Hello blog friends! How are you doing? I hope your day is going well and you have a few minutes to stay and chat with me over a cup of coffee or tea.
This past week, we had some cloudy days and periods of rain. On Friday, the day started with fog, then the sun came out with a blast of summer-like high temperature of 23C (73F). By Friday evening, a cold front passed through the city bringing strong winds, severe thunderstorms, and showers. It all cleared up and cool temperatures returned the next morning.
I went cycling and walking five days in a row during the week. More than once, when I left home for my bike ride and a long walk, it looked cloudy at first, then the sun came out, and the rest of the day was beautiful. Let me show you my wanderings in pictures.
Gorgeous trees and leaves
Heritage sites
Inviting trails
I’m grateful to have easy access to the Waterfront trail, which is part of the Great Trail of Canada. At 27,000 kilometres (16,777 miles) in length, the Great Trail of Canada is the longest recreational trail in the world.
Reflections
Every outing reminds me that:
- It’s a good “move” to start my day with physical activities outdoors. I always feel great by the time I return home.
- Preparing for an enjoyable bicycle ride is similar to preparing for an enjoyable walk, with the addition of my bike helmet.
- Warm up, cool down, and stretch exercises help maintain or increase my body’s mobility, they help prevent some injuries, and they make me feel great. They are not to be missed.
- There are many local gems to discover. Just when I think I know my city, a wandering leads me to new experience and new learning. Both cycling and walking allow me the freedom to turn to wherever my curiosity takes me.
- The cool air, open space, blue skies, the trail, the lake, and nature make me smile and feel happy. They’re my go-to antidote to social isolation during this COVID-19 pandemic.
I usually choose a scenic spot for a picnic before finding my way home. With cooler weather, people tend to stay inside and that leaves me with a lot of open space when I’m outside. The views, either towards the city or the lake, are amazing.
I’m thankful to have experienced so much seasonal beauty in October, and for the joy and health benefits that cycling and walking give me every time I head outdoors.
How did your week go? What outdoor activity have you enjoyed recently? I’d love to hear your comments.
Linking here.
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Natalie the Explorer 
Your fall foliage has certainly kicked into high gear, Natalie. The trees are gorgeous! Here in North Carolina the mountains are experiencing brilliant colors while we wait down here in the Piedmont. I’m glad you’re getting outside. I’ve been taking my mother out for walks to our local park. Unfortunately, I haven’t figured out a way to edit my current book while going out and about! 🙂 Have a great week. Thank you for sharing your beautiful photos!
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Jill, I’m glad that you’re able to take your mother out for walks. I’m sure the walks helped your editing after you get home 🙂 I saw images of the Piedmont and the mountains in NC on the web, such a beautiful area. Getting outside has saved my sanity since the pandemic began. Have a wonderful week!
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Hi Natalie, I look forward to seeing your photos of the Autumn colours in Eastern Canada. I think you and I have discussed how we are running out of ways to say “WOW” and “Stunning.”😊 I am happy how progress has been made on the Great Trail of Canada. Lots of work completed this year on the West coast of the Island, too. You remind me how mixing it up with the biking and walking is a good thing. A beautiful post, Natalie, as always. Have a great week!
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Hi Erica/ Erika, Yes, I run out of ways to praise the autumn colours we have here. Biking and walking help me stay positive and keep things in perspective during this pandemic. I’m glad to hear lots of work completed on the West coast for the Great Trail. I look forward to cycle or walk on it when I’m there again. Have a wonderful week!
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Amazing, astonishing, awesome, incredible, impressive, outstanding, remarkable, staggering, marvellous, fantastic, out of this world, splendid, phenomenal….. 😀
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You’re the best, Donna. Your descriptive words ring true when I go outside today and see the Fall colours.
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Ha, ha………….great words to also describe “Donna!” 😊
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What beautiful views to picnic by! I can not get over how long that trail is! I too have found getting out in nature to be a real saving grace this past year.
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Joanne, Getting out in nature has saved my sanity during this pandemic. I’m grateful to have easy access to the Waterfront trail and parks. I hope you and your family are well.
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I love those fall colors contrasting against the bright blue sky. You couldn’t have picked a more beautiful place to walk and bike!
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Janis, The Fall colors are amazing. It’s a privilege to walk and bike in this beautiful area.
