Skywatch Friday – Keystone Ancient Forest

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So last weekend I was part of a group of people that worked on the trails at the Keystone Ancient Forest in Sand Springs, Oklahoma. The organization that I volunteer with, the Tulsa Urban Wilderness Coalition, sponsored the trail day and a big part of the community responded, especially a ton of students from the University of Tulsa. We split everyone up into three groups to do lopping of branches intruding on the trail, replacing trail flagging so people don’t get lost, and blowing leaves off the trail.

After getting organized we headed out to work. The weather was perfect. I led a lopping crew on one of the trails.

The students didn’t lollygog around, they got right to it.

We probably did a mile or so of trail lopping until we headed back. We wanted to get everyone back by 11:30 or so. You don’t want to wear out your volunteers.

The Keystone Ancient Forest is a preserve with ancient trees. Some of the cedars are 500 years old and there are 300 year old post oak trees on the property. It has an ancient and peaceful feeling to it.

The Tulsa Urban Wilderness Coalition got its start as an activist organization joining with other groups in a successful effort to fend off an outlet mall from being built on Turkey Mountain. Since then, the organization has pivoted to being an advocate for wild spaces in the Tulsa area and participates in and sponsors environmental education activities. We also do six or so trail cleanup days per year at various public wild areas in and around Tulsa.

It was a day well spent. The park staff seemed very happy with the work that was accomplished.

I’m linking with Skywatch Friday.

Komorebi Sights – A Japanese Word comes to Oklahoma

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Through somebody at TikTok I learned a new Japanese word that I love, Komorebi. It refers to light filtering through trees and casting a shadow on the ground. It induces a sense of wonder in those observing it. Google the word, there is a lot to it. So a light went off in my head on this because I’ve always loved sunlight through leaves and I love dappled shadows.

Above is what I mean by dappled shadows.

Dappled Shadows on my backyard fence.

Light filtering through leaves at a local park.

Backing off a little bit from the same tree and you get the filtered light and the dappled shadows.

I love this word, it names a feeling that I have had for a long time. When I go hiking I’ve shot a lot of photos at the end of the day especially of the sun peaking through the leaves or branches. Dappled shadows that I come upon often leaves me amazed. Especially when the wind is blowing and I’m watching shadows moved.

Since I have learned the word, I am seeing Komorebi everywhere I look almost.

I am linking with Shadow Shot Sunday

Saturday’s Critters – A Sampling, Live and Bronzed.

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Here is out Lizzie the cat chilling out.

Sculpture on Tulsa RiverParks Trails of mule deer.

Some Canadian Geese in another sculpture on the RiverParks Trails

And also seen from the trail, a great blue heron fishing for its lunch in the Arkansas River.

I’m linking with Saturday’s Critters.

Skywatch Friday – Backyard Bonanza 5K Race

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Last week I decided to participate in a Trail Race, the Backyard Bonanza 5K at Lubell Park in Tulsa. You notice I didn’t say “run” because I was going to walk it. I figured I could walk the 5K. I hike that much once or twice a week these days.

I get there bright and early in the morning. It was 36 degrees so it was a little nippy. No wind and clear skies, so sign me up.

I brought my electric heated vest that Heather bought me for Christmas a couple years ago. Nothing but the best for me.

Plus they had a fire going. It was very warm.

Getting instructions about the race just before the start.

There were two other concurrent races going on at the same time. A 25K and a 12K or something like that. They started earlier. That is the thing about trail races. Most of them are like that so you can run as long as you want or go shorter.

Since I was walking I went through the starting gate last. I managed to hold that position for the rest of the race.

The woods were beautiful and I just went into meditation mode being aware of the sun on my face and the various sounds I was hearing and making sure of my footing.

This little tipi structure has been at Lubell for years.

The course was pretty good. Not many rocks and good swithbacks going up and down the hills. Well marked. I’ve gone off trail a couple times during trail races. Easy to do if you are not paying attention. That can be disconcerting back where you are supposed to be.

And before I knew it, the Finish Line!!

Alan Race 2

The race photographer caught me at the end in my electric vest and my number 61 tag. I love prime numbers so I was proud of my 61. I was also representing the Dallas Cowboys!

Chatted with a few people and had some pancakes that they were making. That is the other thing about trail races. They generally feed you pretty good. They also had chili but I wasn’t in the mood.

And here is the route. Started and ended in Lubell Park with an incursion into the Mooser Creek Greenway. The only thing better than trails is interconnected trails like Lubell and Mooser Creek. Notice that the distance is 3.9 miles which is more than a kilometer longer than a 5K. That’s the other thing about trail races, the distances are approximate because they use existing trails. Part of the charm in my book.

Alan Race 1

And here I am. I won my age group in the 5K. In fact I was the only one in my age group in the 5K. It was a fun time.

After chatting with more people I headed home.

I’ll be back next year! I have to defend my title if nothing else.

I am linking with Skywatch Friday.

Day of the Dead 2025 – Tulsa Style

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Living Arts of Tulsa had their annual “Dia de los Muertos Art Festival” on Saturday the first of November. I love going and so off I went.

What I love are the ofrendas or altars to the dead that various families and organizations put up to honor loved ones who have died.

This ofrenda honors several family members who died. It was attended to by current family members.

The ofrendas incorporate marigolds, candles, photos of the deceased. Special foods and snacks, and hobbies and the occupations of those honored.

I love almost all the ofrendas I have seen, whether or complex. I think it is important to remember loved ones.

The cut paper like that shown above is a common decoration along with skulls.

I’ve thought about ofrendas for loved ones who had passed and what items that reflect their essence would be included.

