tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-71591469895076553552024-03-05T14:04:33.653-08:00BikeRunBeerBrianofthemarshhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12498508628148397419noreply@blogger.comBlogger201125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7159146989507655355.post-85007106825164617412015-06-11T09:45:00.003-07:002015-06-11T09:45:40.648-07:00Goodbye!I'm going to start blogging again, but over <a href="http://brianstrailjournal.blogspot.com/">here.</a> The focus will be more on documenting cool outdoor adventures and photography. The title of this blog doesn't really fit with the direction I'm going in, as I hardly ever seem to blog about bikes or beer.Brianofthemarshhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12498508628148397419noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7159146989507655355.post-38137769824330706002015-02-23T20:46:00.000-08:002015-02-23T20:52:58.774-08:00Another snow day #SaveTurkeyMountain <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjay1KKCD4-4LxK7Vkx5VoqpRZ8hl8EceX3zZtb2r7OUpAZZD_jIW03Sg7PHqXS9J4mcZcwqNRjIaVHqU3Sue46uyYtIK4ceDOfOl4DyIzQbKYImEcajDXleY_qVqPw9bEWZx-muc2g6mCA/s1600/snow-1-4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjay1KKCD4-4LxK7Vkx5VoqpRZ8hl8EceX3zZtb2r7OUpAZZD_jIW03Sg7PHqXS9J4mcZcwqNRjIaVHqU3Sue46uyYtIK4ceDOfOl4DyIzQbKYImEcajDXleY_qVqPw9bEWZx-muc2g6mCA/s1600/snow-1-4.jpg" height="480" width="640" /></a></div>
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<br />Brianofthemarshhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12498508628148397419noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7159146989507655355.post-3745862660926864072015-02-17T13:26:00.002-08:002015-02-23T20:46:38.642-08:00Pipe dreams #SaveTurkeyMountain<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
I usually start out my runs with a problem to solve: how to be better at my job, what Paul really meant in Romans 8, how I'm going to train for an upcoming race, etc. But the mountain has a way of draining our minds of the concerns we bring with us. Within minutes on the trail, I've lost my train of thought and the day dreaming begins.</div>
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Turkey Mountain is a place where the imagination can run wild. Some dreams are more fanciful than others, but I've learned to just roll with it.</div>
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I might imagine what this same view was like fifty or a hundred years ago. Did the murderer of <a href="http://www.wildlifedepartment.com/laws_regs/memorial.htm">Charles W. Este</a>s stand at this very spot before he returned to his hideout, contemplating his next move?<br />
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After following these tracks for awhile, I imagine a young couple on fatbikes led by a golden retriever. As most Tulsan's take shelter from the cold and ice, these recent transplants from Minnesota revel in conditions that they (and the bikes) were bred for.<br />
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A mysterious pipe sticking out of a hillside? Crazy Tom lives down there. Maybe he's a Gulf War veteran that has sworn off the ways of civilization. Tom reads Shakespeare by the stove in his underground bunker and comes out at night to hunt possum and squirrel. He could tell you some stories..if you ever managed to locate the hidden entrance.<br />
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Inevitably, I try to imagine what it would be like if the people of Tulsa recognized the treasure that is Turkey Mountain. What if we did everything we could to preserve the place as a sanctuary where all generations could come to find rest, refreshment, and a little day dreaming?</div>
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Brianofthemarshhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12498508628148397419noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7159146989507655355.post-37971182314353574332015-01-28T19:59:00.001-08:002015-01-28T20:00:49.735-08:00A dead riverThe Arkansas River isn't much of a river this time of year. Last Wednesday was the worst I've seen it; scattered puddles with no discernible movement at all. It's eerie to walk out on the flat rocks that form the river's bed, the same bed I've seen carry over 50,000 cubic feet if water per second, and not hear the slightest trickle. <div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtTpf5hHIOxYIw8LBP50V1aFWEDM44S6KuO7-kQLdW0Kg_PGBT9D_kpekBrTb-lSXYRXr881IKypLTqAfLZFOWtn0myDxLXF8bmsgbtau3pLKIuWRx9sJ6TJEEzJEM9SN7fJxIed366dYm/s640/blogger-image--341141048.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtTpf5hHIOxYIw8LBP50V1aFWEDM44S6KuO7-kQLdW0Kg_PGBT9D_kpekBrTb-lSXYRXr881IKypLTqAfLZFOWtn0myDxLXF8bmsgbtau3pLKIuWRx9sJ6TJEEzJEM9SN7fJxIed366dYm/s640/blogger-image--341141048.jpg"></a></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">By yesterday, running water had returned. Both pics were taken from the bottom of the access ramp by the pedestrian bridge.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEM8RUXkTPuOWLex37xD9LLogrrjLnlO-xwy7DVu7uOZNFSCyJbEUcXXWVpjyd5Gc1qVBjCW8jVc2cjXihn-adhE7C4V0L-3I8Ry7halgk7Te-zh-TYnvxjtp-vk8ZvHyhuF72EaS13z88/s640/blogger-image--466866872.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEM8RUXkTPuOWLex37xD9LLogrrjLnlO-xwy7DVu7uOZNFSCyJbEUcXXWVpjyd5Gc1qVBjCW8jVc2cjXihn-adhE7C4V0L-3I8Ry7halgk7Te-zh-TYnvxjtp-vk8ZvHyhuF72EaS13z88/s640/blogger-image--466866872.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;"><br></span></div><div><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;"><br></span></div>Brianofthemarshhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12498508628148397419noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7159146989507655355.post-6362112951834636962015-01-14T20:23:00.000-08:002015-01-14T20:23:29.065-08:00Tuesday morning run<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
I braved the cold and wind to greet the sun, a rare sight in this gray winter.</div>
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<br />Brianofthemarshhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12498508628148397419noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7159146989507655355.post-68603668793397547482015-01-10T14:26:00.004-08:002015-01-10T14:26:53.016-08:00Redbud Valley Nature PreserveA work errand brought me to Northeast Tulsa last week, and used it as an excuse to visit the Redbud Valley Nature Preserve in Catoosa. A stopped train just South of the preserve sent me on a long detour through narrow winding roads more reminiscent of West Virginia than the greater Tulsa area. I finally arrived at the parking area with about 45 minutes until closing time.<br />
