Day 319 of 365

A little fall left in Pittsburgh

A few trees and shrubs still held onto autumn, as seen from my sister-in-law's porch in Pittsburgh.

Day 308 of 365

10 bags o' leaves

My wife and I spent three hours raking leaves and filled up 10 bags' worth. Glad I had her, because it would've taken me about five hours on my own.

Day 302 of 365

Go back home across autumn America

"These Roads Don't Move,"
Jay Farrar and Ben Gibbard

There is no need to say another word
You'll be golden and eternal just like that
Something good will come of all things yet
Simple golden eternity blessing all

'Cause these roads don't move
You're the one that moves
'Cause these roads don't move
You're the one that moves

Now get my ticket and say goodbye
Leave San Francisco behind
Go back home across autumn America
And it'll be all like it was in the beginning


'Cause these roads don't move
You're the one that moves
'Cause these roads don't move
You're the one that moves

All the dark torture is a memory
I do see my star still shining
For all those years looking out of jail and ship windows
The irrational mortal loneliness is always crowned

'Cause these roads don't move
You're the one that moves
'Cause these roads don't move
You're the one that moves
'Cause these roads don't move
You're the one that moves

Day 296 of 365

Parkway autumn

I often forget how pretty the trees along the Garden State Parkway can be in autumn. Luckily I found myself down that way this week and could see the turning leaves again.

Day 295 of 365

Farview Trail off the Old Mine Road

On my third day of autumn road tripping, I explored the southern stretch of the Old Mine Road along the Delaware River for the first time. Looking for the remains of an old camp resort, I parked at the Farview trailhead on the east side of the road and walked an hour up the hill -- crossing the Appalachian Trail -- and back down. Only then did I finally figure out that the poorly written account I'd printed out from the internet was talking about the trails on the western side of the road -- which go no more than a few hundred feet before they reach the Delaware. And sure enough, there were concrete steps and sheds and other remnants of a long-gone riverside resort.

Day 294 of 365

Hint of orange

A branch fights against the force of the falls -- as minor as they are -- on the North Branch of the Raritan River on the Natirar estate in Somerset County, New Jersey.

Day 288 of 365

Soggy autumn day

I was hoping to spend one of my days off this week on another drive through northern New Jersey's rural highlands to take in the foliage, but the weather didn't cooperate. But I didn't want to miss the peak days of my favorite tree in the yard, so I opened the window next to it and shot from the dining room -- staying dry the whole time.

Day 274 of 365

Looking out my back door

I love those moments when you look up from what you're doing and see a moment worthy of a photograph, and that's what I got when I looked out the back to see the lowering sun shining on and through the leaves -- some of which have just started their autumn changeover.

"Perfect time of day," New Jersey, October 2008

Perfect time of day

The title and music of this Howie Day song were in my head for this shot, taken at High Point State Park in Sussex County. It's a great driving song that goes best on a warm enough afternoon to have the windows down and the sunroof open. While the lyrics take a more serious tone, I tend to ignore that underlying meaning. It has to be late afternoon, when the light is low and tinted gold or orange. The location can vary -- in the rolling hills, along a beach road, across a flat and straight stretch of highway in the plains. And though I stopped the car and made my way to the shore of this lake, the cool October breeze and mid-autumn light still put this scene into "perfect time of day" territory.

Let your colors collide
The time is so right
I keep running behind
But I know your meaning
You love to fall
The perfect time of day