This fall seems to have come late, with the oaks now ascendant. In the past few days we raced out before clouds overtook the sun to visit three of our favorite walks in Ulster County, New York.
A well-maintained carriageway wends its way through fields with views to the Shawangunk Mountains.
Walkway Over the Hudson
Where in the past we started out on the Poughkeepsie side, these days we approach the Walkway from Highland, in Ulster County. The cliffs on the Highland side offer grand displays of color.
Rosendale Trestle Bridge and Wallkill Valley Rail Trail
Wikipedia has more information than you may care to know about the Rosendale Trestle Bridge, but we’re very glad, at the least, that it didn’t end up being a bungee jumping site, as one past owner had tried to do.
Franz Joseph Haydn’s Symphony No. 59 (Fire Symphony)
Prufrock's Dilemma 
Thanks for the vicarious visit upstate to see the “fall colors,” Sue. Beautiful portfolio as photographs in their own right, too. And the Haydn: the composer-friend I most admire, who studied with Milton Babbitt, not only reveres Haydn as no other but studies him regularly, even now. Why I’ve denied myself his symphonic output, to the extent I have, is hard to explain!
Always glad to provide a vicarious visit upstate–nothing like a little armchair traveling, eh? As for Haydn, I hadn’t listened to any Haydn symphonies until prompted by our comrade-in-music Brian Long. Now, I find they are sometimes just the right thing, often to accompany something like sorting through photographs, as I was doing today to put up this post. Who knows, maybe you will now be prompted to delve into a little more Haydn, too!
I’m a sucker for fall color, and you’ve showed some beautiful colors here. Still, I’m as taken with that first photo of the broad, inviting carriageway in the first photo. My favorite photo — the one that stopped me for a much closer look — is the one third from the bottom, showing the trees and the rocks. It’s just gorgeous — one of those photos that makes me want to be “there,” and preferably right now!
I’m delighted you liked that first photo. I debated which one to put up top, and while the color is off in the distance in that one, it seemed to me to do exactly what you describe–invite anyone who happens by onto the journey. We’ve felt very lucky to have close access to these walks this fall. It would have for certain increased our pleasure to have you to walk along side us. Maybe one day it will happen–wouldn’t that be lovely!
Indeed it would. In the meantime — a happy Thanksgiving to you both!