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Yikes! I completely forgot about Walktober. Where did this month go?
Thank you for sharing this with us. Gorgeous!!!
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Hi Donna, October is flying by and it’s a 31-day month. I hope you’re staying safe and well. Have a wonderful upcoming week!
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Hi Natalie, It’s definitely spring weather here in Australia. We’ve been lucky to have had quite a bit of rain. Everything’s growing quickly. I’ve been enjoying my daily walks with Banjo my border collie. We have some lovely waterways close to where I live where the dog can swim. Your Autumn photos are beautiful! Regards Christina
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Christina, Spring rain usually brings beautiful flowers. How nice that Banjo can go swimming close to where you live. It must be fun for him/ her. Occasionally I see dogs swim at the lake shore where I walk and they always bring a smile to my face. I’m glad you like my photos. Have a wonderful week!
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Hi Natalie – I’m loving all that Autumn foliage – those trees are just magnificent. I bet riding and walking through it all is just lovely.
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Leanne, Yes, Riding and walking among the beautiful fall foliage make me smile and feel grateful. Have a wonderful week!
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When my husband and I went to Canada in 2014 we loved exploring your forts and finding out the history behind them. Love the colours of the autumn. Much more vivid than in Australia.
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I’m glad you enjoyed exploring the forts in Canada and their history. What parts of Canada did you visit? The stunning fall foliage here is a beautiful gift from Mother Nature.
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We spent 6 weeks there enjoying St Johns New Foundland, Halifax Nova Scotia, Charlottetown Prince Eadward Island, Monckton New Brunswick, Montreal twice, Kingston, Toronto, Niagara Falls, Quebec City and Ontario.
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That’s fantastic! You’ve seen several cities in Eastern and Atlantic Canada. Each has its own charms. The other provinces in Canada are beautiful, too.
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Yes. We want to get back but probably a bit further away now than we originally planned.
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Such beautiful colours Natalie and as you know I love a good bike ride! Keep enjoying the outdoors for as long as you can.
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Debbie, A good bike ride is exhilarating and so good for our mind and body. I’m heading outdoors again today. Have a wonderful week!
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I love the Autumn colors—absolutely gorgeous.! Our MN winter has begun. We’ve already had our first blizzard and it was a good one.The snow is pretty, but it’s also too soon. Our Fall was bright and fast. So thanks for sharing these. It is good to get one more glimpse of Autumn.
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Jed and Jen, First blizzard already? I like to enjoy Fall and its colours a bit longer, hopefully without snow or ice until December. Have a great week!
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Gorgeous pics, Natalie. The color bursts make it easier to accept summer’s end. Thanks for the post.
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You’re welcome, Antoinette. I’m glad you like my photos.
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You certainly do have a beautiful place to walk, especially now that the leaves are so gorgeous! I wonder if that lakefront trail is the same one I ran on when I did the Mississauga marathon. It was in May – windy, rainy, and cold – and I wore shorts and a short-sleeved shirt. I was never so glad to be finished with a race and put on some dry warm clothes!
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Laurie, Sorry to hear you had a windy, rainy, and cold race day in Mississauga. Congrats on finishing a challenging race! The lakefront part of your race is likely part of the Waterfront trail and the Great Trail that I mentioned.
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I liked the yellow leaves in “Reflections” in the water.
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Frank, That image is poetic, isn’t it? I liked the yellow leaves and their reflections in the water, too.
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Cool that you were able to get so much cycling and walking done. I love this time of year and don’t understand why there aren’t more people out now than the summer… Your photos are great and gives a nice taste of those little sections of Toronto inn October. I hope that you have a wonderful week and are able to continue to get out and about 🙂
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Trent, I’m taking advantage of the cool weather and lack of crowd on the trail. Hard to believe but I have the trail to myself most of the time on weekday mornings and Sunday mornings. It’s busier on Saturdays when I stay home and use it as my rest day. Have a wonderful week!
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Your photos are lovely. The colors are stunningly clear. I do like the photo of you sharing the road with Canadian geese. Made me smile. Happy Monday!
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Ally, Glad my photo of the Canada geese made you smile. We have a lot of them along the lake shore here. They’re my friends on the trail 🙂 Happy Monday!
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A beautiful Walktober post, Natalie. The foliage and blue skies cheered me on this gray, chilly day. I’d never heard of the Great Trail of Canada… I’m off to learn more about it! Thanks for sharing!
