Lucy Park Backwoods Jungle Mosquito Bites

With the return to Summer, with the temperature in the 80s, it was back to Lucy Park I ventured today, to walk the Lucy Park backwoods jungle. 

At the exit from the Lucy Park backwoods jungle one looks up a slight incline to see the remains of the Lucy Park Pagoda. Will the Pagoda be restored to its former glory? Or will it remain in its current state?

I got myself a few mosquito bites today.

The West Nile Virus has shown up in this town in mosquitoes.

I am fairly certain none of the biters today gave me that Egyptian virus...

Sikes Lake Coyote Back On Goose Guard Duty

The Sikes Lake coyote was back on guard duty today, scaring off the few ducks and geese who remain at the lake, preventing the birds from making messes at the pavilion by the Wichita Falls Art Museum.

The temperature was back in the 80s today, just when I was getting used to being chilly...

Microsoft OneDrive Civil War Battle Memory With Linda Lou

It has been a few days since I remembered the Microsoft OneDrive Memories of a particular day. But, today, I remember all the memories.

At the upper left we are looking at a Civil War battle re-enactment at a battlefield a few miles west of Granbury, Texas.

I've been to two Civil War battle re-enactment. They were impressive productions.

At the upper right, that would be Linda Lou you see, on our way to the top of South Mountain, in Phoenix, Arizona, back in October of 2018. Below that first Linda Lou photo is another, with Linda Lou now at the top of South Mountain, talking to a little dog.

The photo on the lower left is also at the top of South Mountain, where several Native Americans of, I think, the Apache Tribe, were selling products they'd handcrafted. If I remember correctly, Linda Lou bought a jewelry item of the earring or bracelet sort.

On the lower right that would be the Baker Hotel you are looking at, in Mineral Wells, Texas.

Hard to believe it was five years ago that I had fun driving Linda Lou to various Arizona locations. The drive to Tortilla Flats was another memorable moment. Seems like only yesterday...

Mid-October Shadow Of The Lucy Park Thin Man

It was back to Lucy Park I ventured today, to hike the Lucy Park backwoods jungle, a location which is usually chronically muddy by this time of year, but remains dry, due to the ongoing drought.

The temperature was in the mid 60s. Warmer than yesterday.

I have yet to feel the need to locate where I stored my sweatpants.

The pre-noon sun, today, cast a long shadow of the Lucy Park Thin Man.

I am currently the skinniest I have been since I don't remember when.

I have been chunky in times past. I have been un-chunky in times past.

Being un-chunky is way more pleasant than being chunky. I highly recommend it...

Back With Sikes Lake Geese & Yellow Wildflower Carpet

With the temperature barely in the 50s, it was to Sikes Lake I ventured this morning for a fast walk around the lake, with a lot of other lake walkers.

After the mass murder of 383 Sikes Lake geese, a couple months ago, the few geese which remain can not keep up with eating all the sprouting vegetation, like this carpet of yellow wildflowers you see above.

The geese you see flocked above were the only geese I saw today as I walked around Sikes Lake. 

On Saturday I saw a flock of a different type on the way to Lucy Park.

The flock of Sikes Lake Holocaust protesters were back, with the largest group of protesters, yet seen, along with the biggest protest signs yet seen.

I have yet to learn what the Geese Holocaust protesters hope to see happen. A promise of no more goose murders? Criminal charges brought against the goose killers? What?

I sure do grow tired of how fast time seems to be accelerating.

The dreaded (by me) holiday season is fast approaching.

Sunday's Chilly Wichita Bluff Nature Area Hiking

On this third October Sunday, with the chilly temperature barely into the 50s, it was to the east parking lot entry to the Wichita Bluff Nature Area I ventured today for some high-speed bluff hiking.

Unlike yesterday's totally clear blue, cloud-free sky, today the sky was hosting a few small clouds.

The vegetation grows tall at this section of the Circle Trail, as it meanders alongside the Wichita River.

Nearing the high point on the Wichita Bluff, sunflowers are busy blooming, and blowing in the wind.

I am liking the chilly weather, and being back hiking on the Wichita Bluffs, which, along with Mount Wichita in Lake Wichita Park, are the only hiking areas with elevations gains, in this mostly flat part of the country.

Saturday Eclipse Viewing From Mount Wichita Summit

I figured if there was to be any Ring of Fire Eclipse viewing in my area the best wide-open location to do so would be at Lake Wichita, perhaps from the summit of Mount Wichita.

I knew we were not directly in the eclipse's path. That was a few miles to the south, with Abilene and Austin getting the full blackout.

Upon arrival at the Mount Wichita parking lot I made note of a larger than usual number of vehicles parked. Likely enjoying the cool weather. We got down to 48 degrees last night. It was barely 60 upon arrival at Lake Wichita.

Last week's one day of rain added some water to Lake Wichita. That band of blue you see in the photo was not there upon my last visit to this location. But, it is going to take a lot more rain to finally float that new dock waiting for water.

I decided to hike to the summit of Mount Wichita for the first time on a long time. I think well before COVID was the last time I made that arduous trek to this summit. I used the trail on the east side of the mountain to get to the top. You can barely see the trail in the photo documentation.

From the summit, looking down at the Circle Trail and the newly added water.

When I was almost to the summit I was greeted by an aggressive poodle guard dog. The poodle's human picked him up to calm him down.

The poodle quit barking when I asked if I could take his picture. Poodles are such vain little mutts.

Back at ground level, upon reaching the parking lot, I saw a lot of people looking at the sky. I looked at the sun and it seemed way brighter than the norm.

I was almost to my vehicle when a girl, who was with a group of skywatchers, asked me if I wanted to see something cool.

Sure, said I.

She handed me sky viewing glasses. I then looked at the sun and could see the eclipse. The sun looked crescent shaped.

Back at my vehicle I looked at the sun again, without sky viewing glasses. At first what I saw looked like the photo I took from that location, looking at the sun.

But, continuing to look, suddenly I could see the eclipse, without sky viewing glasses.

I shouted to the people who had let me see with their sky viewing glasses that I could now see the eclipse without help.

Don't look too long, shouted a guy who was with the sky viewing glasses girl. It can do damage, said he. To which I said, I thought that was only with a direct viewing of an eclipse.

So, I then got in my vehicle and woke the phone to see how many Google Fit Minutes I had walked.

Well.

I could not read the numbers. I was blinded by that bright light. Luckily this blinding phenomenon did not last long, with my full sight returned.

But, it was unnerving. I won't make that stupid mistake again...

Chilly Windy Friday The 13th Wichita Bluff Nature Area Hike With No Snakes

With the temperature barely into the 60s, with a strong wind blowing, with gusts nearing 40 mph, it was back to the Wichita Bluff Nature Area I ventured on this Friday the 13th October day for some high speed windy endorphin inducing aerobic activity.

As you can see, not a single cloud is to be seen, under a bright blue sky.

Midway to the Wichita Bluff summit I passed by the Hoodoo installation zone to see a new Hoodoo cairn had been erected.

When last at this location, a couple weeks ago, there was no Hoodoo. I was deeply disappointed.

And now, we are at the summit of the Wichita Bluffs, looking east at the stunning skyline of beautiful downtown Wichita Falls. With the brown Wichita River in the center of the photo.

Still with no clouds visible, no matter what direction one looks.

I had avoided the Wichita Bluff Nature Area all HOT Summer long, due to Blue Msn reporting he came upon two rattlesnakes coiled up on the Circle Trail in the Wichita Bluff Nature Area.

Snakes do not slither when the temperature is at the chilly level it is currently chilled to.

Warm Summer-Like Fall Day At Lucy Park With Dinosaurs

Another warm sunny day in Texas, waiting for the cooler weather of Fall to arrive.

So, it was back to Lucy Park I drove today, to hike through the Lucy Park backwoods jungle.

On the way to the jungle, I walked by the Lucy Park dinosaur dig, where one sees the remains of a Tyrannosaurus.

It never occurred to me, til today, to wonder if back when the throngs of huge dinosaur reptiles roamed the planet, if there were dinosaur snakes, giant T-Rex sized snakes, that would make for a scary addition to a Jurassic Park type movie.

I suspect I will now be having a giant snake nightmare tonight, now that the suggestion has been entered into my sub-conscious...

Walk Around Sikes Lake With No Swimming Or Snakes

Another clear, blue sky, warm, in the 80s, October day in Texas.

Will Summer ever leave?

I walked around Sikes Lake this morning for my daily acquisition of endorphins. I always wonder about the signs you see here, on a cyclone fence, in front of the Sikes Lake dam.

Had there been a problem with people swimming at this location? And, no boating, canoeing or kayaking without universal approval.

I have never seen anyone swimming, boating, canoeing or kayaking at any location on Sikes Lake.

Sikes Lake does not appear to be an appealing location for any of those activities. The lake is too shallow at too many locations.

That and way too murky.

It has been many years since last I got wet in a Texas lake. I think the year was 2002. And the lake was Lake Grapevine in the D/FW zone.

I was swimming in that lake and found myself face to face with a reptile head. I thought it to be a snake. I've never swam as fast as I did to get away from that reptilian head.

Safely on shore I looked at what was chasing me to see it was a big turtle, not a snake.

I doubt there are any snakes in Sikes Lake. But, there are turtles. Another good reason not to swim there...