Just a few shots from my first ride in a couple of weeks. As usual, I go to Draper Lake first. Today I was surprised to see this huge branding patch on the trail. This is part of the MAPS Project (part 3), something about taxing the citizens for a bond issue to fund all these touristy attractions around the OKC Metro. There were about three of these on the part that is pretty well finished.
In that same finished section on the west shore of the lake, these markers herald every quarter-mile. I have no idea where the counting starts because it’s mostly unfinished. It’s a lot of eyewash for something not half done yet.
The water level is exceptionally high right now. This is the smallest point on the lake. I noticed the trees had all been cut down. Right at my feet where I took this photo was a section where the water-side of the dam was given an fresh layer of rip-rap. In the process the crews mowed and cut down all the trees first, so the few small trees growing here are now gone, and the stumps are mostly under water.
Today’s ride was counterclockwise, going out via the Sooner Road corridor and returning via Post Road. We had a pretty stiff breeze out of the south with gusts as high as 30 MPH (48 kph) and sustained winds just below 20 MPH (32 kph), so it was a slow slog going out and a zippy ride coming back.
I get real uncomfortable when I’m around any kind of tree felling. Cutting down the “younglings” make me sad. A tree’s main sensory bits are in the roots so, the trees die of suffocation, conscious of what’s happening but, the Lord is there to ease their suffering.
Maple trees will come back. I’m sure there are others, the maple in our yard was first cut of at the ground (by the previous owner) then, she grew back. After that, the wind blew the top off down to the trunk during a rare summer wind storm, the leaves gave the wind more leverage. She came back from that. They grow fast on their own. Like bees, maples are social critters, they need the support of a tree family to thrive and to achieve that they grow faster when alone. This year before the sap rises I need to top her and I belief I’ll root some of the bottom “sprouts” around her so she can have company. She tries on her own but, some heartless bastard(me) keeps them cut back. Their social nature is why a maple’s roots spread so far. Look at me, how passionate I am, wow! I care more about trees and bees than I realized and why not? They are better than people. They’re pristine, sinless and make much better praise buddies than 99% of “claimers”*. Being able to worship in nature has got to be better than worship with humans, it cannot help but, be so. When all of nature from trees to bees to squirrels to birds to bugs to earth and even contraptions like old motorsickles, all join together to Glorify the Glorious, Glory of God the Father, Son & Holy Ghost, you have much more than two or more gathered and Jesus is right there. Who needs a church full knuckleheads?The only thing better would be for we weirdos to be together in the flesh.
* A claimer is one who “decided to follow Jeeezusss”. They’re following something and I’m not sure that it’s Jesus.
They definitely could have done this better without taking out so many trees. As you might expect, a lot of them will grow back but oaks take a while.