The Bert Cooper Trail loops around Lake Hefner at just under a ten mile distance; or just over if you temporarily lose the trail and go wandering along side streets and neighboring parks for awhile.
It’s beautiful, but rush hour loud, as it skirts the highway from the parking lot. Lanes are wide and smooth and freshly marked. Near the park, there are even dedicated lanes for bicycles and joggers.
As the trail curves away from the highway, the sound muffles to the call of the birds and an occasional airplane.
Redwing Blackbirds perch on posts and wires and a pair of Scissortail Flycatchers swoop and dart across a field.
The marina and a golf course edge the trail as it begins to wind back toward the dam.
It was at the dam that I lost the trail for awhile. I didn’t think it could possibly be the plan to ride on that narrow strip with the traffic, so I tried a few other directions first.
It really wasn’t bad once I realized that was the trail though. There was at least a narrow bike lane on one side and the traffic was pretty limited.
The lake is wide and still on this misty weekday morning. I suspect it’s often teeming with all those sailboats, resting for now, back at the marina.
Rambling ... 