Our World – On the Trail and the Road

Sunday morning after dropping the kid off at work I headed to Turkey Mountain for a little hiking.

Virginia Creeper?

I’ve been reading the novel, The Overstory by Richard Powers and it is blowing me away with its talk of how trees in a forest are all interconnected and they exchange nutrients with one another and with other plants via a network of fungal hyphae, miles and miles of tubular fungus that exchange minerals with trees for sugar. I already read the book and then I started reading it again. It’s pretty amazing.

Hairy Ruellia?

The woods on Turkey Mountain are very new. It used to be small farms and ranches but oil was discovered and what trees that were there were cut down for fuel for the boilers that powered the pumps.

Headache!!! I’m afraid some poor mountain biker hit his noggin.

So the trees that are there now are pretty new and mostly skinny. There are a few older ones that are bigger and are more spread out. I find the whole life cycle of tree thing to be fascinating.

American Trumpet Vine maybe

I know that Sunday I pretty much had the place to myself. Most people on Turkey Mountain stick to the more established east side with its overlooks of the Arkansas River and well developed trails. The west side is a little wilder and the trails less established and mapped.

I went all the over the the YMCA and took a pic. Not much going on there.

Shining Sumac perhaps

Just 3 miles but hey I was refreshed.

In the afternoon I checked out Route 66 for some geocaching. I stopped one of my favorites. The Blue Whale of Catoosa.

Right next to it was this. Apparently it is supposed to be an Ark as part of a journey through the Bible attraction but it didn’t really take off.

I found this museum in Catoosa. It was closed but it has a great mural out back.

And this is an old bridge on Route 66 that has been relocated. So I am continuing my turning 66 on Route 66 thing that I have going on.

I hope your Sunday was as fun as mine!!

I am linking with Our World Tuesday

12 thoughts on “Our World – On the Trail and the Road

  1. Vicki

    I love taking trips with you via your photos. I sure hope nobody was hurt by that tree limb! I especially love The Blue Whale of Catoosa & the Ark, neat!

  2. Colleen Looseleaf

    The paths are inviting. The whale was a surprise. I remember the movie Avatar was the first time I learned about the underground network of tree roots and mushrooms.

  3. Amy Franks

    Nice trail. I think we have the trumpet flower vine here too and the creeper, both grow like you wouldn’t believe but the colours of the flowers are nice.

  4. Barb

    I can’t keep up with you Alan – I’m on the computer so little these days. I like all your plantlife and that you keep to the lesser-used trails. That’s what Bob and I do to avoid the hordes of tourists. I had to read backwards away to see your photos on other posts. It looks like you’re still on the move hiking and geocaching this summer. Stay well!

  5. A ShutterBug Explores

    Wonderful trail and road photos ~ favorite is the bridge w/pond ~ Xo

    thanks for researching about Yacht in Cape Ann MA harbor ~ great info !

    Living in the moment,

    A ShutterBug Explores,
    aka (A Creative Harbor)

  6. sallie rainville

    Turkey Mt has to be one of my favorite places where I’ve never been! Love to see your posts on it. The Overstory sounds good (is it really a novel?) — I will look it up. I have the book on National Parks that you recommended on my Library wait list and I’m guessing this one may go there also!

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