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Thank you, Eliza, for your kind comment. I’m glad my photos cheered you up. I updated my post with a link to The Great Trail of Canada web site. Have a wonderful week!
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How I love the colors of October! We’ve had some stunning foliage this year. I love the idea of Walktober! Perfect to get out and enjoy the fall weather.
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Kathleen, Yes, October usually has nice weather and beautiful foliage, perfect for going outside and enjoying long walks. Sounds like you have similar climate. Have a wonderful week!
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I am amazed! what a blessing to have a such a trail at your doorstep. I would love it! wonderful scenery.
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Klara, I love the Waterfront trail and feel grateful to live close to it. Thank you for stopping by. have a great week!
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Fabulous autumn colours. Do people set out to walk the length of that trail? I imagine that they would.
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Yes, people set out to walk or bike on the Great Trail in different ways, e.g. Part of the trail in their city or province, or sections of the Great Trail around the Great Lakes, etc. I don’t know anyone who has successfully done the entire current length 27,000 km of the Great Trail. It would be an adventure of a lifetime.
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Natalie, these are gorgeous Fall photos! Thank you for letting me share in your Walktober. I especially love the reflections in the water. Central Illinois is pretty much land-locked, and I really miss being around some water (though I don’t miss having to brave hurricane season, ha!)
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Thank you, Debbie, for your visit and comment. I’m glad you like my photos. I’m close to Lake Ontario. I’d miss the lake if I live somewhere land-locked.
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Your photos are fabulous!! Really stunning colors in the changing trees!! Thank you for the coffee and it was a wonderful visit! ❤️ Have a great week!! 😀
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Diana, I’m so glad you like my Fall photos. Thank you for stopping by. Have a wonderful week!
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Fabulous autumn colors! Thanks for sharing your trip with us.
It’s great to see your link at ‘My Corner of the World’ this week !!
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Betty, I’m glad you like my photos. Thank you for hosting and commenting. Have a great week!
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WOW! Fall is certainly breathtaking in your corner of the world, Natalie! All those pretty colours and foliage!
Happy Wednesday!
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Happy Wednesday, Veronica! I’m glad you like the Fall foliage in my corner of the world. They seem to be at their peak here in October.
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What a gorgeous time of year. Yout pictures are fabulous. Thanks for sharing. #SeniSal
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Darlene, October is so beautiful here. I’m glad you like my photos. Thank you for stopping by. Have a wonderful week!
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Oh, such beautiful trees and the colour of that foliage is lovely. We’ve actually been getting some rain and storms here in Australia. They usually characterise our summers, so they’ve started a month or so early….
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Deborah, I hope the rain gives the right amount of moisture for the trees and flowers to bloom, and no wild fires.
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Stunning photos, Natalie. I love blue skies! I’m surprised to see so much green still in Eastern Canada and that the geese haven’t left yet. I’ve heard some flocks fly over us in the camper, heading south, recently. The other colors are fantastic too. I had no idea that the Waterfront Trail in Toronto is part of the Great Trail of Canada.
I’m finally walking and hiking in nature again as well, now that we’re back on the road.
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Liesbet, Glad to hear you’re back on the road and walking and hiking in nature again. Are you heading somewhere warm? Over here, even though leaves are falling off the trees, the grass is still green and I see many Canada geese by the lakefront. Today I saw about 60 of them in one area and smaller groups elsewhere.
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Wow. In the town where we spent six months this year, a pond nearby had about 100 Canadian geese right before we left, two weeks ago. I think they are on the move, though.
We’re in Alabama now and heading to Arizona. Slowly. 🙂
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It should be nice temperature-wise in Arizona. Many Canadians go to AZ during the winter months here. Maybe less this year due to covid-19.
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We will see. We’ve spent other winters in Arizona and it wasn’t as warm as advertised. 🙂 We might head into Mexico if possible.
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Your photos are beautiful and I love all the autumn colours. It’s so nice for me to see a little of Canada through your camera.
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Veronica, Thank you for your kind comment. I’m glad you like my photos. Autumn is beautiful here.
