Rupert

As a much younger woman, when I was (more or less) able-bodied, I loved to travel and using my airline benefits, I managed a few very wonderful trips, but there was never enough time.

Or money, for that matter. Cheap air tickets provided transport and if you were lucky, you might find a hotel that offered an industry discount. But there was always the possibility that return flights would be fully booked leaving you well and truly stranded.

The longest I was stuck was three days and fortunately this was in Barbados where I simply took a taxi back to my parent’s residence. I received dark looks for returning late to work, but everyone was familiar with such possibilities, so I lost a day’s pay and that was that.

.

.

Other times were nail-biting, but eventually I got a seat on a flight without much delay. When my parents moved to Florida, visiting them involved domestic travel which I found so stressful, I very quickly abandoned staff travel, buying “cheap” fares instead.

Visiting foreign places was interesting, often quite exciting and I enjoyed it very much, but getting there and back was mostly a bore. There are so many places I never got to see, but I really don’t miss my travelling days. I hold on to fond memories and I am satisfied following other people’s adventures online.

.

What I have now is the ability to enjoy the natural world and the glory of four seasons.

There is no stress and very little expense.

.

On our return to Vermont, a week after our last excursion, we found it very changed.

Still lovely, but in a different way.

.

Exiting the woods, we saw that the hills had taken on a copper complexion.

With a sort of smoky haze…

.

A closer look reveals that the “haze” is really the tops of naked trees.

From a distance they look soft and fluffy.

.

Gone were the red maple leaves, This was the time for the browns and yellows of oak, beech, aspen and tamarack.

With a few trees stubbornly refusing to embrace Fall.

.

To me those few pine trees look like posh folk out of place in a crowd!

.

We continued on our way, the light falling differently on the slopes as the road snaked through the hills.

.

Back on the main road, a bank of sumac offered a splash of red.

.

Did I say what an absolutely splendid afternoon this was?

.

This was utter perfection. What more could a person wish for?

.

We returned via Rupert, a small town of some 700 residents.

.

Historians believe it was named for Prince Rupert of the Rhine.

.