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I can't believe it took me four years to get there. The place is a little gem, snuggled between a local creek and some bluffs. I followed the trail that skirts the limestone bluffs, sometimes passing underneath sizable overhangs. There are even a few caves, but they have the deeper ones blocked off with bars. I hope to return for a longer visit soon.<br />
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Pics taken with my Canon S100.<br />
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<br />Brianofthemarshhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12498508628148397419noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7159146989507655355.post-44808306503564355422014-12-27T09:35:00.001-08:002014-12-27T09:40:45.298-08:00A Dark dayI got a mild case of runners knee "Half and Half" half marathon a couple of weeks back, so I've scaled back on running a bit. After running hard and fast for the first 10 miles and feeling great for a strong finish, the pain seemed to appear out of nowhere. It was only possible to ignore for a few hundred yards, and from thence on I was reduced to walk/shuffle intervals. I finished with 2:22 on the clock, which I suppose wasn't so bad given the circumstances. Frustrating, but humbling. I think my body was protesting a lack of proper training, for the knee pain seems to have gone as quickly as it came. <span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;"> Everything was fine on a five mile run around Turkey yesterday.</span><div><div><br></div><div>We've had more cloud cover than usual for this time of year. Dark skies don't usually lend themselves to great outdoor photography, but dreary and ominous can have its own beauty, especially at the pond with the lone tree.</div></div><div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhthr1DNKwb7Cfe9VGx6KDDCSntPvRjWGZiKIOjsVsx6fRkaCdI9hGdEr6ih_uFVyHV8nw8LlRDAaijMshaL1okZlb8rB6oqzH-9WS5LNGorBaWBuYBOMe9jEuRar7uceOKY6QS1OMmKlv0/s640/blogger-image-896916549.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhthr1DNKwb7Cfe9VGx6KDDCSntPvRjWGZiKIOjsVsx6fRkaCdI9hGdEr6ih_uFVyHV8nw8LlRDAaijMshaL1okZlb8rB6oqzH-9WS5LNGorBaWBuYBOMe9jEuRar7uceOKY6QS1OMmKlv0/s640/blogger-image-896916549.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFz2hVNZhH1xpxs-t9GI0G0KIyAQ5ascwTLoocbHKMuOBNqO9prQgH08l9Jn2x3J9XxGsgQ1eK5l9nHkjTWd2VvO6DdTQoNStvxFenuzgBnZNb2QGsCA_rH_rPO-Hwog5HJVeBSNrZSjL4/s640/blogger-image--130476075.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFz2hVNZhH1xpxs-t9GI0G0KIyAQ5ascwTLoocbHKMuOBNqO9prQgH08l9Jn2x3J9XxGsgQ1eK5l9nHkjTWd2VvO6DdTQoNStvxFenuzgBnZNb2QGsCA_rH_rPO-Hwog5HJVeBSNrZSjL4/s640/blogger-image--130476075.jpg"></a></div><br></div><br></div>Brianofthemarshhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12498508628148397419noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7159146989507655355.post-57275189109818785862014-12-10T20:05:00.000-08:002014-12-10T20:05:00.134-08:00It's not a no man's landA few posts ago, I declared the sand bar that extends South from the I-44 bridge a "no man's land." Well I was wrong. On Tuesday evening I ran out here with hope of capturing some nice sunset pics with the bridge as a backdrop. I quickly noticed that a tarp tent had been erected a few hundred yards South of the bridge, on the leeward side of a sand dune. As I walked down to the river, someone emerged from the shelter and appeared to be studying my movements.<br />
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After some hesitation, I opted not to turn around. He was obviously down on his luck, and felt that he had no other place to stay. Perhaps he was worried that I was there to shoo him away. After a few minutes of watching me poke around in the brush for photographs, he went back into his tent.<br />
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The sunset didn't amount to much, but I still managed to get some fun shots with my S-100.<br />
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<br />Brianofthemarshhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12498508628148397419noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7159146989507655355.post-63170959877131183912014-12-08T15:03:00.000-08:002015-02-23T20:45:49.750-08:00#SaveTurkeyMountain For those of you who do not live in Tulsa, an Outlet Mall has been <a href="http://www.tulsaworld.com/news/local/company-unveils-new-details-for-outlet-mall-near-turkey-mountain/article_62a0db65-09ce-5122-abe7-603a9029c24b.html">proposed</a> for development on the West side of Turkey Mountain.<br />
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I struggled with how to address this issue on the blog. I could write a long and detailed post about how the proposed development will harm the adjacent wilderness area, but <a href="http://proactiveoutside.wordpress.com/2014/12/05/turkey-mountain-update-mall-developer-unveils-it-plans-and-what-you-can-do-about-it/">others</a> <a href="http://trailzombie100.blogspot.com/2014/09/i-would-probably-be-nauseated-starting.html">have</a> been <a href="http://trailzombie100.blogspot.com/2014/09/some-pictures-of-turkey-mountain-other.html">much more</a> <a href="http://www.turkeymtn.com/city-of-tulsa-over-half-of-turkey-mountain-potentially-open-for-business-development/">eloquent</a> about this than I could ever be.<br />
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Instead, I hope to have a series of posts that will attempt to show, in bits and pieces, and from the ground level, the beauty and mystery that is Turkey Mountain.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">"Lynx Falls", taken in the Spring of 2012</td></tr>
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<br />Brianofthemarshhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12498508628148397419noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7159146989507655355.post-90729150930095500212014-12-05T08:36:00.000-08:002014-12-19T12:05:00.371-08:00Into the fog<div>
Go out in the fog.<br>
Watch the primordial void<br>
give birth to our world.<br>
