Tag Archives: Gathering Place

Winter Shadows – End and Beginning of the Year

The first day of the year is a big deal for hikers and geocachers. I went to a private park to find a first day geocache. And I got a “souvenir.”

I went looking for another geocache close by. The area it is in is a mess.

Lots of spray can graffiti. I hate it the colorful mess.

It is quite popular. I found the cache but I cannot count it.

It was way up in a tree. Do you see the black tube at the top of the photo. In year’s past I would go ahead and climb the tree. I could probably do it now but I am 69 years old and the penalty for falling could be bad. (Maybe I couldn’t climb the tree. My orthopedic doc says I need a complete new right knee. Soon, I am going to enlist my wife to come with me to go visit him and get it scheduled.) So I can’t count it as a find because to do that you have to open the container and sign the log. I’m kind of a stickler for that.

I went on a first day hike as well. I went on a one mile loop at Turkey Mountain. The trail was named by the Muskogee Creek Tribe. I am not sure what it means.

Winter is a time for either no shadows during long periods of heavily overcast days or long shadows. I love the long shadows of winter.

I went for a walk near the new Zink Dam and Williams Crossing Bridge on the Arkansas River. There was a long bridge shadow on the water. Don’t remember too many water shadows.

The playgrounds that are busy when it is warmer are empty in the winter. This looks like a fun place to play. The ground surface is ultra spongey to keep little ones from getting hurt.

I walked over the Gathering Place and checked the shadows out there as well.

I am wishing everyone a Happy and Healthy New Year 2025!!

Shadow Shot Sunday

Shadow Shot Sunday – Fluorescent Leaves

I was wandering around Tulsa’s Gathering Place and come upon this scene with brightly backlit leaves that also left a complex shadow on the walkway.

I am linking with Shadow Shot Sunday

Gathering Place Shadows

I had some time to kill the other day so I went walking around Tulsa’s Gathering Place and found this combination fall color and shadows.

Shadow Shot Sunday

Shadow Shot Sunday – Out and About Edition

I thought this shadow of garland strung on a bridge looked like an EKG or maybe a stock market graph or something like that.

I love the pure geometry of this.

A bright sun makes for sharp shadows.

Not strictly a shadow shot, or maybe not a shadow shot at all. I love these dried blooms.

I am linking with Shadow Shot Sunday 2, come link up!!

Shadow Shot Sunday – Turkey Mountain and Town Shadows

On Turkey Mountain late one afternoon on a beautiful sunny day.

At the Slide Vale at Tulsa’s Gathering Place early one morning.

Downtown Tulsa. The city is letting restaurants use the parking spaces in front of their businesses to make “parklets” for outside seating. Great idea in these pandemic days.

I’m linking with ShadowShot Sunday

Our World – Tulsa’s Gathering Place Partially Opens

The Gathering Place is Tulsa’s relatively new riverside park. Like lots of other such facilities during this pandemic it has been shut down. They partially opened in late May and I went in one morning to check it out. The paths through the park and the bicycle and scooter pump tracks are open but all the buildings and play areas are still for closed for the present.

ONEOK Boathouse Reflections — Reflection of the ONEOK Boat House

There were hardly any people there. I saw a total of maybe seven or eight people in the brief time I was there, plus a few staff members.

I had somewhere to go or I might have spent some time in one of these rocking chairs. That’s what us old retired guys do, right?

The vegetation in and around the park is kind of all natural. There are some large grassy lawns but the rest is wildflowers and other ground cover designed for low maintenance and less watering. I have a friend who lived close to the park and her yard became overrun with rats and mice, and snakes who eat them. The park was saying don’t worry, it’s all good. My friend moved and I think the park is trying to be more neighborhood friendly. It doesn’t seem quite so “jungley” any longer.

I have lots of photos of the play structures so this time I spent some time photographing the wildflowers and plants. Didn’t see any rats or snakes I am glad to report. I Id’d the plants by taking photos of the screen with my inaturalist app. If I am wrong let me know!!

I’ve been following the Covid-19 status pretty closely here in Oklahoma. New cases plunged for a while but seem to be inching back up. Deaths and hospitalizations seem to be in a holding pattern for now. June 1 marks further opening in the state and I hope that new cases don’t spike up.

Everybody stay safe and be considerate of others.

I am linking with Our World Tuesday, come join us!!