One year, the grandkids and I took a drive to the mountains to celebrate Kendall’s birthday. After an adventure at Chimney Rock state park, we drove toward Asheville, then hit the Blue Ridge Parkway for the drive home. It was the first time I had driven on mountain roads and I had not yet learned the usefulness of 2nd gear in my new compact car, so we had to stop several times after some steep declines to let my brakes cool off. This gorgeous stand of trees was located at a picnic area on the side of the road.

I suppose the composition of this shot is nothing spectacular, but nature’s blazing array of color certain was. Not much I could really add to that.

(Click on the preview above to pull up a full view of the picture.)