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Brianofthemarshhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12498508628148397419noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7159146989507655355.post-4241605072944572862014-12-03T11:00:00.001-08:002014-12-03T11:01:21.287-08:00Ramping it upI put in about 30 miles over the break (Wednesday to Sunday) and still feel awesome. The <a href="http://www.runnersworldtulsa.com/halfnhalf_index.html">Half and Half</a> is on the 14th and I just might give it a go.<br />
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From my run this morning. Pics taken on my iPhone.</div>
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Brianofthemarshhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12498508628148397419noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7159146989507655355.post-61436096594716184212014-12-01T09:38:00.002-08:002014-12-03T11:08:28.601-08:00Exploring the Arkansas shorelineOn Wednesday I ran South along Riverside again, this time leaving the trail under the I-44 bridge. There is a huge sandbar South of the bridge that has great views of Turkey Mountain, and lots of cool flotsam strewn about, so I thought I would follow the shoreline as far South as it would let me.<br />
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Disciplined runners would not do this. Running through brush and on sand is not conducive to keeping a good pace. In fact, it was a very soft sand, so I walked the whole thing.<br />
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And that's OK. These days I'm running for the love outdoors and the adventure of exploring places both new and familiar. Pace is a low priority.</div>
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I followed the bar for a few hundred yards until brush made the way impassible, cut across the dune and came back to the Riverside trail just North of where I explored on the previous day. </div>
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A cool little no man's land this is, between the bank and the river. I can't wait to go back and explore the treasures that have washed up over the years. Here are some shots of Turkey that I took with my I-phone:</div>
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Brianofthemarshhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12498508628148397419noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7159146989507655355.post-38134581436377191232014-11-25T13:49:00.003-08:002014-12-01T09:36:29.710-08:00Down in the ditch<br />
This morning I ran South along Riverside to the outdoor gym around 53rd street. On a whim, I scrambled down the steep bank to a ditch that runs parallel to the river. It runs between the bank and a large scrub covered dune, collecting water from concrete pipes that drain the neighborhoods just East of Riverside. The place is quite beautiful if you ignore all the trash that has been deposited from the heavy rains. Riverside is just a few hundred feet away, but this place feels remote.<br />
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Here is an example of one of the flood control outlets.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSmw_kHr8MN31eduOhh7oUonZ-bQoDhm7JWv9r-3AySBpAFPBGVZj4d8bXh9ar67jn7QC4bYR9cMgNE7ONquTDfO25CvRPcT6bwTymg3So0DsBKm5EAe4CVM-K2tnruPCx7RVkH-eBKnUc/s1600/photo+1+(2).JPG"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSmw_kHr8MN31eduOhh7oUonZ-bQoDhm7JWv9r-3AySBpAFPBGVZj4d8bXh9ar67jn7QC4bYR9cMgNE7ONquTDfO25CvRPcT6bwTymg3So0DsBKm5EAe4CVM-K2tnruPCx7RVkH-eBKnUc/s1600/photo+1+(2).JPG&container=blogger&gadget=a&rewriteMime=image%2F*" width="299" /></a><br />
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The bank has slowly eroded around this structure so they've had to reinforce it with some pilings. The pilings themselves are decaying, so this may be gone in the next flood.<br />
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If you follow the ditch South, a nice view of Turkey opens up. I'd like to come back here with my DSLR sometime.</div>
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<img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDpzqvHED7g98MSMd-kj1t868x13c3zimKzC5hFAsbTGCVX7WObHYpjUtrSsydVou6MdKis4aefoac6c_h1F27-NkfXo4q1abaI9UBbkz_ODbE8yFaXOfeEIkRXm6wOJT9xayeR9UUqIG1/s1600/photo+2+(3).JPG&container=blogger&gadget=a&rewriteMime=image%2F*" width="300" /><br />
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I ran the new trails on the South side if 61st on Sunday. Like the Hi-chi, these trails are pristine single track, a real pleasure to run. I've been told that is belongs to a private land owner who's cool with bikers and runners using his land. If you look carefully, there are all kind of cool artifacts strewn about the property.</div>
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All pics taken with my iphone.</div>
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Brianofthemarshhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12498508628148397419noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7159146989507655355.post-41542633511020970822014-11-23T21:00:00.005-08:002014-11-23T21:04:27.297-08:00Old trees and a mysteryI had a few events to work at this weekend, so I left work early on Friday and drove out to Turkey for a short afternoon run. It was around 70 degrees and overcast, only a few days after our "polar vortex."<br />
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I took the Hi Chi trail Northbound, my favorite on the river side of the mountain. The trail is actual singletrack. It's used far less and is designed much better than the other trails that hug the Eastern side of Turkey Mountain. <br />
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There are some ancient trees on Turkey, particularly in the areas where it has been too steep for early settlers to harvest. This is an example of one of them. If I had to guess, I'd say this old sentinel was around before Tulsa was settled by the Creek tribe. Old trees around here are not necessarily the tallest. Rather, they are distinguished by their twisted and knotty trunks. Their battle scars bear witness to the endurance of life in an environment of extremes.<br />
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<tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeLJlQQk-hprP24eT5KT0b2et8fQw0T9BdaYso1xNrIjmq86_JGISHtnjOOmdvLNAb7ieUM-YR8PASdE7aaqKSJ6YF7up-UMTYlFGKJ7jz5dI51cY8LQkPhodTywxw6oIxAYn8Ga6YJha2/s640/blogger-image-1839797798.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeLJlQQk-hprP24eT5KT0b2et8fQw0T9BdaYso1xNrIjmq86_JGISHtnjOOmdvLNAb7ieUM-YR8PASdE7aaqKSJ6YF7up-UMTYlFGKJ7jz5dI51cY8LQkPhodTywxw6oIxAYn8Ga6YJha2/s640/blogger-image-1839797798.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13px;"><span style="font-size: x-small; text-align: start;">all pics taken on my iphone</span></td></tr>
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There is still some color to be found on the trails.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYR8OCYyXqWETPS9bSthiPNFGigN8jX8KfO4dfkZP9dDteEGnAPCu0_yCstUio_fp2BmFoWHXubqt0DP6ZZ8TtUNG_ceqhVQ4LdMzJLxei7c5Iq9u4s2nZOkEEAxJBNCHlG1DNK5edcOu9/s640/blogger-image--118597229.jpg"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYR8OCYyXqWETPS9bSthiPNFGigN8jX8KfO4dfkZP9dDteEGnAPCu0_yCstUio_fp2BmFoWHXubqt0DP6ZZ8TtUNG_ceqhVQ4LdMzJLxei7c5Iq9u4s2nZOkEEAxJBNCHlG1DNK5edcOu9/s640/blogger-image--118597229.jpg" /></a><br />
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A strange billed creature emerges from the oak. A platypus, perhaps?<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFLtQuTgGciqsrAZaOc772uJ6bliP551hXyfQ7mlzStqLpCYS8aTlF7-fakmKC6RM6EX2pqgTEbLdmCrGlm7kbPsmmqEYuZMdceV7-1IpRBvzE-WGST_hwHDKWk_A-n6ayV2hUfvfCuK7r/s640/blogger-image-964546799.jpg"><br /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFLtQuTgGciqsrAZaOc772uJ6bliP551hXyfQ7mlzStqLpCYS8aTlF7-fakmKC6RM6EX2pqgTEbLdmCrGlm7kbPsmmqEYuZMdceV7-1IpRBvzE-WGST_hwHDKWk_A-n6ayV2hUfvfCuK7r/s640/blogger-image-964546799.jpg"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFLtQuTgGciqsrAZaOc772uJ6bliP551hXyfQ7mlzStqLpCYS8aTlF7-fakmKC6RM6EX2pqgTEbLdmCrGlm7kbPsmmqEYuZMdceV7-1IpRBvzE-WGST_hwHDKWk_A-n6ayV2hUfvfCuK7r/s1600/blogger-image-964546799.jpg"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFLtQuTgGciqsrAZaOc772uJ6bliP551hXyfQ7mlzStqLpCYS8aTlF7-fakmKC6RM6EX2pqgTEbLdmCrGlm7kbPsmmqEYuZMdceV7-1IpRBvzE-WGST_hwHDKWk_A-n6ayV2hUfvfCuK7r/s1600/blogger-image-964546799.jpg"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFLtQuTgGciqsrAZaOc772uJ6bliP551hXyfQ7mlzStqLpCYS8aTlF7-fakmKC6RM6EX2pqgTEbLdmCrGlm7kbPsmmqEYuZMdceV7-1IpRBvzE-WGST_hwHDKWk_A-n6ayV2hUfvfCuK7r/s640/blogger-image-964546799.jpg" /></a><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBfQV-Cshh6_sefd6ujV0SUm_nlnXyrofjfi6aFwRUsCjJWzhOTwLXfSit4SvgGF33KgkB5GCXQpbY_o2gPpgtSJcX8ZGVZaqhDXyU85JkrJd9R67yfgfBgO_UJrJguK18_pipvKXC8CyU/s1600/blogger-image-424720988.jpg"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBfQV-Cshh6_sefd6ujV0SUm_nlnXyrofjfi6aFwRUsCjJWzhOTwLXfSit4SvgGF33KgkB5GCXQpbY_o2gPpgtSJcX8ZGVZaqhDXyU85JkrJd9R67yfgfBgO_UJrJguK18_pipvKXC8CyU/s640/blogger-image-424720988.jpg" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFLtQuTgGciqsrAZaOc772uJ6bliP551hXyfQ7mlzStqLpCYS8aTlF7-fakmKC6RM6EX2pqgTEbLdmCrGlm7kbPsmmqEYuZMdceV7-1IpRBvzE-WGST_hwHDKWk_A-n6ayV2hUfvfCuK7r/s640/blogger-image-964546799.jpg"><br /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFLtQuTgGciqsrAZaOc772uJ6bliP551hXyfQ7mlzStqLpCYS8aTlF7-fakmKC6RM6EX2pqgTEbLdmCrGlm7kbPsmmqEYuZMdceV7-1IpRBvzE-WGST_hwHDKWk_A-n6ayV2hUfvfCuK7r/s640/blogger-image-964546799.jpg"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFLtQuTgGciqsrAZaOc772uJ6bliP551hXyfQ7mlzStqLpCYS8aTlF7-fakmKC6RM6EX2pqgTEbLdmCrGlm7kbPsmmqEYuZMdceV7-1IpRBvzE-WGST_hwHDKWk_A-n6ayV2hUfvfCuK7r/s640/blogger-image-964546799.jpg"><br /></a><br />
I returned on the far Western end of the wilderness area. This is a crossing of a creek bed that remains dry for most of the year. I dream of wading through a knee-deep torrent rushing over these rocks. Someday, I will live that dream.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifPUMS-mHFG2kiN1JxBOHaN8XQ4Agsl-YDveQ5TmCHytrzbgeiA4H63dVlPwz2cgm5JjiSmWPvrXvqxu2vRCggkeFHF9o4UAgnwdkNjqZFdtj9vPhHJw2QuKwLi13xhIAR0IkowYbI-Hue/s640/blogger-image-162989775.jpg"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifPUMS-mHFG2kiN1JxBOHaN8XQ4Agsl-YDveQ5TmCHytrzbgeiA4H63dVlPwz2cgm5JjiSmWPvrXvqxu2vRCggkeFHF9o4UAgnwdkNjqZFdtj9vPhHJw2QuKwLi13xhIAR0IkowYbI-Hue/s640/blogger-image-162989775.jpg" /></a><br />
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<br />
And then I found this. Woodchips on the pipeline trail. It looks like they did some tree clearing here, but for what purpose? I guess this is on the Simon property, but I can't image why they would clear trees here, so far away from the road and so far below the ground that was cleared last year.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHoVN_hAQDWcwFsP6eLqI_KLPSRt8zly0eATqO1XzKx9DIYx_MVjHASZlO6k1sGGqjboboRh8D71XV5i0Qq-UWgldM_QFZ2W8-bafp9Tsm8xucJo4z2XuJazZgtvhzRNu7DSu7kiS4Pet0/s640/blogger-image--712752337.jpg"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHoVN_hAQDWcwFsP6eLqI_KLPSRt8zly0eATqO1XzKx9DIYx_MVjHASZlO6k1sGGqjboboRh8D71XV5i0Qq-UWgldM_QFZ2W8-bafp9Tsm8xucJo4z2XuJazZgtvhzRNu7DSu7kiS4Pet0/s640/blogger-image--712752337.jpg" /></a><br />
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<br />
The Pipeline trail up to 61st was flattened and widened by obvious tractor traffic. The actual site of the proposed outlet Mall is up the hill on the right and the wood-chipped area is behind me. Hmmm...<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLGXMcGBuWd5Bf2rWpNxMi0P16pl5jUYGkuluK4rYOhgvbxb5UKlpy1eAGx7R0mSo_iGIzjLEc-mt3GBn_Njw1OSIGPeudVKB4qtRmFByk2qR9dYHOuGQENDP_wOH8Lou3wPDN98m7BC91/s640/blogger-image-195017428.jpg"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLGXMcGBuWd5Bf2rWpNxMi0P16pl5jUYGkuluK4rYOhgvbxb5UKlpy1eAGx7R0mSo_iGIzjLEc-mt3GBn_Njw1OSIGPeudVKB4qtRmFByk2qR9dYHOuGQENDP_wOH8Lou3wPDN98m7BC91/s640/blogger-image-195017428.jpg" /></a><br />
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They don't have permission to build yet, so what is going on? Just routine property maintenance? A mystery to be pondered.Brianofthemarshhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12498508628148397419noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7159146989507655355.post-5576475391348127332014-11-22T14:00:00.003-08:002014-11-22T15:06:41.785-08:00A change in the lightWe are approaching the end of the year, and in most places the
running season is winding down (or finished). Many runners take the
Holidays off to rest and recover, but for me, it's a completely different story.
Late Fall is the time when I invariably recover my love of running.
