It was a good workout, but not much for inspiring beauty. The plan was simple: Run north on Hiwasee to Memorial Road, turn east as far as Choctaw Road, follow that back to the intersection of Hogback Road and then into Jones. From there it was a straight shot down Henney and back home. Just about 28 miles.
(Click any image for a larger view.)
Whenever I take Hiwasee north, I always detour through the housing development west of our trailer park, Timber Ridge Pointe. This is where I have cut those trails open only during cooler weather. The housing is built in spurts, and the lots are sold only where the street is paved and utilities are laid. So most of this drive is just woodland, because only the western edge of this thing has been developed.
Having made the ride up Hiwasee to Jones several times, there’s nothing remarkable. Today the south winds pushed me all the way north. Just past Britton Road this vista on the right came into view, showing the broad expanse of the Canadian Valley just north of Jones. But doggone it — the light was all wrong to catch a shot of the swimming hole where Hiwasee Crosses the river. That’s about where NE 122nd would be if it went through. In Oklahoma County and eastward into Pottawatomie County, the North Canadian wanders all over the place, this particular spot is the northernmost bend in Oklahoma County. It’s a popular swimming spot because when the water is high enough folks will dive off the bridge. The river cuts around sharp against a low sandstone bluff and digs a deep channel at the same time. Then, on the inside of the bend is a very nice stable sandy beach easily accessed from the road.
A short climb up the far bank and we are into the Deep Fork watershed. From there it’s not far to Memorial Road.
Let’s be honest: Memorial Road offers precious few inspiring views out here. Because we are in the Deep Fork terrain, it’s very hilly, but just not that pretty. Turning back south onto Choctaw Road was almost suffocating in the sense of dense foliage growing up through the tattered edge of the asphalt. Beautiful in winter, but highly infested with buzzing biting insects in warm weather.
I made good time because the headwind was dampened by the foliage. However, it should have served as a warning, because the folks that live out in this stuff tend to relative poverty. Rather than risk annoying anyone with stopping to take pictures, I’ll just have to rely on a written description.
At one spot there was a draw that crossed the road at a sharp angle. I came up out of this bottom and it ran upstream to my right, not quite parallel to the road. Someone had plowed out a flat spot from this draw just about parallel to the road on my right. You could see where a mobile home had sat there for a long time, because it was bare dirt against dense foliage. Someone had cut some of the roadside saplings and giant grasses in order the drag this ancient trailer house out, but the thing had collapsed just before it cleared the original site. Apparently it tipped too far over toward the draw and was unable to remain intact. It was hard to guess how long ago, because the site was quite bare, but the foliage had already regrown up through the wreckage and was impossible to shoot with the camera. The scene was completed by an assortment of derelict automobiles and pickup trucks, at least a half-dozen scattered around the living space carved out of the woods.
Just up the hill I ran into Hogback Road. We’ll see that again when I make my trip to Luther (I’m ready but waiting for cooler weather). Around the corner and back downhill toward the North Canadian Valley, I ran across some highly distressed housing that was still occupied. Down and across from that stood these old silos. From here it was downhill all the way. Hogback Road is well maintained and not too busy. Just outside Jones proper is this view of the North Canadian where it curves around, showing how the spring flooding had cut deep into the south bank. Some of that fallen foliage is still rooted into the bank.
The inside of the curve left a very large area obviously popular with off-roaders.
In town I stopped at the little park and ate my lunch in solitude. From there it was a slow push against stiff headwinds all the way home. It made hills that were simply rough into brutal climbs requiring the lowest gears on my Edgewood. But it was still a really good workout and I don’t regret it, even if I won’t likely repeat it.