I’ve also thought about ofrenda for myself and what would I want on it. Then I thought I could design one myself using AI. It would reflect my interests such as sports, my photography, my computer, and my iphone. Also, my favorite sports teams and such and snacks. So I fired up Microsoft Copilot and sure enough it was up to the task. I put in some prompts and it came back with suggestions and I went back and forth with it for a little bit and this is what I got after just a few minutes.

Copilot_20251031_154130 take 2

I gave it a photo of me to work with so you can see that. You can also see my camera, a couple of snickers bars, two plates of enchiladas as a favorite food, my hiking boots, and about three different iphones and logos for the Dallas Cowboys, Oklahoma Thunder, and Houston Astros sports teams. It was a lot of fun but felt kind of weird doing it also like I was tempting fate.

So I had a lot of fun on the Day of the Dead.

I’m linking with My Corner of the World

Kayak Launch Shadows on the Arkansas River

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I went for a bike ride the other day along the Arkansas River as it flows through Tulsa. I noticed that the kayak rental vendor has shut down for the season but the city owned kayak launch was open so I checked it out.

Last year in late October I rented a kayak for a couple of hours and really enjoyed my time. We have lived in Tulsa for almost thirty four years and I can’t tell you how many times I have been on the trails but the kayak outing was the first time I saw the banks from the river and it was great. I was hoping to do it again this fall but I guess I am going to have to wait.

But hey, it makes for decent shadows.

Shadow Shot Sunday

Skywatch Friday – Strolling Down America’s Main Street

Last week I attended the funeral of former coworker. I was sad for him and his family but I also got to see a bunch of other coworkers who came to the services as well. Afterwards I felt like checking out some of the new attractions on Tulsa’s portion of the Route 66, aka, The Mother Road, or the America’s Main Street. Turns out America’s Main Street is on Eleventh Street in Tulsa.

For some reason a half mile stretch of Eleventh Street has been taken over by “Muffler Men.” Supersize fiberglass sculptures. I love them, they are so oversized and colorful, how can you not like them.

As you can read on the mural behind him, this is “Meadow Gold Mack.”

I don’t know what this gal’s name is but I like her. Quite fetching don’t you think.

I love all sorts of Route 66 attractions. You know what my favorite is? A very little known sign where Paul McCartney stopped in the 2000’s while driving Route 66. He stopped and knocked on the door of a farmhouse and asked for directions. Can you imagine Paul McCartney knocking on your door? He was driving a 1989 Ford Bronco so he had no GPS in his car. I found this sign as I was looking for a geocache.

Paul McCartney Sighting

It’s the hundredth anniversary of the Mother Road next year and Tulsa is at its epicenter. National Geographic has some great information.

What about you? Do you like Route 66?

I am linking with Skywatch Friday. Check it out.

Kodi and Lizzy Portraits andMore!

Our Pomeranian, Kodi. A tiny little dog with big feelings!

Lizzy the cat, the matriarch of our pets. We have another dog, Sadie who never sits still. Lizzy is Sadie’s favorite squeaky toy.

A pig chef on Route 66 in Tulsa. I love the silliness of route 66 attractions.

And a retired carousel horse getting new life on Route 66. It’s ready to ride. I also love the metal cactus to the left. The 100th anniversary of Route 66 is next year I think. It’s going to be epic in Tulsa.

I’m linking with Eileen’s Saturday’s Critters. Check it out. All sorts of talented photobloggers participate.

Skywatch Friday – Back on the Trail Edition

To recap, about two weeks ago I slipped and fell while hiking. I’ve done that a lot but this time my knee and the rest of my body went different directions and I was sore. So I hiked back to my car, went home, took a shower and then my wife took me orthopedic urgent care where they took xrays, said that my new knee was in good shape, wrapped my knee in a wrap patted me on my head said go see your surgeon.

I talked to my surgeons PA and said no damage to the knee so released me to do whatever as I felt able. I didn’t do much for a couple days and then gradually started getting more active.

My first hike was a mall walk where I saw that rugby shirts are a thing again, along with earth colors. Oh well.

I graduated to slow walks at local parks. Much better!

I love this fence.

And then back to Turkey Mountain for hikes on trails that are flat and don’t have technical feature.

This is the best vista on Turkey Mountain.

And then little bit longer hikes on more challenging terrain.

I found this bike jump on my a hike. Mountain bikers are crazy. You jump over the trail and onto a very steep slope on the other side. That’s a big nope for me. I have yet to ride a bike on Turkey Mountain.

I love this trail bridge over the dam at the YMCA at Turkey Mountain. Tulsa has the best fall weather of any place I have ever lived. Cool night, warm days, blue skies. Sign me up for all you have.

My beautiful wife Heather had an afternoon free, so we did a two mile hike at Turkey Mountain on the Sanctuary area.

I love old appliances on the trail. Turkey Mountain is an old farming, ranching, and oilfield area so there are lots things to look at that are interesting.

And at one spot, there is an old oil well with rods sticking out of the ground. I reminded Heather that we had been here before, 11 years ago. We were on an outlaw trail. The land was private but some bikers and hikers blazed a few trails through the tract and Heather, Me, and son Logan checked it out.

Heather and Logan found them selves an #oilwell on #turkeymountain #tulsa #oklahoma #igersok

So this is wife and son from nearly eleven years ago. Except, now RiverParks owns the land and it is legal to be on it.

Next up on the agenda. The Tulsa Area Geocachers are having their Fall Fest Geocaching Event at Lake Okmulgee on Saturday, and Sunday, the Tulsa Urban Wilderness Coalition is at Chandler Park partnering with the county on a trail maintenance and a cleanup day there. I’ll be at both events.

I am linking with Skywatch Friday