After burning out in the heat of our Midwestern
summers, the cooler air easier is to breathe, the woods are more
inviting, and the Holidays come with more free time.<br />
<br />
But I
think the single greatest reason for my annual recovery is the light. With the autumnal equinox, the sunlight changes from an
oppressive overlord to gentle companion. The angled light in the winter
leaves room for darkness and subtlety, and the beauty of all things
becomes more apparent.<br />
<br />
This summer, while mild by
Oklahoma standards, was the worst mentally for my running. At some point
in August, the issue was no longer simply training in the heat. I wasn't able envision myself at the starting line of the
Fall races that I had considered earlier in the year. So I stopped
preparing, and ran only when I felt like it. In August and September,
that was not often. <br />
<br />
In October I was running a bit
more, and went on a backpacking trip down in the Ouachita Mountains, so I
felt conditioned enough to run the Turkey and Taturs 10k on Nov. 2nd. I
did better than expected, finishing just under an hour. It was a fun race; I
finished third and had to work hard to keep the fourth finisher at bay.<br />
<br />
All this to say my mojo is back, and I hope to post here more often with tales adventures in the wild<br />
places.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCyOtMQODfgbVWHkLdooulyjeY73P0jNo0cTrIJldJ0R08zdNvG56AOi6LiYIplWLZ2nM3Ki-6mhhiDDsOPPw7iRPtd7qdfGOKZk3u9XhrV0LW0i3ny-g_kLuUvRmsYAchtfmuFKB5Qn3h/s1600/IMG_1355.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCyOtMQODfgbVWHkLdooulyjeY73P0jNo0cTrIJldJ0R08zdNvG56AOi6LiYIplWLZ2nM3Ki-6mhhiDDsOPPw7iRPtd7qdfGOKZk3u9XhrV0LW0i3ny-g_kLuUvRmsYAchtfmuFKB5Qn3h/s1600/IMG_1355.jpg" height="356" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Ouachita Mountains in October. Taken with my Canon S100.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<br />Brianofthemarshhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12498508628148397419noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7159146989507655355.post-49694477014007040792014-11-09T18:56:00.001-08:002014-11-09T19:26:26.517-08:00Autumn color on Turkey MountainWith the warm and dry Fall we've had, the native Oaks, Maples and Cottonwoods have shed their green later than usual. I don't think it's quite "peak" yet, but the colors are beautiful. This morning the woods were lit with a golden light, filtered down through the yellow, orange and red leaves. You don't need any self motivation to keep moving on these kinds of days.<div><br></div><div>All pics taken on my iphone. <br><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1JymGcteBtRYyi7lNEfGdulGxoy8SLsodC3GhtCWUFSaBzHE-ZgmsZhtdevMRnmO3OfmwulbK31l6E_Mo46lkVYQ-orfHgfuqqwOpRWO6oybUjVYKO3FJn0j0tOgrXaesowR41skbiRGy/s640/blogger-image-570516285.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1JymGcteBtRYyi7lNEfGdulGxoy8SLsodC3GhtCWUFSaBzHE-ZgmsZhtdevMRnmO3OfmwulbK31l6E_Mo46lkVYQ-orfHgfuqqwOpRWO6oybUjVYKO3FJn0j0tOgrXaesowR41skbiRGy/s640/blogger-image-570516285.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4IE_Qw1y57tHf2FYMynEBW4bF01DWxREgwKin8loPR6n69U96pGRdxGiDcVZlUVNn_yn9CPo_Kg1eJgn-Bk2uNHq0F04CUlkYrouIz7jq69Q0ONeNT6HIhXZqHDn0IIcD6Eosw-JqGUpL/s640/blogger-image--789398696.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4IE_Qw1y57tHf2FYMynEBW4bF01DWxREgwKin8loPR6n69U96pGRdxGiDcVZlUVNn_yn9CPo_Kg1eJgn-Bk2uNHq0F04CUlkYrouIz7jq69Q0ONeNT6HIhXZqHDn0IIcD6Eosw-JqGUpL/s640/blogger-image--789398696.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXsDvkB8kbU892aMN_BU5lmK4xgA7BZFoJ9OJXILeseriSJzOkUbbSp6nDU6eWo9Zuyk12S3ZXA-cS5mW3VkTghXkUV-ogVDijdbG0otMTO_HDCn3tvoebSs4T4A9KdyT7C77MAmGxExY_/s640/blogger-image-1137674547.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXsDvkB8kbU892aMN_BU5lmK4xgA7BZFoJ9OJXILeseriSJzOkUbbSp6nDU6eWo9Zuyk12S3ZXA-cS5mW3VkTghXkUV-ogVDijdbG0otMTO_HDCn3tvoebSs4T4A9KdyT7C77MAmGxExY_/s640/blogger-image-1137674547.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1kvkMioRhQnPSBqvbjkZyQbc0OipZvxXnWiaCoiuwdggHpy8AAZfmEYjMLKzk2TzPwrzo4sUXxRIzVNJbP1B9rKgPR3LXaU6ya4LQKcbUE1oa-tRWxsNmPwLZxo8WoVZo-aeoJA8_LDKZ/s640/blogger-image-1130794335.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1kvkMioRhQnPSBqvbjkZyQbc0OipZvxXnWiaCoiuwdggHpy8AAZfmEYjMLKzk2TzPwrzo4sUXxRIzVNJbP1B9rKgPR3LXaU6ya4LQKcbUE1oa-tRWxsNmPwLZxo8WoVZo-aeoJA8_LDKZ/s640/blogger-image-1130794335.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMI1ey16eNV26QHBJbzpW8AA_8Div3oyJbgAKEuoNDD6-I5LKAs97280QntaqaJae9Qpx79DOBeY0Q4MqxTxslYNgCTBCphGRKhkI0Hi-CqT2DfhT5R02pmJMRJXgLvF1WXjZ97_gEDteb/s640/blogger-image--1595528659.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMI1ey16eNV26QHBJbzpW8AA_8Div3oyJbgAKEuoNDD6-I5LKAs97280QntaqaJae9Qpx79DOBeY0Q4MqxTxslYNgCTBCphGRKhkI0Hi-CqT2DfhT5R02pmJMRJXgLvF1WXjZ97_gEDteb/s640/blogger-image--1595528659.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYvWkt_miLGjw0QFNakz_dayvXpohHBmHs5DUnIZNKRDuBZDWWyDibvuN-brULu0_Pl3WeCqoRicqfIMyywc5-IKe61bIBQlNoKEsP3g_IGYBAtci7P5m9PzBWlx0QL9JVTa8uzgBh4jFl/s640/blogger-image-119612764.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYvWkt_miLGjw0QFNakz_dayvXpohHBmHs5DUnIZNKRDuBZDWWyDibvuN-brULu0_Pl3WeCqoRicqfIMyywc5-IKe61bIBQlNoKEsP3g_IGYBAtci7P5m9PzBWlx0QL9JVTa8uzgBh4jFl/s640/blogger-image-119612764.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi63ZpfFxjE2NiYimsYmmQUG4My_Rd98rl5Rwxr2yRfWCjAoH5fITXe4XOOGfklZ13WbdAcMUkBaiVXq1y7w1aaDxUyybYJwPgwywCPcxPbkeEWoV5s8ldAWe91IdYCDW27ZVS_2Iw8KXV0/s640/blogger-image-1072140844.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi63ZpfFxjE2NiYimsYmmQUG4My_Rd98rl5Rwxr2yRfWCjAoH5fITXe4XOOGfklZ13WbdAcMUkBaiVXq1y7w1aaDxUyybYJwPgwywCPcxPbkeEWoV5s8ldAWe91IdYCDW27ZVS_2Iw8KXV0/s640/blogger-image-1072140844.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div><br></div></div>Brianofthemarshhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12498508628148397419noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7159146989507655355.post-59088970372830455652014-07-17T12:56:00.000-07:002014-07-17T12:56:16.838-07:00Surrounded by mountains<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">"As mountains surround Jerusalem, the Lord surrounds his people both now and forever." - Psalm 125: 2</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">From a run along Bear Creek in Lakewood, Colorado.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Signs of Fidelity, A <a href="http://www.everythingesteban.com/2014/07/01/catholic-photo-challenge-4-sign-of-fidelity/#more-3797">Catholic Photo Challenge</a>.</span></div>
Brianofthemarshhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12498508628148397419noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7159146989507655355.post-65803942923081274482014-07-16T12:20:00.000-07:002014-07-16T12:43:49.881-07:00Chicago Lakes Trail to Mt. Spaulding<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<span style="font-size: large;">On early Saturday morning, June 28th, I left the suburbs of Denver and drove West to Echo Lake. Echo Lake is near Idaho Springs, on the road up Mt. Evans. My plan was to "run" up the Chicago Lakes trail to Summit Lake at 12,830 feet and turn back.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">The forecast was for clear skies all day, but, in typical mountain fashion, it was actually snowing (lightly) when I reached the trailhead at 5 a.m. The clouds soon blew off though, and the rising sun set the sky on fire.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXivb2d9j8WEl8XcZkzakw0gi-80HWgBJVLWDZFwKBadW6CvokW2bSZWYRybTbvTxcPaAGY8PyMFC-dVbAWBAlQVvGsgzVfcLgRT8Qm83ByocZPKLmYmZzVpBI-NWlx2VbCQ7WE3Jlflmy/s640/blogger-image--912653101.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXivb2d9j8WEl8XcZkzakw0gi-80HWgBJVLWDZFwKBadW6CvokW2bSZWYRybTbvTxcPaAGY8PyMFC-dVbAWBAlQVvGsgzVfcLgRT8Qm83ByocZPKLmYmZzVpBI-NWlx2VbCQ7WE3Jlflmy/s640/blogger-image--912653101.jpg" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">I soon reached what I thought was the first Chicago Lake but found out later to be the Idaho Springs Reservoir. My camera's battery died around here so all of these photos are from the i-phone.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8ZyhabUO3isQAwinLguSxwELfPUVWrWNj-GCHR50m-aDtiYhDWV4xZga9HMkF7lI0ShVNw1buBCV-J5T4monsotzDwn49VtY8xUkLdzIr0DkdUYSXCLiJEH-Lo0oIi0pm3Vn5a-YnYrE2/s640/blogger-image--942255860.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8ZyhabUO3isQAwinLguSxwELfPUVWrWNj-GCHR50m-aDtiYhDWV4xZga9HMkF7lI0ShVNw1buBCV-J5T4monsotzDwn49VtY8xUkLdzIr0DkdUYSXCLiJEH-Lo0oIi0pm3Vn5a-YnYrE2/s640/blogger-image--942255860.jpg" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">The trail ascended mostly at what trail runners call "douche grade", runnable grade for those well adapted to the altitude. I ran very little of it, saving energy for what I knew was going to be a grueling climb up the headwall of the valley.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">In this photo you can see two ridge lines. Mt Evans is in the background and the closer ridge is Mount Spaulding.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Looking back down on the lower Chicago Lake.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJFLLK328HVjrYEvjpk4N4ZgrTO5x1MhHcd7-Bp3VI3jZk_qMYFGGmvrMr3purUnxzcdCDbC5kxk37vo7STcAwtixh6PakLiyItXpk64YTvQFGNEJ_hN44nK4JkLSglUgbUlPbBhDLzNsT/s640/blogger-image--318587731.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJFLLK328HVjrYEvjpk4N4ZgrTO5x1MhHcd7-Bp3VI3jZk_qMYFGGmvrMr3purUnxzcdCDbC5kxk37vo7STcAwtixh6PakLiyItXpk64YTvQFGNEJ_hN44nK4JkLSglUgbUlPbBhDLzNsT/s640/blogger-image--318587731.jpg" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">It was at the second Chicago Lake that I began to be hounded by bitterly cold winds. I was wearing a cheap pair of thin fleece gloves, not very well suited to this kind of cold, but managed to keep my hands warm inside my jacket pockets.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9NhWlhge-AZ39_V518qdpVn0EnXapsYwdJHFS8nLT4iViZ4dhIi2cLXb4jNmh6G1adkx9TkvjFakfajOMpPE5AkcYADx0NfyE3ESh9CnEGLz91CmnwD4503OSGUW2FVG4-GDpVuiQXmdL/s640/blogger-image--2070927489.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9NhWlhge-AZ39_V518qdpVn0EnXapsYwdJHFS8nLT4iViZ4dhIi2cLXb4jNmh6G1adkx9TkvjFakfajOMpPE5AkcYADx0NfyE3ESh9CnEGLz91CmnwD4503OSGUW2FVG4-GDpVuiQXmdL/s640/blogger-image--2070927489.jpg" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">From the upper Chicago Lake, the trail ascended straight up the headwall up to Summit Lake at the base of Evans. A recent avalanche had obliterated part of the trail here and had me scrambling a bit.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUN8R12k0jiZRBZLCnUEgwWZ1P9GnfDYw27A5P1hlb0lzteNBb2h8z85RrPqpOW5Ty9teZ4qlU1QPnxcFrDVSwvUl_JafTgF3AbpLsji1B5a76gSIbMTNOczso_4HdhceRFzgTu-QNW6_K/s1600/Photo+(3).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUN8R12k0jiZRBZLCnUEgwWZ1P9GnfDYw27A5P1hlb0lzteNBb2h8z85RrPqpOW5Ty9teZ4qlU1QPnxcFrDVSwvUl_JafTgF3AbpLsji1B5a76gSIbMTNOczso_4HdhceRFzgTu-QNW6_K/s1600/Photo+(3).jpg" height="640" width="480" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">The photo below was taken at the top of that wall, close to summit Lake. This was where I had originally planned to turn around, but, despite the cold, I had that itch to keep going up. I mean, how often am I going have the chance to do something like this again? I wondered if I could make it up Mt. Evans and summit my first 14er. I spoke with a hiker who had come up the same route, familiar with the area. He advised that I hike up to Mt Spaulding (13,480 ft.) first. From there I could take the connecting ridge over to Evans, or simply turn around.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Looking back down from where I had come.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Another view looking down the Chicago Lakes basin. The trailhead is somewhere near the small mountain that rises above where the valley turns to the left. I had come about six miles at this point.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzRkLcWhPFoN8u2WahOEFLCWoONc2bYIxRAAMzrE3kgEYSE7GpLTA0XA91pMNsfuKqQkozxR3RV0_odW5tWgoy-pa-aohH0tPyY0hGdXdUPW6z_VCqceyAaoty3MAqImYQ_G0mtKQIKR9f/s640/blogger-image--840905051.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzRkLcWhPFoN8u2WahOEFLCWoONc2bYIxRAAMzrE3kgEYSE7GpLTA0XA91pMNsfuKqQkozxR3RV0_odW5tWgoy-pa-aohH0tPyY0hGdXdUPW6z_VCqceyAaoty3MAqImYQ_G0mtKQIKR9f/s640/blogger-image--840905051.jpg" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">The connecting ridge to Evans</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkpxfKf4rFICnRI8A1QFDfVZkgRX1_0c7O_AdLU1HGo-VWQm_zteTDXknPIJDvEqPLyJ7sOAGH1tWFh19F9rfXeLSg0_YJsUCQ9GFIaIwY-B2H-hz4S9JUY50o2tWhVXF7Md3kRE5H9dx1/s640/blogger-image--610942592.