Wet Bulb Conditions Force Hell's Gate Closing At Wichita Falls Hotter 'N Hell 100

Due to the outer world being dangerously way too HOT, the Hotter 'N Hell Hundred Medical Director has shut down the full 100-mile race, shortening the race to 100K 

Something called "Wet Bulb" conditions made doing something strenuous for a long period of time to be too dangerous.

The outer world temperature is over 100. The humidity is high.

Earlier this month when the temperature during the final weeks of August was predicted to be under 100 I was planning on going to the MPEC (Multi-Purpose Event Center), where the race ends, and have fun being surrounded by all the hoopla.

But, with the temperature well over 100, when the days of the event arrived, I opted to stay in air-conditioned comfort.

Since I have been in Wichita Falls I have only been to the race finale once. On that day the temperature was warm, in the low 90s, but it was cloudy. It was still way too HOT. 

Remembering Mountain Biking DORBA Trail In Cedar Hills State Park In Dallas

A Microsoft OneDrive Memory from this Day, which I do not remember when this memory actually happened, as in what date.

But, I do remember that that is Lake Joe Pool, behind me, with me on the DORBA Trail in Cedar Hills State Park in South Dallas.

The mountain bike trails in Cedar Hills State Park were one of my most frequent mountain biking locations. After a strenuous bout of biking I'd pump up my kayak to paddle out on the lake before jumping overboard to cool off.

I do not engage in this type behavior at my current location. Due to the fact there are no nearby hilly mountain bike trails, adjacent to swimmable lakes.

That and I currently do not have a mountain bike worthy of mountain biking.

I may soon find myself with a new mountain bike worthy of mountain biking. Finding a hilly trail location with a swimmable lake will be a bit more challenging...

Remembering Mount Rainier Hiking With David, Theo & Ruby's Grandma

What you see here is not one of my instances of a photo of Mount Rainier which has been telephotoed to look closer and bigger than it actually is.

What you see here is a photo of Mount Rainier as it looks when you are in Mount Rainier National Park on a hiking trail which leads to the base of the volcano.

That would be, standing next to me, in front of Mount Rainier, the Tacoma Trio of David, Theo and Ruby's, Grandma Janet, the mama of Mama Kristin.

Microsoft OneDrive Memories of this Day think this memory happened within the past five years, on this date in August.

But, I know exactly when this particular memory happened. August 11, 2008. On that date I drove Kristin, Janet and myself to Mount Rainier.

Ironically, this was only the second time I was in Mount Rainier National Park. All my years living in Washington I only visited that mountain, up close, once.

Where I lived in Washington, Mount Rainier was about 100 miles to the south. If I wanted to go hiking in the Cascade Mountains I had way closer venues. That and Mount Rainier National Park is super crowded with tourists, whilst there are many areas, equally scenic, where that is not the case.

Where I lived in Washington there were two volcanoes way closer than Mount Rainier. Those being Mount Baker and Glacier Peak.

Glacier Peak is the most illusive of the Washington volcanoes. You do not see Glacier Peak from the Western Washington lowlands. You have to drive up into the mountains to see Glacier Peak.

I only hiked to the base of Glacier Peak once. It was an almost 20-mile roundtrip hike. The route to the volcano takes you past Kennedy Hot Springs. I remember misjudging the timing of the hike, which had the final couple miles in scary darkness, using a flashlight to keep the trail visible.

I wonder how well I would handle a 20-mile hike nowadays. I suspect such would be a bit of a challenge...

Microsoft OneDrive Memory Of Haslet Horses Backyard Invasions

A Microsoft OneDrive Memory from this Day, that I remember, though I do not remember if this memory was from a day in August.

What we see here is the backyard of my first Texas abode. It was a multi-acre ranch in the hamlet of Haslet, a little suburb at the north end of sprawling Fort Worth.

The ranch had some farm critters. Three horses and a couple cows.

The horses were devilish demons. They figured out how to unlatch the gate that blocked them from their pasture and the backyard.

One of their times breaking into the backyard they ended up in the pool. That was a mighty fine fun time getting three horses out of a pool.

The horses liked Big Ed, I think because he often brought them goodies, like carrots and apples. 

In the above photo documentation, we see the three horses looking to be in begging for a treat mode. I don't think Big Ed had any thing to give the beggars. 

Of course, each of the horses had a name. But I only remember the name of one.

Caution.

I only got on one of the horses, once, July 4 of the year 2000. It did not go well. In my version of what happened, I claim the horse tried to kill me. I doubt I shall ever get onboard a horse ever again...

Closeup Mount Rainier Look From Texas By Chris & Sheila

If I remember correctly, and sometimes I do, a time or two or three, previously, I have made mention of the fact, with photo documentation, that I find some photos of Washington's Mount Rainier volcano to be a bit misrepresentative.

As in photos zoomed in on the Mountain, making the volcano look like it was bigger and way closer to Seattle than it actually looks in real life, in person.

Now, that photo of Mount Rainier you see here is not representative of those exaggerated Mount Rainier photos.

This photo of Mount Rainier was taken yesterday from the backyard viewing venue of two of my favorite Washingtonians, the young ladies known as Chris and Sheila.

Up til fairly recently Chris and Sheila's view of Mount Rainier was from their location a few miles south and east of Seattle, in the Kent highlands. The Mountain was not viewable from their then home, but came into view when leaving their home zone and driving towards Lake Meridian.

The Misses Chris and Sheila have relocated from Kent, to a new home in Lacey, a suburb of Olympia, much closer to Mount Rainier.

