Like everyone else I know, I’ve been grieving the results of Tuesday’s election. This post will have nothing to say about that, because I have nothing to say that hasn’t already been expressed by others…many others. This post is about what I did yesterday afternoon to distract and soothe myself.
I picked up my camera and I went for a walk.
I followed the Saco Riverwalk, which begins just a few blocks from my apartment. To get there, I had to pass the covered bridge to the little park next door, where I paused to take the photo above.
Next I found this delicate fern growing out of a crack in the wall of a railroad overpass.
When I got to the river walk, the path was so leaf-strewn that it was barely visible. It’s narrow and slopes steeply down to the river’s edge, so I kept my eyes on where I was placing my feet.
I came across a few wildflowers still blooming. This large, round boulder is a puzzle — it looks completely out of place atop the angular granite riverbank. I wondered how it got here.
Rosa Multiflora is a terribly invasive plant, and there’s a lot of it in this area. But it is beautiful! It’s covered in tiny white flowers in the summer and masses of small red hips in the fall and winter. I’ve read that they are edible, but I’ve never tried it.
Many trees have already shed their leaves. You’d think those ones at the very tips of the branches would have been the first to go, but they are hanging on tenaciously.
A favorite resting place. I love this view to the neighboring town across the river.
This clump of birches is one of my favorite places to take selfies. Yes, I did get my phone out of my pocket and snapped a few. Not very successfully, though – it’s a windy spot, and I couldn’t keep my hair out of my face!
And here are the tops of those birches. This makes me think of spatter painting.
There’s not much red left, so I was especially pleased to spot these oak leaves.
The river widens into a little bay here and the path curves left to follow it around.
With apologies to my friends who have to pay florists exorbitant prices for a bit of bittersweet — this stuff is everywhere.
And here the trail swings back to the right…
…to follow this power line easement.
I don’t know what those tall, auburn-colored plants alongside the trail are, but they were filled with the rustling and twittering of small birds. I saw many chickadees, busy doing whatever chickadees do in the fall, calling out their cheery little “chickadee-dee-dee.” (This image is greatly cropped, since I didn’t have my tele lens with me.)
At the top of the hill, more trees and so many leaves! I sat down in the middle of these for a while, just inhaling their delicious spicy scent. The river walk has turned away from the river now, and is circling back toward town.
From here, there’s just a glimpse of the water. The tide was out so the water level was very low. (The Saco River rises and falls with the ocean tides all the way to the center of town.)
One more surprise: a single scarlet leaf on a bright golden maple tree.
And that brings us to the trail’s end. Those steps on the left lead up to a small parking area, where I begin my zigzag path along the neighborhood streets and sidewalks toward home.
On the way home, I looked up and saw this:
And an hour or so later, the day’s final gift:
I needed that, so very much. I hope it has lifted you up a little bit, too.
November 11, 2016 at 7:12 pm
Well done. I love your chickadee. No one can be upset listening to a chickadee’s cheerful chatter. Thanks for the uplift.
November 11, 2016 at 7:18 pm
Lovely shots, and great job not falling down the hill! That is a skill I hope to master myself one day. 😉
November 11, 2016 at 7:18 pm
Love the first one with the leaf. I also got a great shot of the wonderful sunset last night.
November 11, 2016 at 7:21 pm
What trail are you on?
November 11, 2016 at 7:23 pm
Saco Riverwalk.
November 11, 2016 at 7:23 pm
Your walk does look very lovely and peaceful. I should find the Saco river from this end…I’ts such a big river and we used to go when we camped in North Conway…You still have some lovely foliage left, as do we, but it has been windy here all day so I’m sure it took some of the leaves out of the tree…I enjoyed this little “reprieve” with you…lovely colors and compositons,,,
Each day will get a bit better. I have found that no tv is working for me..I’m getting back into my books…
November 11, 2016 at 8:41 pm
Another lovely walk through the woods with you. You artist, you!
November 11, 2016 at 9:05 pm
It’s lovely to see you here, my dear old friend!
November 11, 2016 at 9:08 pm
Such lovely fall color.
November 11, 2016 at 9:11 pm
So soothing. This did my heart good.
November 11, 2016 at 9:14 pm
Such a great idea to go for a walk like this during this tumultuous week. Your gorgeous fall images of nature definitely lifted my spirits. Some of them are particular favourites but they are all great!