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkpxfKf4rFICnRI8A1QFDfVZkgRX1_0c7O_AdLU1HGo-VWQm_zteTDXknPIJDvEqPLyJ7sOAGH1tWFh19F9rfXeLSg0_YJsUCQ9GFIaIwY-B2H-hz4S9JUY50o2tWhVXF7Md3kRE5H9dx1/s640/blogger-image--610942592.jpg" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">The following pictures were taken just below the top of Spaulding, before my fingers stared to go numb from the cold. As much as I would have liked to hike the connecting ridge over to Evans peak, it was too cold to stay up there a minute longer without more adequate gear. One hiker commented on my wearing running shorts in such cold conditions, but the exposed legs were not a problem at all. A better pair of gloves hat was what I really needed to forge onward toward Mt. Evans.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXCbtwwSwxW9c7bXJ7gYHYzHbypxmx2lIkped8auj885gUfxWlCP5tlNq12y3iUnpvcjD4Yw9JOV9yNc5Xd-0E4LYrBivs1qGSl-E6KrHsX4p_s9YDI_P_s_FFMDAyXn0D7P2KtN0A1QzC/s640/blogger-image-7071820.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXCbtwwSwxW9c7bXJ7gYHYzHbypxmx2lIkped8auj885gUfxWlCP5tlNq12y3iUnpvcjD4Yw9JOV9yNc5Xd-0E4LYrBivs1qGSl-E6KrHsX4p_s9YDI_P_s_FFMDAyXn0D7P2KtN0A1QzC/s640/blogger-image-7071820.jpg" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">While I did very little actual running on the way up, it was a blast going back down. Much of the trail below the second Chicago Lake was runnable, and I returned in a third of the time that it took me to go out.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Words and pictures fail to illustrate the beauty of the Colorado high country. I'm still drawing inspiration from my memories of this adventure, and will be for some time.</span><br />
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Brianofthemarshhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12498508628148397419noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7159146989507655355.post-76307741453935517462014-07-02T11:53:00.001-07:002014-07-02T13:58:47.615-07:00The Mesa Trail<span style="font-size: large;">On Monday morning (the 23rd), I dove out to the South Mesa trailhead near Eldorado Springs. The Mesa Trail is a classic run that skirts the Flatirons all the way to Chautauchua park in Boulder. Unlike most trails in the area, it never climbs very high into the mountains. Don't let that fool you, though. This beast of a trail that crosses several creek drainages and mesas, reminding me a bit of the <a href="http://bikerunbeer.blogspot.com/2012/10/the-not-so-flatrock-25k-2012.html">Flatrock 25k</a>. Out and back, the official length is just about 13 miles, but I manged to do a little extra with a wrong turn on the return trip. I think it took me around 3.5 hours to complete this run.</span><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="line-height: 20.790000915527344px;"><br /></span></span></span>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9_xmAdwQmxlRog2Yr7aFzLbMqon5bzjNeCvX3fp9Rt77iKpmFDAUX0sZ5FXwcbUde1qTVo9-kNlOY2nx1YTujD8FFh-V4PYG4GDWFavyEX7rHF_7wZ2_eRFJ2vRCwk5nN1QI98UUYGb3o/s1600/IMG_1175.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9_xmAdwQmxlRog2Yr7aFzLbMqon5bzjNeCvX3fp9Rt77iKpmFDAUX0sZ5FXwcbUde1qTVo9-kNlOY2nx1YTujD8FFh-V4PYG4GDWFavyEX7rHF_7wZ2_eRFJ2vRCwk5nN1QI98UUYGb3o/s1600/IMG_1175.JPG" height="406" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Climbing South Mesa</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhho6onJRLHzJGwmaUfz1d3cZjRP2Jds-_pafyc7CB_fFZ1spxmWrOjqlctPkLyAkA6-bxEjX5o1YUzzXbZPe-NF4sbnAKnnoXnkzHwLs4RNxFMKiLRG_T6WlxGJhpDbmvrNJqdJtpqvjwv/s1600/IMG_1184.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhho6onJRLHzJGwmaUfz1d3cZjRP2Jds-_pafyc7CB_fFZ1spxmWrOjqlctPkLyAkA6-bxEjX5o1YUzzXbZPe-NF4sbnAKnnoXnkzHwLs4RNxFMKiLRG_T6WlxGJhpDbmvrNJqdJtpqvjwv/s1600/IMG_1184.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Also near the beginning, on the top of South Mesa looking North.</td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: large;">The highlight of the run had to be the aptly named Enchanted Mesa, close to the Northern end of the trail. Picture a gentle slope with towering Ponderosa pines and nothing but lush grass and flowers on the forest floor. Through the trees one can see the great plains stretching out for miles beyond the trees. Gigantic dandelion seed heads highlighted by the morning sun added to the dreamlike feel of the place. Unfortunately, I was getting anxious about returning to the car at a reasonable time and opted not to stop for photos.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">It was a good morning to be alive, breathing, and using my legs.</span>Brianofthemarshhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12498508628148397419noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7159146989507655355.post-85906063543469532302014-06-21T14:27:00.001-07:002014-06-21T14:40:56.697-07:00Run at Belmar Park, Lakewood<div>
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I went out for a short run this morning to adjust to the altitude. It sure is nice to be back in Colorado! Many adventures ahead!<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKzFGodprvGmeUylv1_aPaSU0p2cBWJhOhAEOyaqsou9OaWryldanDQwS2qr8pHdnxbvxRKHM4qGEtRPuvMf1loJkvV57uQfs5CvVr8SuYzCsYMc46ngdGmKdRrZ612GMLZ7tMKNq7GOUW/s640/blogger-image-1887440971.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKzFGodprvGmeUylv1_aPaSU0p2cBWJhOhAEOyaqsou9OaWryldanDQwS2qr8pHdnxbvxRKHM4qGEtRPuvMf1loJkvV57uQfs5CvVr8SuYzCsYMc46ngdGmKdRrZ612GMLZ7tMKNq7GOUW/s640/blogger-image-1887440971.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Photos taken from my iphone</td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMWvs_TlmVUzthgTL2bo47h118h-97zzWR6dRY5HnPtRXsZjSbgj23p8ephXvDaIS1xVz_4_0W3xEuE4idWJ-wXQmbkTaJD3RP7kUE_3roM_wnwvClPh27qJbyb4S-lDAm902u4EPncVAD/s640/blogger-image-739834446.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMWvs_TlmVUzthgTL2bo47h118h-97zzWR6dRY5HnPtRXsZjSbgj23p8ephXvDaIS1xVz_4_0W3xEuE4idWJ-wXQmbkTaJD3RP7kUE_3roM_wnwvClPh27qJbyb4S-lDAm902u4EPncVAD/s640/blogger-image-739834446.jpg" /></a></div>
