With time on our hands during the second week in October in the state of Michigan means only one thing. It was the perfect opportunity to do a color drive into the country. In addition the sun was shining and the Lord has kept the normally vigorous Autumns winds at bay.

We drove down Maple Road. It came to a T intersection at the Huron River. For no particular reason we turned right. It proved to be a spectacular choice.

The sun shone through the yellow leaves lighting up the route. Nearly black tree trunks stood out in great contrast.  It was a stunning drive.

The road along the river does not have a shoulder. A ditch follows the road on my right. On the other side of the road was a cliff down to the river.

But we had to find a place to stop. The color and lighting was perfect for photos. It was time to take a risk.

A wide spot along the side of the road appeared. Traffic behind me was growing impatient as I slowly looked for a place to pull over. The beauty of creation surrounding that lady right behind me was being wasted.

She glared at me when she drove by me. I shot her a smile. Maybe a pleasantry could linger in her bitter life just for a little while.

Once the automobile traffic dissipated, I got of mine. I looked up the road and back down the road. The color was amazing.

When I raised my camera, I could see the framed shot. My shutter snapped at my command. I reframed an optional sighting. Then, I changed the settings and snapped more photos.

Traffic was picking up again so I climbed back into the safety of my vehicle. We drove down the road and found a parking lot by a bridge that crossed the river. Our short hike never made it to the other side. Instead, the view from the middle of the bridge captivated our attention.

The hillside was filled with trees in full dress color. The blued sky was a fitting backdrop. Water reflected the color and highlighted the scene. This grand show is missed by so many who are in a hurry to get some where and probably go inside. I chose to take it all in and on top of that it’s free. Free is a very good price.

photo credits: Bruce Fong Photography