Following the Colors of Fall...No Color Purple

The colors on the hill outside our front window are close to peak.  All it took was a few nights of frost  and within a week the green leaves of summer began to fade.  The change wasn't subtle as one would think.  It seemed like every time we looked out the window...another tree was showing off its beautiful fall wardrobe. 

 We usually wait until the show is over before we head North to see what those trees have to offer.  Three things convinced us that we had to exit before the grand finale' of our own trees... 1. Frost had come to Wisconsin and the leaves were changing faster than expected,  2. The weatherman guaranteed the temps for the next week to be around 80 degrees, and 3. We have a Mustang convertible.  Need I say more for the decision of our early exit north?  So today we followed the Mississippi north.

  Our eyes marveled at the beauty of the colors as we enjoyed the warm air of Indian Summer blowing through our gray hair.

We visited this park in Minnesota "AGAIN!"  I emphasize "AGAIN" because the last time we were there I had an uncomfortable experience.  Bill and I decided to follow a path down to a lookout deck.  I was halfway down as anxiety set in when the side of the trail dropped off and I could see down the steep side of the bluff. (did I mention there wasn't a railing?)  Bill said to sit down and he would come back and help me go back up.  Now I know what the term "fight or flight" means.  I didn't have anyone to fight with...but I sure knew I had to fly out of that place fast!  I couldn't wait for Bill and I crawled up the path until I was able to walk on my feet again.  It was such a weird experience and have thought of it often over the years. 

Soooooooooooo...as we approach the same path today I decided I had to face this trail again and see if I could overcome the fear I had the last time we were here.  With every step down, I waited for those feelings to resurface. It wasn't happening! Then...right in front of me was the  part of the trail with the steep side and no railing!  I focused only on the path and not what was (or wasn't) on the side of the trail.  "I did it!"  I was so happy I was able to make it all the way down the path and even walked back up without crawling on all fours!

The view was beautiful of the Mississippi River from the long- awaited deck.   I was finally able to reach a spectacular site I would have missed, had I not faced my fear.

I certainly can understand why people love living by the Mississippi River.  Besides the beauty of the river, there are unbelievable rock formations along the way.  It's amazing how these trees can grow  amongst the rocks (check out the tree growing in the crack).  Where there's a will....there's a way... I guess.

My title of this blog is wrong...the colors of fall do include purple!  The wild Asters give a beautiful splash of color to a field that has lost it's summer color.  I guess it's their turn to be noticed.