November 11, 2016 at 10:15 pm
These are all so beautiful…the bittersweet, the chickadees …the colors, the bolder. I feel like I too went on a walk.!
November 12, 2016 at 1:57 am
These are such gorgeous pictures. Truly soul nourishing after a shattering few days. I love that silver fern peaking through the rocks, what a persistent and cheeky little thing. Autumn is my favourite time of year, and all those leaves are stunning. I find trees so nurturing and protective. They give me strength. They also remind me of one of my favourite quotes…. ‘Storms make oaks take deeper root,’ by George Herbert. We are in a storm indeed.
November 12, 2016 at 7:42 am
There are stunning images. And just looking at them and “walking” with you…I feel more peaceful. Thanks. I really needed this.
November 12, 2016 at 7:54 am
Thank you for this lovely walk. Your images are breathtaking, as always! Not only do I appreciate the peace and beauty, but I’m enjoying the color. It doesn’t look like there’ll be much color here. It’s been quite a while since we’ve had rain. The leavers are pretty much turning brown and falling off. I’m have to look for color in mums and pumpkins! I also went for a walk yesterday though a beautiful garden. A post will come, but probably next week. Have a lovely weekend!
November 12, 2016 at 8:20 am
Well done – a very healing, strengthening view of the world. Thank you.
November 12, 2016 at 8:24 am
These are all so gorgeous and definitely worth the walk while the sense of autumn still holds on. We as the American people will hold on to and come out better in the end for it. I LOVED that Rosa Multiflora photo and the tree branches would make great paintings. So much goodness right outside your door.
November 12, 2016 at 3:53 pm
Indeed it has (lifted my spirits), my friend.
It’s been a tough week for many.
Thank you, dear Lee.
xo.
November 12, 2016 at 5:39 pm
Thank you Lee for this beautiful experience. I feel refreshed and my senses like to repeat the impressions you described.
November 13, 2016 at 9:36 am
What a beautiful walk Lee such beauty in that part of the country. On your second image of the fern picking out of the rocks I have almost an identical one from my walk when I was in OR. Wish I could have been there to experience this walk with you.
November 13, 2016 at 8:07 pm
This was a beautiful walk! I love that you looked all around you, up and down… I love the rosa multiflora photo – and what a beautiful sky end your walk with!
November 14, 2016 at 9:36 am
Beautiful and heartwarming
November 15, 2016 at 10:13 am
Just amazing photos, love them, love the feel of them.
November 16, 2016 at 6:30 pm
Beautiful fall shots and a very good plan to try to get over the disappointment ( is that the word) of the election. So glad to have photography and blogging as wonderful distractions
November 18, 2016 at 4:53 pm
Gorgeous photos of autumn. You have captured beautiful colours and light.
November 20, 2016 at 5:24 am
A beautiful way to clear your head & distract yourself from political commentary everywhere. Such a gorgeous part of the world!
November 22, 2016 at 12:39 pm
I think you spent that day in one of the best ways I can imagine. Nature is such a soothing healer.
You live in a lovely area. The river is gorgeous, and how beautiful is all the fall color! You have captured autumn in its essence. The last picture is a feast in colors. Exquisite.
November 22, 2016 at 11:43 pm
What great therapy for these trying times! Your images are so lovely, with the beautiful fall colors and woodsy feel. You live in a special place. Thank you for taking us along. Happy Thanksgiving!
November 24, 2016 at 9:14 am
Revisiting this post. I need a bit of this therapy. “It” still feels unreal to me. I have to stay away from social media because all the horrible posts are making me sick.
November 24, 2016 at 9:44 pm
Dear me … I feel so sad … I thought I had commented on this… I know I read it a while ago. Anyway, here I am revisiting this beautiful post. I could feel your pain, but the absolute beauty of your area is so soothing. Thank you for taking us along on your walk. I loved every image, but for some reason the rose hips and the bittersweet were calling my name 🙂 good thing I’m not around there with my snippers! Take heart my friend. xo
December 3, 2016 at 3:13 am
All of this soothed me. Wonderful, thoughtful, expressive, simple, beautiful. Thank you for sharing your gift Léon.
December 3, 2016 at 11:29 am
I love your wonderful photos!
December 11, 2016 at 11:46 am
Your work is just beautiful.
November 13, 2017 at 10:28 am
I really like your blog! Your fall photos are lovely. The essence of Maine!