Blaze

We had been driving for most of the morning, heading north from Pennsylvania, climbing up into the Catskill mountains. At every turn, it became more rural and as we headed west off the main highway, the roads got narrower and the hills got steeper. Finally, we arrived at the ranch and were greeted by a close friend and his daughter. After a quick tour of the sprawling corrals and buildings, we headed for a lake tucked into the trees with a winding path that circled the deep green, absolutely pristine lake. Rocky walked with the group and I hung back, as usual, photographing the trees and the beautiful shoreline. The shadows grew longer and the conversation became quieter and more personal. I turned back for one last look and caught a blaze of color smiling back at me. A nice ending to a perfect day.