November Walk

It should come as no surprise that I am no athlete.  I've never had a sport to rely on for exercise.  The one thing that has kept me active and healthy is a daily walk.  Grayden and I both enjoy this activity and for that I am so thankful to join my sweetheart in a walk.  It's so lovely to step out our door and walk for a couple of miles each morning. 

 

When we were in Myrtle Beach last month, we increased the distance of our walks.  Returning home, we decided to increase our walks here as well.  Our daughter came for a visit to celebrate her Daddy's birthday and to visit her son that lives with us.  Her sport is swimming, but she also is a walker so she joined us each day for our morning walk.  Our city has a lovely circuit trail that is 3.5 miles.  That is a respectable walk in our opinion!  Every day when we take this walk we have been hoping that our leaves will be changing.  It's been so dry, many of the leaves have just turned brown and fallen to the ground. 

 

Come along with us as we take our morning walk and see how our leaves have begun to change after getting some much needed rain!  The Heritage River Trail trail follows the Rappahannock River for a ways and then connects to the Canal Path Trail.

Fredericksburg is full of history and there are markers here and there to remind us.

Walking along this morning it was quite chilly.  We're both bundled in our warmest clothing complete with hats and gloves.  The wind chill is quite noticeable, but the view is worth it. 

If you look across the way, that is where we continue our walk.

Despite the cold day the river is a beautiful blue this morning.

Rich golden hues of Autumn dot the banks of the river.

As we cross the footbridge over the old canal we continue our walk.  

The old canal through Fredericksburg is not in use now. 

The two paths link together to make a circuit, the Heritage River Trail and the Canal Path Trail. 

The city has gone to great expense to continue the path under Fall Hill Avenue.  Pedestrians, joggers, and folks on bicycles can safely use this path without danger of local traffic.

Late Autumn seeds dot the landscape as we continue down the Canal Path Trail.

The birdsong and the rustling of the leaves in the wind are the only sounds as we take one step after the other.  I must say this is a most contemplative walk.  

The colorful tapestry of fallen leaves frame the edge of the pathway.

The still canal water mirrors the trees that surround its edges.

"Nature never did betray the heart that loved her."
William Wordsworth

We are thrilled to see color on this windy morning.  Though it's brief, it's lovely.

The bright green leaves of this morning will probably be gone this evening as a we are expecting our temperatures to drop to 25 degrees, a killing frost.

As we walk the last segment, headed to our car, we see many lovely shades of orange, red, brown and gold.  Oh Autumn how I love your show!