Wichita mountain trip

June 7, 2003

Paul Gray

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I went solo on this trip 'cause everyone else wimped out. Well they "said" that they had good reasons, but we all know they wimped out. But for safety's sake, I scaled way back in length of hikes and depth of wilderness penetration. Didn't want to have to saw off my arm or anything if I got into a jamb. I stuck to main trails and roads, and visited sites I've not had the opportunity to visit before, like the tower at Jeb Johnson Lake, the Holy City, one of the old boarded-up round-rock houses, made a leisurely visit to the Nature Center and bought some stuff. Had a great time and enjoyed the company.

The campground at Doris was hit with a tremendous amount of rain on Saturday night, but it was preceded by a cool stiff breeze that made for a brisk suppertime. And over all, the breeze carried with it the strains of Jesus freaks (or Druids) chanting, singing, and dancing in circles. I don't think they were whirling dervishes, because they changed directions occasionally and waved their arms a lot. But they stopped each night at the civilized hour of 10:00PM.

Almost forgot that as I was coming in Friday night, I was stopped by a park deputy and given a courtesy warning about a headlight that was out on my car. Was also warned by the campground hosts to stay away from "that" end of the campground, because there was a lot of singin' and dancin' a-goin' on. Drove into Lawton Saturday evening, and after a lovely tour of the town, bought a bulb at an auto parts store.

Dining was 5-star as usual. The breakfasts were an excellent grade of Quaker Oats, and powdered milk, flavored with a hint of maple syrup, and accompanied by English Breakfast Tea. Ate lunch Saturday in the shade of The Tower (fresh summer sausage and dill Havarti on Triscuit crackers, with a Pink Lady apple for desert, and washed down with Lake Yahola Agua). In between meals I devoured a lot of GORP. Now days I call it GORC, for Gobs of Raisins and Chocolate. Ate well Saturday night (grilled fajita steak with onions and bell peppers marinated in Jamaica jerk sauce, and more LYA) with entertainment by Eddie and the Druids. Well they might be called that, prove me wrong. Sunday I ate lunch on Mt. Baldy (see Saturday lunch menu) while listening to the Jesus freaks/Druids at the summit sing and strum to the four winds. They wisely left out the whirling routines, because they could get dizzy and fall off. I didn't want to see any more of their waving arms than I had to, so I dropped down off the top just a few feet to give us all some privacy, for Pete's sake.

After more hiking around Quanah Lake I went to Meers for the usual Texas Longhorn grilled patty-in-a-pan, known affectionately as a Meers-Cheeseburger with all the trimmings. Drove hell-bent for leather for three hours and got back into T-town about 9:00PM. A good time was had by all.