Autumn Heath Walk

As promised, I had to get out and take a walk yesterday to work off my oysters and filet mignon. I decided to go back to Hampstead Heath. I hadn't walked the main part of the Heath in ages -- not since Olga died. So I was long overdue for a visit, even though I knew it would make me miss Olga.

Autumn leaves in London are usually not that colorful, at least in wild places like the Heath, but I passed this tree in Hampstead that was such a pure yellow -- amazing against the blue sky.

There are still some vestiges of Halloween hanging around out there!

I saw loads of squawky parakeets on the Heath. This one was using the leaves of a tree to keep the sun out of its eyes.

From the northern part of the Heath near Kenwood House there's a good view of the city through the trees. I definitely hadn't been up in this part of the Heath in a long, long time.

The blackberries always develop a lot of color in the autumn.

These are the gardens near Athlone House, another area I haven't seen in ages. Remember when I took photos of Olga there, in front of the blooming azaleas? We used to routinely walk through that area but as Olga got older it got to be too far for her.

And of course I finished up atop Parliament Hill, taking in the scenic view of the city. As you can see, the weather cooperated quite nicely. We had a rainy morning but the sun was out all afternoon.

I'm far enough out from Olga's death now that I can take walks like this and not be sad -- at least, not too sad. I did miss her crazy activity -- the mud baths, the Kong-chasing. It's harder to walk so far when I'm not distracted by an amusing dog! I was beat by the time I got back to the house, and I slept like a log last night.