantic City, New Jersey

Dallas, Texas

Dubai

Hollywood, California

Las Vegas, Nevada

San Francisco, California

New Orleans, Louisiana

Well, Dallas is in some good company of other cities people refuse to visit again. 

The explanatory blurb about Dallas...

Texans say that megachurches, strip malls, subdivisions, and little else populate Dallas. Another person claims the city combines every bad part of Texas and markets it as a city. 

Well. I have visited Dallas multiple times and have never had it cross my mind that I never wanted to visit again. I've always enjoyed visiting Dallas. Fair Park, Deep Ellum, Dealey Plaza, Farmers Market, White Rock Lake, and more, like Pioneer Plaza.

I've been to some of the other cities on this list of cities people refuse to visit again. Hollywood, Las Vegas and San Francisco.

I've been to all three multiple times, so I am not one of those visitors who refuse to visit again.

Well, I really don't think I'd bother visiting Hollywood again. There is not a lot to see in Hollywood. Grauman's Chinese Theater, or whatever it is currently called, and the Walk of Fame. That's about all I remember about Hollywood.

Las Vegas wears me out after about four days, but, I always seem to return. 

San Francisco is a fun town. Just riding the cable cars makes the town special. And San Francisco's Chinatown is the best Chinatown I have seen. Plus the famous iconic bridges, the waterfront, and more. I don't get why anyone would say they refuse to visit San Francisco again.

The Most Terrifying Attractions In Washington & Texas

I saw that which you see here in Microsoft Edge gallery titled The Most Terrifying Attraction In Every State. 

Deception Pass is the most terrifying attraction in my old home state of Washington? Well, it is a bit scary, depending on how you cross the bridge. Years ago it was a common thing for daredevil types to climb out on the arch that supports the bridge. Eventually barriers were installed to put a stop to that. Walking across the bridge on its narrow sidewalk can be bit terrifying as cars and big trucks whiz by.

The description of this terrifying Washington attraction which accompanied the photo...

This sky-high bridge, dating back to 1935, has its home in Washington's most visited state park. It arches 180 feet (55m) above the waters of both Deception Pass and Canoe Pass strait, and is made even more unnerving when fog curls around its expanse. There are two options for taking it all in: gazing up at the bridge from a boat, or taking to its (very narrow) pedestrian pathway to look down at the rushing waters below.

So, what was the most terrifying attraction in the state in which I currently reside?

Texas: Flags Over Texas Observation Deck, Tower of the Americas, San Antonio

One of the tallest observation towers in America, this 750-foot (229m) viewing platform can be found in the Tower of the Americas building, alongside its bar, restaurant and 4D ride. A glass-fronted elevator allows visitors to take in vistas of downtown before they even reach the top. In the viewing area, historical displays help make sense of the pocket-sized buildings below.

I have seen the Tower of the Americas, but I have never been in it or on it. It does not look too terrifying..

Lucy Park Backwoods Jungle With No Snakes

 

It was back to the Lucy Park backwoods jungle I ventured this humid second Wednesday of May.

The temperature was sufficiently HOT and the grass sufficiently tall that I had to be vigilant today whilst fast walking the backwoods jungle, lest there be any slithering snakes in the grass.

I saw nothing slithering, but way too many flying insects of various varieties. But, unlike yesterday, no mosquito successfully attacked me, drawing blood.

Thunderstorming is on the weather menu for later today. Of late about half the time thunder is predicted I end up hearing nary a boom. Or see a lightning strike...

Hot Lake Wichita Park Walk With Mosquitoes

On this second Tuesday of May the outer world at my location is super humid. And hot. Real HOT.

Feeling the need for heat, and hoping for a cooling breeze, I drove to Lake Wichita Park for a walk around the only mountain for miles and miles in any direction.

I read this morning that the recent rains have risen the local lake levels. Such was noted upon arrival at the Lake Wichita Park parking lot. The tide was not out nearly as far as the last visit, a couple weeks ago.

Work continues on the expansion of the Lake Wichita Veterans Memorial, due to be finished by Memorial Day, which is the 29th of the current month.

Several guys were busy working on the memorial, seemingly impervious to the blazing sun.

I walked around the mountain and then headed north to a line of trees which are on both sides of a creek ditch.

I was on high alert when in this shaded wooded zone, on the lookout for slithering reptiles. I saw none, but did manage to get a whopper of a mosquito bite. 

A trail meanders through this wooded zone, with a couple little bridge crossings, such as what you see above. Eventually I came to a disc golf launch pad and realized this trail had been built for the disc golf course.

Seems like it would be just a tad too challenging to be throwing a disc in a wooded zone, hoping to hit a target.

I do not see many disc golfers at the Lake Wichita Park disc golf course, unlike I see at Lucy Park, where one always sees a lot of disc golfers.

More storming is on the weather menu during the course of this week. I hope that comes with cooler temperatures and a drop in humidity...