I do not know if the new Chris and Sheila location is in the Mount Rainier Eruption Evacuation Route area, such as I know exists a few miles to the east. I have seen the Volcano Evacuation Route signs between Puyallup and Tacoma.

What I do know for certain is there are no Volcano Evacuation Route signs anywhere within many many miles of my current Texas location...

Super HOT Wichita Falls Sunday

I took the above photo as quickly as I could after igniting my vehicle and getting my photo out of the pocket in which it resides when I am in transit. 128 degrees is getting into a Death Valley level of HOT.

With this third Sunday of August predicted to be the HOTTEST, so far, this HOT time of the year, I opted to stay in air-conditioned comfort, inside my abode, waiting til the HOTTEST time of the day, to exit, and take a short, HOT, drive to Walmart, to walk in air-conditioned comfort for several minutes, before braving the blazing sun, again, to make my way to the air-conditioned comfort of my motorized means of motion to drive back to the air-conditioned comfort of my cool abode.

I wonder if someone somewhere has a contest seeking to find the best example of a long run-on sentence. I think the above paragraph is an excellent run-on sentence example.

I thought the last Sunday before the start of the new school year might make for some interesting anthropological observations in Walmart.

But.

I think the heat keeps the super-hefty from entering the outer world if they can avoid it.

I know I tend to somewhat avoid the heat, when I can, and I am only semi-hefty...

Sizzling Saturday At 109 Degrees In HOT Wichita Falls

This third Saturday of August is scheduled to be the HOTTEST yet during this way too HOT time of the year.

I suspect I shall be getting my daily endorphin dose acquired via high speed walking in an indoor venue today.

Usually that venue is one of my nearby Walmarts. But, the most recent indoor venue was Lowe's.

Lowe's made for a pleasant walking venue.

Maybe will opt for Home Depot today.

September is rapidly approaching. We are past the Ides of August. When September arrives one can have some hope the outer world will begin to cool down.

Taking A North Cascades Nap On A Granite Slab Overlooking A Hidden Lake

There are many things I miss about the Pacific Northwest.

Things such as having four distinct seasons.

Along with plentiful fruits and vegetables, often growing wild, free for the picking, like blackberries and mountain blueberries. Freshly picked corn bought from a roadside vendor selling the corn 10 ears for a buck, on the honor system.

Streets with sidewalks with a grassy median separation from the road.

Politicians who are not national embarrassments.

Public works projects the public actually approves of, via voting, which then actually come to fruition. What a concept.

Way fewer balloon people. Way more people who look like they have had the air let out of them.

And, the scenery.

Mountains in every direction. Saltwater beaches. Real islands.

The Washington scenery came to mind via today's Microsoft OneDrive Memories from this Day.

One of the photos was of me laying on my back, taking a nap, on a slab of granite, overlooking Hidden Lake, in North Cascades National Park.

I have no idea what the total number of hiking trails is in Washington. Thousands?

Hiking trails in the lowlands, in the foothills, in the Cascades and Olympics. Thousands of miles of hiking trails.

Just within a few miles of where I lived in Washington, in Mount Vernon, in the Skagit Valley. Hiking and mountain bike trails on Little Mountain in Mount Vernon. The hike to the top of Big Rock in east Mount Vernon. More trails a few miles further to the east. Heading to the west multi trails in Washington Park and Deception Pass State Park, and others. 

All within about a 30-mile radius of my abode.

Why did I move from this paradise on earth I do wonder every once in a while...

Attending Senior Day In Burlington's Maiben Park With Little Brother Jake

Incoming email from FNJ (Favorite Nephew Jason).

Text accompanying photo...

Via Go Skagit I saw vintage cars displayed in front of 1027 Washington for Senior Day at the park. I know your brother attended.  Thought you'd enjoy the photo.

Go Skagit is a news website associated with the Skagit Valley Herald. The Go Skagit link does not go to the article to which Jason referred. The link goes to the Go Skagit home page.

The park to which Jason refers is Burlington's Maiben Park, the park from which I grew up across the street. That grayish looking house you see above is the house I grew up in, 1027 Washington Avenue.

That looks like it might be brother Jake, also known as Jason's dad, in the middle of that cluster of people you see in the photo.

My memory of this location includes a row of trees where those cars are parked. I think those trees were removed after I no longer lived there.

Remembering Pick Quick Blackberry Milkshakes With David, Theo & Ruby

 Arriving a few minutes ago, in my incoming email, today's Microsoft One Drive Memories from this Day.

And today, for the first time, I think, this photo did happen on August 15. Though the day was a Tuesday, not a Thursday. 

And the year was 2017.

Left to right, that is nephews Theo and David, me, and niece Ruby, at Pick Quick Burgers, in Fife, a little town between Tacoma and Seattle.

Theo, David, Ruby and their parental units were taking me to Sea-Tac, to put my on a plane, to fly to Arizona to see their grandma, also known as my mom.

In addition to Pick Quick burgers we also had, except for Ruby, blackberry milkshakes. 

If I remember right, and sometimes I do, I have previously shared this photo, what with it being one of my favorites.

That was one fun, poignant week in Washington, that week in August of 2017.

Also, in today's memories, is one of me being dropped off at the airport, after lunch at Pick Quick.

Theo is looking a bit sad at saying goodbye to his uncle. I was a bit sad too, wondering when next I was going to see these three I'd come to feel so fondly about in such a short time.

It would be almost two years before I would see David, Theo and Ruby again, in March of 2019, when they flew to Phoenix for a week of fun with their uncle, grandmas, grandpa and cousins...