Autumn leaves falling

Air temperature 57 F, wind N between 10 and 15 mph, mostly cloudy. Side yard maple starting to drop leaves that haven't turned yet, because it is confused. Bike ride after we get a few more degrees?

Defiant lupine

Purple lupine spike on the side of a road cut, refuses to kowtow to the seasons. Also drifts of asters and masses of goldenrod and some tenacious corn-flower. More trees starting to turn.

Roadkill limited to one probable chipmunk and a couple of frogs of indeterminate species.

Windy, 15 mph and gusty, and temperature in the upper 50s F but I put my ski top over the bicycle gear and headed out anyway. Did not die.

15.27 miles, 1:17:33

(no subject)

Flags at half-staff for that fire captain killed in an explosion yesterday.

And, in other news

Looked out into South Neighbor's yard while I was eating lunch. Saw a small brown lump on top of the front tire of his truck. It resolved into a chipmunk, using the height as a surrogate stump to check for danger before skittering across to collect seeds from under their bird-feeder.