Shadow Of The Thin Man Joining Throngs Walking Around Sikes Lake In HOT Heat Wave

We are about a month from the arrival of 2024's version of Spring.

A month to go of Winter.

And today, on the third Wednesday of the second month of the new year, the North Texas heat wave continues.

On Saturday I got way too cold at Lucy Park.

Today, in shorts and t-shirt I joined the throngs walking around Sikes Lake enjoying the Summer-like day, heated into the 80s.

I forgot to mention, that is the Shadow of the Sikes Lake Thin Man you see above, looking like he is the One-Armed Thin Man.

I went bike shopping yesterday. There is a new type mountain bike, with extra fat tires. I think I would like a mountain bike with extra fat tires...

President's Day Walking With The Sikes Lake Birds

The unwanted, unexpected short return of Winter, the past couple days, with sub-freezing temperatures, and strong wind, has abated, rendering the outer world once again pleasant, and Spring-like.

Summer-like is predicted to return in a couple days, with the temperature in the 80s.

So it was to nearby Sikes Lake I ventured today, for a salubrious walk around the lake. When I came to the coffer dam, you see above, several dozen seagulls were flocking together, next to several dozen geese, flocking together.

By the time I got my phone out of my pocket and the camera turned on, the birds panicked and took to the air.

The seagulls flew north, the geese flew south. Both flocks did not fly far before landing on the lake. And then quickly returned to their coffer dam roost as I continued walking.

Time flying quickly by seems to be picking up speed. We are already in the last full week of the second month of 2024.

Soon it will be the swimming suit time of the year. I need to get in shape so I can fit into my various swimming suits.

I hope everyone is having a mighty fine fun President's Day, it being one of the most festive holidays of the year...

Saturday Frigid Frolic At Lucy Park

Since I was in the neighborhood to pick up some prescriptions from a pharmacy, I found myself at Lucy Park, as evidenced by the photo documentation, looking at the Lucy Park suspension bridge, suspended over the swollen reddish-brown Wichita River.

With hardly any weather forecaster warning such would happen, the temperature went well below freezing last night.

By the time the sun arrived, this third Saturday of the second month of 2024, a strong wind was blowing, with the weather forecasters now forecasting extreme cold today, with a steady wind around 25 mph, which gusts in the 40 mph range.

The temperature was 36 degrees when I arrived at Lucy Park. Looking at my phone I saw the wind's wind chill factor had those 36 degrees feeling like 24 degrees.

I had on my fur-lined sweatpants, two long-sleeved sweatshirts, an insulated hooded jacket, gloves and I forget what else, but I was still cold. 

I lasted 19 minutes til strong gusts hitting me on the exposed part of my face had me quickly retreating to the wind-free comfort of my mechanized means of motion.

Tomorrow, if the weather forecaster is to be believed, warm weather returns...

Rising Lake Wichita Level Almost Floats Kayak Launch Pad Dock For First Time

Recent rain has added some water to Lake Wichita, still well below being anywhere near full pool. But, enough water arrived to almost float the kayak launching installation which has been dry docked ever since it arrived at the lake, many months ago.

I had an inflatable kayak that I used to blow up and float on Lake Grapevine, and Lake Joe Pool, in the Dallas/Fort Worth zone. I am drawing a total memory blank trying to remember what happened to that kayak. 

We have had an abrupt end to the recent short semi-HEAT wave. The heat warmed well into the 70s yesterday. Today we are chilled into the 40s, with a strong wind blowing, causing the air to feel way cooler than the 40s.

Walking around Mount Wichita in Lake Wichita Park was not pleasant today, not pleasant at all...

Remembering Nephew Jeremy Successfully Crossing A Scary Suspension Bridge Hiking To Mount Baker

The year was 1993. The occasion was my August birthday, not the exact day, but the following weekend. I do not recollect how this came about, what with it being three decades ago, but this morning's Microsoft OneDrive Memories from this Day brought me the photos you see here.

It was an overcast, foggy, drizzly day. The location was the Schrieber's Meadow entry to the Park Butte Trail up the Mount Baker volcano, via what is known as the Railroad Grade, so named because of its even ascent, like a railroad grade making its way up and over a mountain. In this instance the Railroad Grade is at the top of a glacier carved Moraine.

That glacier can render hiking a bit treacherous in summer and early fall, when warm temperatures melt a lot of ice, turning Sulphur Creek into a raging torrent. So much so that the creek regularly wipes out the various bridges built to cross it.

On that day all the hikers were transited via sister Nancy's vehicle. Of what sort, I do not remember. In that vehicle we had the aforementioned sister Nancy, sister Michele, my ex-wife, Loretta, Big Ed and my youngest nephew, Jeremy. I am likely forgetting a person, or two, or three.

