We had a real nice day the other day so I went on an noontime run from my gym in downtown Tulsa. First thing I ran into as a big temptation:

Don’t worry, I resisted temptation, I don’t think they were open anyway. I decided to just generally head east and see where the force moved me. I have to tell you, I’m glad they were closed. It made my decision easier. I kept on running and meandered into a not very nice part of town and came upon an abandoned storage yard with this gatepost.

Tulsa used to be the Oil Capital of the World and there are little reminders like this everywhere you turn. I’m kind of wondering if things aren’t returning a little bit. Oklahoma companies like Chesapeake, Devon, and Continental are really leading the pack in the horizontal drilling and fracturing of shale gas nationwide. Right now, I’m thinking about a drilling rig themed geocache near here. There are lots of guys (and gals) who grew up in  Broken Bow, Elk City, Vici, Cheyenne, Barnsdall, Clinton, Apache, and other Oklahoma oil towns drilling wells or building pipelines all over the world.  But that is another post. Lets get back on track.

I kind of veered to the left and right as the force led me and I found myself in front of this building.

I’ve never heard of Hooper Brothers Coffee Company. What drew me close was the raised brick signage. Turns out that it is a landmark and on the National Register of Historic Places. This building is all over the internet. Who would know? They actually made coffee there until 1961. I don’t know what is going on now but I do know that this section of town is crying for a geocache. What do you think?

Have you ever got to a crossroads and had to make a decision? I decided to head further east into the Pearl District. A cool but depressed area just east of downtown Tulsa.

It has got some great looking store fronts. I can imagine shops, restaurants, bars,and studios.

There are some entrepreneurs who are defying the national economic downturn and trying to make things happen. ( I have to tell you that I find that brickwork above to be beautiful, and the windows and doors.)

Can’t you see a parade out front with people on the little balconies watching? I know, I’m going crazy. But I’m seeing a lot of potential.

They have a long ways to go, it will be interesting to see how far they can go. The rest of my route I veered here and there to avoid the winos, panhandlers, bums, and broken glass and eventually ended back at the gym. I decided that I need to get off my regular routes more often.

Do you ever get off your regular routes? Tell us about it.

My World