Redbud Valley Nature Preserve

A 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.

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.

Pics taken with my Canon S100.

Till the Arkansas freezes over

You know its been a cold winter in Oklahoma when the Arkansas begins to form into thick sheets of ice.

I got out for a seven mile run on the river trails this afternoon. It was cold, with a steady wind out of the North, and yet I still managed to sweat in my thermal bike pants and top. I have yet to master the science of appropriate layering in the cold.

West Tulsa

I love the smell of Tulsa in the morning... That sewage, methane, and sulfur smell. Smells like... victory.

Run to Sloan Lake, Denver

I got out on Sunday morning for a run to Sloan Lake in Denver from the West Highland neighborhood. Five miles, more or less.

Red Rocks and Lair O' the Bear

I was in Denver last weekend for work and managed to get into the foothills for some "running" on Friday afternoon. The area had been hit with six inches on the previous night. At first I was resigned to staying low and parked at the nearly empty Red Rocks Park and did the 2 mile loop from the visitor center. The sound crew for the techno band Icelandic was setting up to play that evening (brrrr!), and they were blasting Daft Punk on the speakers. Not exactly what I want to hear while tramping around in a wintery wonderland! I wonder how many people showed up to their concert. Considering their name, maybe playing in the cold is their thing.

After finishing the loop, there was still some time to kill, so I braved the road leading West from Morrison. There is a great little park a few miles up called Lair o the Bear. It has miles of single track, and connects to other trail systems in the area.

There is a trail that slowly climbs up a ridge on the South side of the valley that I followed in until I was high enough to get a view of the nearby town of Evergreen. It is one of those trails, so common to the Western part of our country, climbs gradually but persistently through the use of switchbacks. It was a workout pushing up through the snow, but the reward was running back down at a 8 minute mile pace with little effort. That may sound dangerous, but the trail was already fairly beaten down by fat tire bikes, and my Yaktrax have great traction. Mountain running really is completely different beast than trail running in the Midwest.

Beautiful powelines

Beautiful weather drew the fam out onto the river trails Sunday morning. I've passed by these power lines just North of the rugby fields hundreds of times without ever really seeing them. It took a few wispy cirrus clouds to draw my gaze upward. I won't pretend this is good photography, but it may give you an idea of how familiar things just need as change of light and weather to excite the imagination.

Later I went for a five mile run along the river in the afternoon warmth (70 degrees!).

A lazy afternoon nap.

Chandler overlook

This morning I ran in the Chandler backcountry to the overlook above Avery Drive; approximately four or five miles round trip from the baseball diamond.

The black tree

I ran a big loop around Mountain today with enough diversions along the way to get in six miles. This photo is of the interior of the abandoned vehicles that are along Pepsi Lake. I'm going to presume these are old abandoned Pepsi trucks as a bottling plant lies immediately to the North of here.

There is a new trail on Turkey Mountain. In general, I am opposed to the making of more trails as there are already too many of them in on such a small track of land. But this one breaks new ground on the South side of 61st street. Running on fresh single track reminds me of how much we've made a mess of the more popular trails.

The main attraction for me on this one mile loop is an uncannily dark tree. Every time see it I'm compelled to stop and walk around it. Most of its branches are dead and blackened, perhaps from a fire. They appear to be reaching down, grasping at something with sinister intent, like Old Man Willow in The Lord of the Rings.

This is the second photo I've taken of the tree. They both fall short of capturing the air of malevolence in the place. A work in progress, I guess.

Under the I-44 Bridge

If you leave the bike trail at the I-44 bridge and go Southwest toward the river, you will come out onto a wide open sand bar that remains dry this time of year. You're only a few hundred yards from the highway above and riverside drive to the East, and yet it feels a world apart. Filled with small dunes, driftwood and random jetsam, its a great place for exploring.

Down to the riverbed (again)

This afternoon I ran down to the river edge, via the boat ramp near the pedestrian bridge. It is a good place for short hill repeats. There was bit more water flowing today, enough to cover the spot captured in last photo from yesterday. This photo is just a few feet closer to shore.

Arkansas River run

The Arkansas river is as low as I've ever seen it, which opens up some new ground to explore.

 This photo is obviously doctored, but manages to capture my first impression the spindly branches pretty well:

Its amazing to think that a river that was running 50,000 cfs this summer has been reduced to the trickle captured here:

Days 34 - 40

Riverparks

From Riverparks looking out to West Tulsa

Somewhere on Turkey Mountain

A lazy afternoon by the Arkansas

South Tulsa

Yum!

South Tulsa (same pond)

Days 26 to 33

Last week was taken up by traveling and conferences, all work-related. Managed to snap a photo on every day but one...with mixed results. I suppose this is what the challenge is all about.

I nearly missed last Sunday's photo as twilight dissipated into darkness on our family walk. Then Megan pointed out this odd arrangement of wires. Is it a lemon, or a cartoon character learning to fly a kite?

The 11th street bridges, Tulsa

Wichita, Kansas

Wichita, Kansas

Spiritual Life Center, Wichita, Kansas

This is from a Friday night run. This is a typical view of Sophie in the stroller these days: kicking her feet around and waving at pretty much everyone we pass.

No photos for Saturday, day 32. Indoors at a conference ALL DAY.

Finally, from a long run on Saturday morning: