Thursday, October 18, 2007



We made the old familiar trip to Penticton again today, up over the Yellow Lake Pass and down into the Okanagan Valley. As we left the first rain drops started falling, and by the time we got to Penticton we were in the midst of a full blown rain storm.

The colours were still beautiful, - more fragile and delicate, - they have lost the robust richness of the colours we saw a week ago. Here and there bare branches stand out against the subdued shades that now seem to dominate. I saw one tree that was a breath catching creamy yellow, so virginal in its last days . And a gorgeous glowing gold against the wet black rock of the roadside bank, - unfortunately in a spot where we couldn't stop.

The snow was only a few hundred feet above the road, and the clouds were sifting down the mountainsides.

Some of the pictures taken in hurried flashes from inside the moving car, in between arcs of the wipers......
There are wild winds forecast tonight, but at the moment all is still, and perhaps this quiet, protected valley will be spared the gusts. However, I do fear the melancholy month will soon be upon us with it's own stark beauty, and the leaves of autumn will be a memory.

No Spring nor Summer Beauty hath such grace
As I have seen in one Autumnal face.
--John Donne

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