Setting Moon

For North Americans, our world is enveloped in darkness for more time each day. The advantage is that I actually see sunrises and sunsets. This morning, the sun had risen above the eastern clouds when K and I arrived atop Hug Hill on our mountain bike ride. And, an airplane appeared to be heading straight for the sun.

When K stood in her favorite spot on the pinnacle of our trail network, she was still in the shade for the first time this autumn. But, notice the almost full moon behind her, dropping toward the western horizon.

We rode further and the world became brighter. K led the way through a rapidly thinning aspen grove. More leaves are on the ground than on the trees now.

K still seems to be full of verve despite the infection. I am following her lead about how much she wants to romp.

When we reached our next vista, I realized that the sun was perfectly positioned to get a backlit photo of K that would look like she had a fiery fringe on her fur.

Photography is so much fun. It's made me acutely aware of the lighting because good light makes a good photo. And, I've learned, the quality of the light can even change how colors look.

At that vista, I saw the moon again, inching ever closer to the Continental Divide.

From that vista, we wound our way through ribbon-like trails in pine forests toward home. We emerged from the cover of the forest to see the moon setting over snow-kissed mountains.

A wonderful start to the day...