Barfield Crescent

Our kids are out of town this week, and we have decided to take a big hike.
We leave today to hike the Fiery Gizzard and have a little camp out.

Yesterday, after having lived in this area since before Eli could walk, we finally hiked the loop at Barfield Crescent. It was very pleasant. The biggest surprise was how fast we could go without a 5 year old with us. I miss the little boogers, desperately, but I have high hopes that we can cover some ground today without making little feet wear plum out.

Check back soon for a full report of the 13 miles.

Barfield Crescent was covered in this flower though, I don't know what it is.

Sycamore Falls

On Sunday, we left to go hiking and the sky looked like the picture above. We started on the trail, and turned back after getting drenched.

So today, we drove to one of my very favorite loops in Grundy Forest. We hiked 3.2 miles to Sycamore Falls-pictured above.

We saw rock art..

Tons of mushrooms..
The rain has made the forest moist and humid.

Several wildflowers...

Tick-seed sunflower..

Wild blackberries

Steep sides, roots, and rocks make for a moderate hike for kids.

Tree face

Carp

May-apple flower?

Spectacular swimming spot at Sycamore falls.
Well worth the hike.

Giant old Hawthorne

The ghost of Belle Starr she hands down her wits..

We spent this week in Oklahoma visiting family. Amongst other activities, we visited a wildlife preserve and museum calles Woolaroc. It was a huge ranch with so much to see and do. It was, for us, the quentessentialOklahoma.

Exact replicas of tee-pees. These, I learned, did not blow over due to their ventilation system. As a camper, I was super impressed with the construction.

The beavers are still trapped and dried on the land.

New trees planted after the dust bowls...

Native American art and artifacts..

Outlaws and buffalo..

Petrified wood and man made waterfalls..