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Brianofthemarshhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12498508628148397419noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7159146989507655355.post-90156276207806778202014-06-16T14:10:00.002-07:002014-06-16T14:13:36.595-07:00Lipbuster 2014<div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The elite race</td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: large;">I was up early on Sunday, riding my bike in the rain in order to run repeats on a muddy hill. I mean, can you think of a better way to kick off Father's day? The Lipbuster Challenge is simple: run up and down the trail that parallels Elwood Ave. as many times as you can in one hour. Its around of 140 feet of climb and descent in a half-mile lap. The weather did not cooperate this year; it rained enough in the early hours to make a muddy mess of things. The rain finished just before 8:15 elite race, but at that point the damage had been done; the clay dirt trails were as slick as a greased sumo wrestler. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">I ran the 9:30 heat,</span><span style="font-size: large;"> hoping to best my ten lap PR from <a href="http://bikerunbeer.blogspot.com/2013/06/lipbuster-challenge.html">last year</a>. It turns out there is a huge difference between ten and eleven laps in a race like this. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">I finished the tenth lap with about five minutes left on the clock. There was a good chance I could pull it off, but it would be close. Sure enough, reaching the bottom of the hill for the eleventh time, I see that there are twenty five seconds left to run several hundred more feet. Pretty soon the race director is shouting in the megaphone and people at the finish line are cheering me on and I'm sprinting for the finish. Alas, it was not meant to be. Five seconds short!</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">While the first ten laps were mostly a blur, I can still remember details from the last climb and descent. Details that could have made the difference of five seconds... maybe. Its funny how you second guess yourself when you come up just short of meeting a race goal. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Don't get me wrong though; it was thrilling to be that close. And I did improve my time from last year and got some conditioning in for our upcoming trip to Colorado.</span></div>
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Brianofthemarshhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12498508628148397419noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7159146989507655355.post-50292776732648878712014-06-14T20:36:00.002-07:002014-06-14T20:42:23.541-07:00Hike-a-bike<span style="font-size: large;">This morning I was defeated by the trails I've been running for years. Turkey Mountain is a different world on a mountain bike.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">I recently found a 2008 Marin East Peak on Craig's List for a price well below the blue book value. Overall, its in very good condition, although I think the derailleurs and breaks need some adjusting. The original plan was to find a hardtail 29er, but this deal was too good to pass up. As it turns out, I really need the dual suspension on the trails around here.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">It turns out that mountain biking is harder than trail running. I spent most of my time on Turkey this morning walking this heavy bike through the steeper sections. My legs are strong, but I have absolutely no control on these rock infested trails. And where did all these rocks and roots come from, anyway? I sure haven't noticed them on my runs. Anything remotely technical on a downhill is as scary as my first ride on the big kids roller coaster. There's a steep learning curve here, which is both frustrating and exciting.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjD5GJw2uU8KJODQ687i00XkMwpsHdrSXv7HOtSGdAf4_yDy9BzI194jdoXGa2LSSJcYvzqqWZDHJhFVjx1y0qeLncw7tlFrF_q_Abu0CIAl6vubFGKgxjWWbHoMfy_Xgt8LBoZus7GA5zE/s1600/bike.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjD5GJw2uU8KJODQ687i00XkMwpsHdrSXv7HOtSGdAf4_yDy9BzI194jdoXGa2LSSJcYvzqqWZDHJhFVjx1y0qeLncw7tlFrF_q_Abu0CIAl6vubFGKgxjWWbHoMfy_Xgt8LBoZus7GA5zE/s1600/bike.jpg" height="400" width="298" /></a></div>
<br />Brianofthemarshhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12498508628148397419noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7159146989507655355.post-60179808126524181152014-06-13T14:05:00.001-07:002014-06-13T14:14:51.009-07:00Light and dark<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCkkb082VUjLK2xtiTdyl8jWMExorCwdIKiZDfbkFx0SXU621jzI6KZhd_eimx_Bkl4ILYjB0VhqLtaTFdP3AbHoZ8-bESP3sKmDTMv-qqDmK09Z2pzjM8bhIFCufq2fdn0TIDJr9cYzzi/s1600/160_0032.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCkkb082VUjLK2xtiTdyl8jWMExorCwdIKiZDfbkFx0SXU621jzI6KZhd_eimx_Bkl4ILYjB0VhqLtaTFdP3AbHoZ8-bESP3sKmDTMv-qqDmK09Z2pzjM8bhIFCufq2fdn0TIDJr9cYzzi/s1600/160_0032.JPG" height="640" width="478" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">This photo was taken last August after a spell of heavy rains. I love the way the tree appears to be consumed by the great big fiery ball. It calls to mind that eerie Pink Floyd song "Set the Controls for the Heart of the Sun."</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Notice how, from the vantage-point of the camera, everything in front of the sun is in darkness. Yet we know that the people, the ducks, and the trees were engulfed in the same in light that hit the camera lens.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">This got me thinking about perspective.We have dark moments in our lives; tragedy, loss, disappointment with ourselves or others. The light that gives us strength and hope seems diminished, or even absent. But here's the funny thing: when I've climbed out of those valleys and looked back, I have been able to see that light was present and active even in the darkest of moments.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">What explains this lack of perspective in dark times? I don't have a good answer. Maybe its just an inescapable part of being human. But I have found something that can help me weather those storms better: curiosity. Engagement with the world. The more I explore, the more I reach out to others, the easier it to see things from other perspectives. Then, maybe, it will become easier to see the light at work in the midst of dark moments. Perhaps this is what the Jesuits mean by "finding God in all things."</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Isaiah 9:1, A <a href="http://www.everythingesteban.com/2014/06/01/catholic-photo-challenge-2-isaiah-91/#more-3705">Catholic Photo Challenge</a> </span><span style="color: white;"><span style="font-size: large;">Catho</span>lic Photo Challenge.</span><br />
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<br />Brianofthemarshhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12498508628148397419noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7159146989507655355.post-53641444949907111642014-06-09T07:21:00.001-07:002014-06-09T07:25:52.860-07:00Tulsa Tough 2014<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
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