On a fine fall Friday afternoon, what could we do but go for a walk? So we parked on Kettle Road, off Robie Road, right by the little drive into the campfire area at Sandford Lake, and we walked along Kettle, which is dirt at this point, as it winds around the shore of the lake.
*In the bright sun and the blue sky, the autumn leaves sparkled. Fall colors lay over the land like a blanket lain down on the rolling countryside.
*With a little hunting we found the oriole’s nest that had been active back on Memorial Day weekend… now empty but not forlorn… instead, fulfilled. The lake at this end is smothered in lily pads, though most of the rest is open. We were surprised that we didn’t see any waterfowl, but dragonflies and damselflies busied their way around us.
*The inlet on the north side seemed full and flowing, which surprised us a little, given how dry this year has been. Once beyond the pond our way rises, taking us past white birches that remind us of our New England homes.
*In the past we’ve walked straight on to the little settlement of Sonora and done a turnaround there, but this time we took a left onto Sonora Road, which we don’t think either of us had been on before. The road rolls up and down along meadows and woodlots, and the blue jays screech in the trees. In one stretch Sonora Road is lined with tall old maples, and we relived our maple-sugaring days, for these stately ancients were surely tapped for many years, and probably planted for that purpose. A good-sized hawk flies from the woodlot, lights in a maple by the road, then doubles back when he notices us.
*There’s a medium-sized cemetery on the east side of the road, Sonora Cemetery, with many stones still easily legible, dating back to the 1830s. Here we make our turn and amble back southward, scaring a tall wading bird from the lake – so we saw a great blue heron, and a great big hawk.
*This is supposed to be our peak for this year’s foliage season, though I’m not sure how anybody makes that judgment. Sunshine on the leaves can make all the difference, and of course wind or rain can tear the leaves away. Plus it gets to seem routine, but autumn leaves are like Housman’s cherry blossoms… every year means one less season to see.
*So besides Robie Road, where else can you see good leaves – bearing in mind that with a good wind, this could be out of date ten minutes after I write it? From my experience of this season, I’d say:
*Village of Hammondsport… great place to see the leaves as a walker, not only in the village but on the slopes above, and even on reflections in the lake.
*Village of Honeoye Falls… a good scene again this year, and take in those lovely falls in the middle of town.
*Village of Dansville… get out of the business district (good and busy, but short on trees), and you may be pleasantly surprised.
*Interstate 390 between Bath and Dansville… very good right now, but keep your eyes on the road. Safety is job 1, leaves are job 2.
*Mossy Bank Park, overlooking Bath… not just in the park itself, but looking over the tremendous view you get from there.
*Pleasant Valley… there’s a reason they called it that, all the way back to the 1790s.
*Finger Lakes Trail, between Pleasant Valley and Mitchellsville Road… maybe the Trail’s most beautiful segment, and a vineyard as well. What’s not to like?
*So – how many more autumns are you going to have? Don’t waste this one. Get out and enjoy it.