Early autumn up at Northcliffe

I'd been to the hairdresser in the morning and didn't intend to go out again but it was such a lovely early autumn day that it seemed a shame to waste it. A few days of rain had cleared to leave blue skies and bursts of warm sunshine. I opted for the 'steep uphill at the beginning with a long, gentle descent to return' route, rather than the other way round. That takes me up into Northcliffe Park, which - as I'm sure I've said before - is a large area of woodland and grassland, more natural than Roberts Park. 

It turned out to be a very good decision. On the way up the road I bumped into an elderly gentleman from church, who I've known for years but don't often see. We greeted each other and he said I was 'looking lovely', which rather cheered me! (Must have been the new haircut!) A few yards further on I slowed to enjoy the tree (below) with its branches tipped with red. To my surprise, a deer skipped out of a gateway and crossed the road right in front of me. I didn't get a photo as it was too quick. Thankfully there were no cars passing at the time, as they often speed down the hill and round that corner. I know there are deer in the woods and park, even sometimes in the gardens round my apartment block, though that's usually in the early morning before folk are stirring. I've never seen one on the road before. 

Walking through the park, I was able to enjoy all the different trees - laden with apples, tinged with autumn colour, or simply interesting shapes to wonder at. I was admiring the little burst of gold in the meadow (below) when a green woodpecker suddenly flew up and away, out of the grass in front of me. I rarely see them. The black and white spotted ones are more common in our gardens and parks. 

Shadows were interesting and the blue, blue sky was a joy. 

As I neared the recreation ground, views over Shipley were attractive. There was someone flying a couple of kites (the ones on strings, not the birds), which was interesting to watch, even though they were too far away for photos. 

I arrived back to civilisation (well, houses anyway) along an avenue of fruit trees that were very definitely veering to autumn colour.  I was glad I decided to make the effort to go for a walk as it was really uplifting.