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You had me with your first photo’s – those beautiful trees with the autumn coloured leaves – my favourite! We don’t get much of that here in the tropics of Brisbane. My favourite thing to do is to head south during Autumn so I can enjoy the autumn leaves – like in 2015 when we went to Tasmania. It wasn’t an option this year but hopefully next year! xo
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Min, I’d love to visit Tasmania. It sounds like an interesting destination from what I read on travel web sites. Hopefully travel restrictions will ease next year.
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Thank you for the stroll in Autumnal splendour Natalie! Thank you for linking up this week. I do hope to see you link up next week too of course. The optional prompt is44/51 Outside 2.11.2020. Wow: November is here! Denyse.
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Thank you, Denyse, for hosting. I look forward to joining your next link up. Have a wonderful week!
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Oh my goodness your photos are stunning!! It’s great to see all those autumn leaves!
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Kerrie, I’m glad you like my photos. Fall colours are beautiful here. Have a great week!
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You sure have beautiful places to ride and walk! I loved the ‘reflections’ image, but all of them are wonderful. Thanks for taking us along, I know it’s hard to pedal a bike with all of us hanging on! 🙂
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Thanks, Dawn, for joining me virtually. It’s more fun having all of you along for the ride 🙂 Hope you and Katie are doing well. Have a nice weekend!
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So very beautiful. What wonderful walks you have.
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Thank you, Patrick, for your comment. Yes, I’m thankful for the beautiful Fall and walking trails we have here.
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Wow, Natalie, such a gorgeous area! I’d be riding my bike all over too if I had these beautiful views to enjoy. The weather looks amazing too. Good for you! Im glad you link to Sunday Stills this week!
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Terri, Fall has been beautiful here. Thank you for hosting Sunday Stills. Have a wonderful week!
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The words lock down filled me with dread because I love the outdoors, Natalie. This climate is pretty much perfect for it and we’ve been very lucky in not having too many restrictions imposed. I hope it can stay that way. 🙂 🙂 Loving your Fall colour.
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Jo, I love the outdoors, too. Over here, since the pandemic began in March, we can go outside for exercise or essentials without any time limit so I feel lucky to be able to do that as often as I like. Have a wonderful week!
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What a gorgeous ride you took us on, Natalie. Thank you for sharing. And I agree with your bullet points. Ever more so since this crazy year started!
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Thank you, Dale, for your visit and comment. Cycling and walking outside have saved my sanity during the pandemic this year 🙂
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You and me both, Sistah!!
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Thank you for the beautiful pictures, as we go through another lockdown here in the UK, images like this remind me we will be able to travel again sometime in the future and see these lovely places.
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Thank you, Varis, for your visit and comment. Hang in there. I believe nothing is permanent so eventually this COVID-19 pandemic will be over. We’ll be able to travel again.
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Maple trees look so spectacular in the fall. We are fortunate to have a couple of small ones in our yard.
Thanks for sharing the link to The Great Trail. I pored over the map and realized that I have actually walked many little segments of the trail all across Canada. Farthest east, I have been to Cape Spear, NL. The most westerly portion I’ve walked is near Lake Cowichan on Vancouver Island, BC. To the North, I’ve walked a little section in Whitehorse, YT, and the most southerly bit I’ve seen is a little segment in Windsor, ON. Now I feel inspired to walk some more of the sections that are near where I live!
Jude
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Jude, It’s fantastic that you’ve walked segments of the Great Trail all across Canada. Why not walk the sections near where you live, right? I’d love to visit NB, NL, and the Territories, and walk segments of the Great Trail there.
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My stepmother is from Montreal. It will be nice to share your pictures with her, of the Canadian landscape. I know she hasn’t been back in many years.
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Yes, Christine, please share my pictures with your stepmother. I think she’ll enjoy seeing the autumn colours in Canada. Have a great week!
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Thank you and you too! Pretty soon I should go to your blog and see snow, right? 😮
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Yes, we had snow north of Toronto on Sunday but no accumulation by the lake, just rain and wet flurries.
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Gorgeous autumn colours, the photos are stunning 🙂
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Thank you, Eunice, for stopping by. I’m glad you liked my photos. Most of the colourful leaves have left the trees by late November but the branches look beautiful, too.
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I am a big fan of autumn colours and you have captured some beautiful examples here (found your blog through Jo’s Monday Walk’s)
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Thank you, Albert, for your visit and comment. I’m glad you liked my photos of autumn colours. I feel fortunate to see these stunning colours every year where I live. They usually peak in October.
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