The Path Ahead

Taskinas Creek Trail

York River State Park

Another World

Taskinas Creek Trail

York River State Park

There's been a good deal said as of late here in the United States about what helps keep people sane during what has been an extraordinarily fractious presidential campaign. For me, it's long walks, especially in the woods. I relish these moments, especially as I will be pretty much in the thick of things as I go to work the polls on Election Day from five o-clock in the morning until--well, until all the votes in that precinct are counted, no matter how long that may take. I think it was the last presidential election when I didn't get back home until the wee hours of the next morning. 

I know none of my blogger friends would dream of cursing or abusing election officials. But every election there are some who do so. All we can do in response is just to smile and thank them for voting. It's in moments like those that I it helps, I think, to remember that there's another world out there filled with wonder and beauty, waiting to be enjoyed.

Light

Taskinas Creek Trail

York River State Park

Late afternoon. Sunlight still stealing its way through breaks in the forest cover. Pools of light gathering on the forest floor. My favorite time to be in the woods.

Gate

Taskinas Creek Trail

York River State Park

Overlook

Bald Eagle Overlook

Taskinas Creek Trail

York River State Park

Gnarly

Taskinas Creek Trail

York River State Park

My old favorite.

Three Sisters

A "lifestyle clothing store that encourages women of all ages to feel good about themselves." Located in the heart of Williamsburg, Virginia.

Linking again today with Skywatch Friday.

POV

 

Taskinas Creek Trail

York River State Park

Laurel & Pine

Taskinas Creek Trail

York River State Park

Mountain Laurel and Eastern White Pine are, for me, kind of like Rosemary & Thyme, Simon & Garfunkel, or maybe Sonny & Cher (Oops! I guess that last one didn't last). :-)

Waters Edge

Taskinas Creek Trail

York River State Park

Taskinas Creek Trail

Returned yesterday to the Taskinas Creek Trail in York River State Park, a wonderful place to observe wildlife. Just in the time it took the Washington Commanders to score about 20-points in their Sunday afternoon game with the Carolina Panthers, I heard and/or saw Great Blue Herons, Pileated Woodpeckers, White-tailed Deer, Barred Owls, Red-shouldered Hawks and Red-bellied Woodpeckers, not to mention the leaves of various deciduous trees just now beginning to show their fall colors. 

Memo

Always, ALWAYS, it's the maple trees that get the memo early. :-)

Burg Ehrenfels

Resurrected this photo recently from a visit I paid to Bingen-am-Rhein. Taken just after sunset. 

Linking again today with Skywatch Friday.

Neighbors

Grateful

Williamsburg, Virginia

Experiment

More of an experiment than anything else. I wanted to see if I could somehow capture the sunlight streaming through this maple leaf I spotted while walking the Virginia Capital Trail near Greensprings. I was using an Apple iPhone 13 (ISO 50 - 48mm - f1.6 - 1/1992 s).

Formidable

Powhatan Creek Trail

The Pond

Greensprings

Linking again today to Skywatch Friday.

Fall Iris

 Williamsburg garden

Shore Reclamation

Officials at York River State Park have been working hard to protect its shoreline from further erosion.

 

Hickory Nut

York River State Park

Forest

York River State Park

On the Tide

Just some of the stuff that has either floated in on the tide or fallen from the trees above the shoreline at York River State Park. I like to come down here at low tide, especially after a period of stormy weather.

Roots

York River State Park

Low Tide

York River 

Linking again today with Skywatch Friday.

Pollinators

York River State Park

Mushrooms #3

Greensprings Interpretive Trail

Mushrooms #2

Greensprings Interpretive Trail