The Stevenson Forest Preserve is one of our favorite small local venues and we managed to hit peak fall colors and a gorgeous day this weekend during a brief visit.

For a long time last year the Cascadilla Gorge Trail in Ithaca was closed for trail repairs and then peripheral construction work. Today we were pleased to revisit this beautiful easy trail early enough in the day to avoid almost all other visitors. That’s remarkable given this lovely gorge cuts right through downtown Ithaca near the Cornell campus. It’s a gem right there in the middle of town.

A day ago we enjoyed both a beautiful sunrise and interesting sunset from our expansive view to the east. The sunrise included a sun pillar (vertical shaft of light above the sun caused by atmospheric ice crystal reflections). The sunset view to the east included a sliver of light shining briefly through the shadow of the Benjamin Hill to the west and the low cloud cover overhead. Together, a nice respite from the dismal grays of the last few decades (or was it days?).

In what is likely our last walk of 2021, Lori and I strolled around the trails at the Cornell Lab of Ornithology, taking advantage of the unseasonably warm temperatures. It’s been a dismal year for many people but we’re thankful that we came through it unscathed.

Lori and I spent a pleasant late Friday morning strolling around the F. R. Newman Arboretum in what has become an annual fall tradition. It’s quite the treasure.