More rain, more fun

7/10/15

Morning hike. 2.5 miles roundtrip.

Tulsa had a few more inches of rain in a narrow window of time; perfect conditions for viewing waterfalls. There was a video posted on TUWC's facebook page of the torrent flowing yesterday afternoon at this very spot. By this morning, however, levels were down considerably. I'll give it a day or so more before it's gone again. Like the Lynx, it's gone before you can get a second look.

In the big mountains, small cascades and waterfalls like this one are commonplace. To be a destination on a map, water must dazzle the eye with quantity or gravity. On Turkey Mountain, we are content with the miracle of running water.

Midtown Loop

6/27/15

8 mile run through Midtown Tulsa.

On Saturday, Sophie and I went on the longest run I've done in several months. It was a eight mile loop through Midtown with a playground break at Veteran's park (along with several stops at garage sales). This kind of casual, exploratory approach is my favorite way to run.

On 33rd Place,West of Peoria, there's a little parcel of land along Crow Creek that remains undeveloped. It's not quite a park; the sign designates the area "waste-water management facility", although it was hard to notice any kind of management going on. Perhaps its a kind of access point for the city to get at storm drains that flow into the creek. Regardless, it's a pretty cool green space sandwiched in a highly developed neighborhood. Much more tranquil than the many of the concrete covered city parks we have.

Crow Creek

The "park"

This place deserves a name other than "stormwater management facility" though. maybe the local residents have one.

Between 18th and 15th street (14th in some places) there are some cool alleyways that run in between the major North South Avenues. They're great for running, as you don't usually have to worry about traffic.

Heading back South through Veterans Park.

And back home along the Rivertrails and through Maple Ridge.

Lynx Falls

6/19/15

2 mile hike from the upper parking lot of Turkey Mountain.

In a gulch on Turkey Mountain, there is a place I have dubbed “Lynx Falls”. It’s a smoothed out slide and ledge of limestone that remains dry for most of the year, but after a series of rains, morphs into a waterfall. With all the rain we've had lately, the chances were high that the Falls would be running strong. 

I was not disappointed.

The Tulsa Bridge Tour

6/11/15

Run from Blue Rose Cafe to River West Festival Park and back, followed by a short out and back to the 21st Street Bridge. 5 miles, more or less.

The river trails are closed from about 36th to 25th for the construction of Tulsa's Gathering Place. I miss not being able to run down to the Blue Rose area from my house, so on Thursday evening, Sophie and I drove down to the restaurant parking lot for a run along the picturesque riverfront.

After running North, we crossed the Arkansas River on the new I-244 Pedestrian walkway. It's technically not open to the public yet because their still paving the path that connects it to the established trails on the East bank. But the bridge itself is finished. Its easy enough to get to it if your okay with dirt and dust for a few hundred feet.

I love the design. It feels very futuristic and while carrying some Art Deco elements. This is Tulsa after all.

The walkway is on platform below the bridge, and it looks like the planned pedestrian rail to Oklahoma City will travel under here as well.

Source

Once on the West bank, we traveled South toward the old 11th street bridge. Built in 1911, it was the original bridge out of town (via Route 66) and is on the national register of historic places. Unfortunately, it has been deemed unsafe for even pedestrian traffic. It's probably the most elegant concrete bridge I've ever seen.

!-244 Bridge on the left, 11th Street Bridge on the right.

Passing under the 11th street bridge, we came to the Southwest Boulevard Bridge. It replaced the 11th street bridge. As you can see from the photo, it cannot be accused of possessing aesthetic value.

11 Street Bridge on the left, SWest Boulvard Bridge on the right.

We ran all the way out to River West Festival Park and turned around. Back at the parking lot, I decided to run a short leg to the 21st Street bridge, probably my favorite operating Tulsa bridge. It was built in 1932.

Charles Estes: Local martyr for conservation

6/4/15

Six mile run on the river trails.

Tucked in along the river trails bike path is a memorial to Charles W. Estes,  Oklahoma's first game warden. On Feb. 26th, 1911, he was shot and killed while investigating illegal hunting on Turkey Mountain. His killer was never found. May he rest in peace.

Read more here.