So, about a mile in the trail comes to Sulphur Creek. When we reached that point I saw a suspension bridge of sorts had been installed since I was last at this location, a year or two prior, with nephew Joey.

When we reached the Sulphur Creek suspension bridge, with Sulphur Creek look a bit wild, Jeremy balked.

Jeremy sought refuge at a tree. Aunt Michele then used her well developed negotiation powers to make a deal with Jeremy by which he would agree to cross the bridge. Jeremy insisted he cross it alone, with both ends protected, so no one could get on the bridge and sway and shake it. Big Ed was the guard at the far end. I forget who guarded the entry.

Once the guards were in place Jeremy began his passage across the bridge.

 Above we see Jeremy almost all the way across.

And here we have Jeremy's triumphant pose as he successfully nears the end of the bridge.

The above was about as far as we got this day of hiking in a fog. We never got above the timberline. Never made it to the Railroad Grade. Never got close to seeing Mount Baker. But, it was a mighty fine day, I must say.

That is the aforementioned sister Michele, next to Jeremy, and me sitting, with my hair its original color...

Uncle Jeremy & Papa Christopher Take Me Ice Cave Spelunking

What you see here showed up, this morning, in my Microsoft OneDrive Memories from this Day email.

What we see here might have happened in February, of a long-ago year, likely the early 1990s.

But, more likely it was in late March, or early April. The Ice Caves do not form til the ice begins to thaw as the world warms up heading toward summer.

The snow formation is known as the Ice Caves. One finds the Ice Caves between Granite Falls and Darrington, on what is known as the Mountain Loop Highway.

One does not venture into the Ice Caves when the temperature is above freezing. With the temperature above freezing large chunks of ice can come crashing down.

If I recollect correctly there has been an accident, or two, over the years. So, more care is taken to restrict access when melting renders the Ice Caves dangerous.

The Ice Caves form from snow sliding off Big Four Mountain. The snow compacts into solid ice, and then somehow four caves are formed.

My last time at the Ice Caves I led a group that my sister Michele was somehow in charge of.

About 10 kids, if I remember correctly.

That time at the Ice Caves was definitely late Spring, or maybe even early Summer. Because you stayed a distance away from the Ice Caves and instead of spelunking, you sat on big rocks and watched huge chunks of ice come loose, crashing down on the Ice Caves.

I remember it as loud, and some of the kids unsettled by the spectacle.

If you are ever touristing in Washington, the Mountain Loop Highway is a scenic excursion, that to me, reminds me of Yosemite. There are a lot of hiking trails. The Monte Christo ghost town. The walk down the trail to see Granite Falls is easy, and the falls are worth the walk.

Logging roads off the Mountain Loop Highway were a frequent cross country skiing location when I lived in the neighborhood.

I remember taking Jeremy and Christopher sledding on one of those roads.

Another time, in one of what became known as Nephews in Danger incidents, I, and Jeremy and Christopher's cousin, Joey, who is my second oldest nephew and the proud papa of Hank Frank, pedaled our mountain bikes up the road from the Mountain Loop Highway to the Monte Christo ghost town. Then after we coasted back to my bike carrying pickup.

Seeing that that road was not too busy, I asked Joey if he wanted to go on a long coast down the hill, that I would follow and pick him up when the coasting ended.

And so, Joey did so. I was a bit mortified when Joey's coasting speed went over 40 mph.

Thinking about the Mountain Loop Highway, and Nephews in Danger, I recollect another time at that location, with Joey. We joined a huge throng of hikers accessing a trail made from the railroad bed of tracks that led to Monte Christo, to carry in goods and people, and haul out gold.

Well, that trail, along the Stillaguamish River, a few miles before it goes over Granite Falls, was a bit treacherous in places, the trail seeming precarious above the fast moving rapids of the river. And the trail went through several tunnels, which was a bit spooky.

But, the most disturbing moment on that hike was when it got its most difficult, when suddenly a pair of kayakers shot by. Did they know Granite Falls was a short distance downriver? I assume such, and that their exit point from the river was before the falls.

I am sort of enjoying these Microsoft OneDrive Memory things causing me to remember things I have not thought of in a long long time...

My Daily Deception Pass Bridge Reminder Of Fort Worth's Embarrassing Bridge Boondoggle

Seems rarely a day goes by that I do not see at least one photo of the Deception Pass Bridge, on Facebook.

Every time I see a Deception Pass Bridge photo Fort Worth, Texas comes to mind.

Fort Worth is a location where I watched in amazement as the city took over seven years to build three freeway overpass type bridges.

Over dry land.

With the hope that one day a cement lined ditch filled with diverted Trinity River water, will flow below the bridges, creating an imaginary island which the town already calls Panther Island. 

