Arts & Entertainment
TJ Ray: Tunneling His Way Through Lafayette County
All photos by TJ Ray
Maybe Dr. Affable (TJ Ray) has gotten into geocaching. But – if I had to venture a guess – most likely not. Regardless, that doesn’t keep him from bumbling around town on an almost daily basis with his Nikon in tow.
Dr. Ray regularly contributes photo galleries to HottyToddy.com – most with an organic or biological theme. Today’s submission: A lone Oxford tunnel.
TJ laboriously combs the discrete niches of Lafayette County in search of… well, anything that catches his eye and this week’s submission is indeed a hidden Oxford gem – or a disgrace. It’s all in the eye of the beholder.
Local author and photographer TJ Ray is a regular contributor to HottyToddy.com. He can be reached via email at tjmaryjo@bellsouth.net.
Walk north on the bike trail away from the Oxford Activity Center and go about 75 feet. Very very carefully climb down the steep embankment on the left side and at the bottom you will see a huge tunnel that runs under the former railroad roadbed. Huge sections of concrete and stone form an arch that runs for about 100 feet, with a height of about 16 feet. Inside you’ll find the usual stupid, thoughtless graffiti of vandals. Several huge letters have been scratched out of the wall. At one point what appear to be animal tracks are visible in the floor.
Much of the floor is made of handmade bricks cemented in place. They are quite attractive. Now, go back to the end of the tunnel and see if you can climb back up to the bike trail.
Photo by TJ Ray
Thanks Dr. Ray, I think I’ll do that as soon as the rain let’s up on this misty Friday morning. Besides, the tunnel in question – if your directions are spot on – should be only a few hundred feet away from where this is being typed.
HottyToddy.com would like to remind all of you to submit any photos you’d like considered for publication to hottytoddyphotos@gmail.com and we’ll gladly hook you up for all of Rebel Nation to enjoy.
Photo by TJ Ray
Photo by TJ Ray
Photo by TJ Ray
Photo by TJ Ray
Photo by TJ Ray
Photo by TJ Ray
Dr. TJ Ray is a retired professor from the Ole Miss English department. These days, he’s a columnist, HottyToddy.com contributor and semi-professional photographer shooting all thing Oxford and Lafayette County. He can be reached by email at tjmaryjo@bellsouth.net
Jeff McVay is a staff writer and graphic designer for Hottytoddy.com. He can be reached at jeff.mcvay@hottytoddy.com
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Jack Fudge
April 15, 2016 at 7:27 pm
Years past there was a pedestrian tunnel at the depot located about along the North edge of the Ford Center Parking Area for students, passengers, etc. to walk safely under the railroad tracks to avoid the daily train thru Oxford.