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River Valley, North Carolina

This is near Gorges State Park not far from Asheville. There was so much scenery I wanted to stop at every bend in the road and, left to my own whims, I'd probably still be there. The whole region is full of beauty and so collects a lot of artists as places like this do. You can't go more than a mile in any direction without passing some art gallery or artisan's studio. One day I will just have to spend a good amount of time amongst the hills and valleys like this. Then before you know it I'll be sporting a goatee and a French beret and talking like a real artist. In the meantime you'll find me at the local coffee shop, that's the best I can do for now.

This is near Gorges State Park not far from Asheville. There was so much scenery I wanted to stop at every bend in the road and, left to my own whims, I’d probably still be there. The whole region is full of beauty and so collects a lot of artists as places like this do. You can’t go more than a mile in any direction without passing some art gallery or artisan’s studio. One day I will just have to spend a good amount of time amongst the hills and valleys like this. Then before you know it I’ll be sporting a goatee and a French beret and talking like a real artist. In the meantime you’ll find me at the local coffee shop, that’s the best I can do for now.

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Bank of the River

I stopped at an

I stopped at an “open space” along the Farmington River near Hartford. Looking at a local map it seems there are a lot of these open spaces which are not quite parks yet they to seem act as buffers between the natural landscape and the development. I found this area on one of that last remaining days of autumn and was mesmerized by the deep, swift, quite flow of the river. It impressed me with a feeling of understated power. No waterfalls, no rapids, just deep dark flowing water along this secluded bank.

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Frankton Arm of Wakatipu

When I first arrived in New Zealand I was a little overwhelmed by the beauty and landscapes. But it didn't take long for me to snap out of it and start taking pictures of my immediate surrounds, like this one from right in front of our hotel in Frankton. Frankton is a little village just outside of Queenstown proper where the airport is located at the foot of the Remarkables mountain range. It had just rained and if you look closely you can see the snow on the mountains over Queenstown. Anyway, this was taken in autumn just before winter in the southern hemisphere so the trees still had color, but now I imagine this scene looks very different as New Zealand enters summer.

When I first arrived in New Zealand I was a little overwhelmed by the beauty and landscapes. But it didn’t take long for me to snap out of it and start taking pictures of my immediate surrounds, like this one from right in front of our hotel in Frankton. Frankton is a little village just outside of Queenstown proper where the airport is located at the foot of the Remarkables mountain range. It had just rained and if you look closely you can see the snow on the mountains over Queenstown. Anyway, this was taken in autumn just before winter in the southern hemisphere so the trees still had color, but now I imagine this scene looks very different as New Zealand enters summer.

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Biltmore Estate

This was taken from the Biltmore Estate in Asheville, North Carolina. This is one of those old world estates with thousands of acres and vineyards and rolling hills. Now it's open to the public and you could spend a week here exploring and living the life of Riley.

This was taken from the Biltmore Estate in Asheville, North Carolina. This is one of those old world estates with thousands of acres and vineyards and rolling hills. Now it’s open to the public and you could spend a week here exploring and living the life of Riley.

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Farmington River

It was only yesterday that the leaves had colors. Now, not so much. This is in Connecticut a couple weeks ago. What a difference a couple of weeks makes. Now the long haul begins.

It was only yesterday that the leaves had colors. Now, not so much. This is in Connecticut a couple weeks ago. What a difference a couple of weeks makes. Now the long haul begins.

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Shadows on the Path

This is part of the path to Rainbow Falls in North Carolina's Gorges State Park. I took this as we hiked out and the sun was a little lower on the horizon thus casting these awesome shadows across the path. I was feeling a little guilty for dragging my wife and her sister on this hike that was a little more than we bargained for. I'd walk up ahead about a hundred yards, stop and turn around with my tripod and then take a couple of pictures until I saw them coming up the path. Then I'd motor on and repeat the process a little further up the way. In this manner I got a lot of shots of the trail and this is one of my favorite.

This is part of the path to Rainbow Falls in North Carolina’s Gorges State Park. I took this as we hiked out and the sun was a little lower on the horizon thus casting these awesome shadows across the path. I was feeling a little guilty for dragging my wife and her sister on this hike that was a little more than we bargained for. I’d walk up ahead about a hundred yards, stop and turn around with my tripod and then take a couple of pictures until I saw them coming up the path. Then I’d motor on and repeat the process a little further up the way. In this manner I got a lot of shots of the trail and this is one of my favorite.

Click on photo to enlarge

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Below Rainbow Falls

About a week ago I took this from Gorges State Park, which is nestled in North Carolina’s Blue Ridge Mountains. This spot is just below Rainbow Falls, which is just around the next bend. There was a good little hike that seemed longer than it was on account of all the slopes and switchbacks, but was well worth when we finally arrived. I’m so glad we have state and national parks that preserve wilderness and landscapes like this for the public. If not for that much of the lands would be private and inaccessible. But that’s certainly not a problem here as there were plenty of hikers enjoying the last days of fall before winter decides to take over for the duration.

About a week ago I took this from Gorges State Park, which is nestled in North Carolina’s Blue Ridge Mountains. This spot is just below Rainbow Falls, which is just around the next bend. There was a good little hike that seemed longer than it was on account of all the slopes and switchbacks, but was well worth when we finally arrived. I’m so glad we have state and national parks that preserve wilderness and landscapes like this for the public. If not for that much of the lands would be private and inaccessible. But that’s certainly not a problem here as there were plenty of hikers enjoying the last days of fall before winter decides to take over for the duration.

Click on photo to enlarge

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Autumn Sky

I arrived in Connecticut yesterday from Florida and was pleasantly surprised to see that autumn colors and leaves were still on display. For some reason I thought most of the Northeast had moved on to winter. This is the Farmington River in Windsor, just outside of Hartford. As I drove around on a Sunday afternoon I saw several people (the few that weren't watching football) out raking the leaves. Perhaps a few kids jumped in the big piles of leaves this afternoon after school. I'm pretty sure that's what I would have done.

I arrived in Connecticut yesterday from Florida and was pleasantly surprised to see that autumn colors and leaves were still on display. For some reason I thought most of the Northeast had moved on to winter. This is the Farmington River in Windsor, just outside of Hartford. As I drove around on a Sunday afternoon I saw several people (the few that weren’t watching football) out raking the leaves. Perhaps a few kids jumped in the big piles of leaves this afternoon after school. I’m pretty sure that’s what I would have done.

Click on photo to enlarge.

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North Carolina in Autumn

Just got back from a quick trip up to North Carolina to see the autumn colors and the timing was just right. The Blue Ridge Mountains are in full display and every turn on the winding roads brings amazing scenes. The rivers and streams are full from a recent snowstorm and the weather has warmed up so fishermen were out in numbers fly casting. North Carolina is indeed an awesome place and now that I know that I'll be planning a longer trip soon.

Just got back from a quick trip up to North Carolina to see the autumn colors and the timing was just right. The Blue Ridge Mountains are in full display and every turn on the winding roads brings amazing scenes. The rivers and streams are full from a recent snowstorm and the weather has warmed up so fishermen were out in numbers fly casting. North Carolina is indeed an awesome place and now that I know that I’ll be planning a longer trip soon.

Click on photo to enlarge