Panther Island, where there is no island, and never will be a real island, confusing the town's few tourists, in much the same way the town confused its few tourists with signs pointing the way to Sundance Square, where there was no square.

But, after a few decades of confusing the town's few tourists a small square was built and named Sundance Square Plaza.

Deception Pass Bridge was built almost a century ago, In the early 1930s. Built over swift moving actual water. Built in slightly less than a year.

Deception Pass Bridge is actually two bridges, with an actual island, not an imaginary island, between the two spans over Deception Pass.

Actually, if my memory is serving me correctly, the bridge you see above is above Deception Pass. The bridge on the other side of the real island crosses above Canoe Pass.

I wonder if Canoe Pass is so named because during a wild tide change, the water is more navigable vis Canoe Pass, than is the case with Deception Pass.

I have seen a strong tide change a time or two whilst at Deception Pass State Park. Such is a wonder of nature to behold. The water in the pass looks like powerful river rapids, too strong for any boat to make headway heading into the current.

If I am in Washington next summer it would be a mighty fine thing to visit Deception Pass State Park and hike up Goose Rock...

Happy Birthday Sister Jackie

Today, Monday, February 12, is my little sister, Jackie's, Happy Birthday.

I do not remember why Jackie was in a baseball uniform in this photo of Jackie holding a baseball mitt.

Was there some sort of Pee Wee T-Ball League way back then?

I think likely not.

I do not remember Jackie playing baseball. I do remember Jackie playing basketball in high school.

Jackie's little sister, Michele, I do remember playing baseball, of the type called softball.

I recollect going to a Washington State High School Softball Tournament in Wenatchee, Washington, watching Michele be, if I remember correctly, and likely I don't, the catcher.

Again, if I am remembering correctly, Michele was picked to be Most Valuable Player at that tournament.

What I clearly remember of that weekend in Wenatchee is going to a U-Pick cherry orchard, with mom and dad, Jackie, and Jackie's oldest, Christopher, where we all picked cherries, including Christopher, who at that point in time might have been three years old.

I remember Christopher having a great time climbing a ladder, picking cherries and putting them in the burlap bag provided.

And now, all these years later, Jackie is a Grandma. And Christopher is a Pa.

I do not think there are any cherry trees in the Phoenix, Arizona zone that Jackie and Christopher can take Baby Cade to in a couple years to do some cherry picking.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY JACKIE!!!

Snow Is On The Menu For Today's Super Bowl Party

I thought we were done with this type thing, with clear sailing til Spring, with no more freezing, ice, or snow. 

I thought wrong.

Snow is on the weather menu at my North Texas location for this second Sunday of the second month of 2014, also known as Super Bowl Sunday.

Rain began dripping late yesterday, and continued to drip all night long, and continues to drip.

A strong wind is scheduled to be blowing today, making for a wind chill real feel of the temperature being below freezing.

If I go on a salubrious walk today it will be in the climate-controlled confines of Walmart.

My Super Bowl Party is scheduled to start at 4 this afternoon. BBQed baby back pork ribs, biscuits dipped in garlic butter, pizza, chicken wings and apple cider is today's football menu.

Arrive early to secure a good seat...

Microsoft Memory Of Mount Rainier From Kent

The photo you see here showed up this second Saturday of the second month of 2024, in my email, a Microsoft OneDrive Memory from this Day, that I do remember, but it certainly was not on this day.

This photo was taken way back in October of 2005. Flying out of D/FW I found myself seated next to a mom and her three kids who were refugees from New Orleans, stuck in D/FW after escaping the Katrina Hurricane, they were heading to Washington to stay with relatives in Bremerton.

The flight that time routed through Las Vegas, switching to another plane to continue on to Seattle. I'd been in the Las Vegas airport a time or two. The Katrina mom was a bit frazzled so I offered to help her navigate to the next plane. 

It was well after midnight we landed at Sea-Tac. A ghostly empty airport. The person who was supposed to pick me up, was not there. I called her to learn she'd left for the airport a few minutes prior. She was coming from Tacoma. So, I knew I had about a half hour wait. 

I soon came upon the mom and her three kids, also waiting. Their relative was not there, either. I told her I would have a car in about an hour and could come pick them up and deliver them to Bremerton, if need be. Gave her my cell number. I never heard from her again. I assume they made it to Bremerton.

The photo above was taken after my sister called me as she was driving to work to tell me The Mountain was out and looking good. I was at my sister's in Kent, that is a suburb of Seattle, between Seattle and Tacoma.

After getting the call about The Mountain being out, I grabbed my camcorder and headed down the hill a short distance to Lake Meridian, which is the lake you see in the photo, with Mount Rainier looming large.

The photo is a screenshot from the video I took of the walk down the hill to see The Mountain.

Of late I am starting to wonder if I am ever going to see a real mountain again...