November wander – Mill Mountain hues
A slow climb through the switchbacks this morning, the road lined with trees in their full autumn whisper – golds, russets, and the last stubborn greens clinging to the ridge. The guardrail hums along the way like a silver thread pulling us upward through the forest. Windows down, air sharp with leaf scent and the faint sweetness of decay.
At the top, the overlook opens wide – Roanoke stretched below like a model town in amber light. The skyline tiny but proud, hugged close by the blue-gray humps of the mountains beyond. You can almost feel the valley vibrate with life.
The Star looms ahead, a gentle giant of steel and light, framed by red maples and coppery oaks. Standing under it, I can hear the low buzz of electricity and the soft murmur of visitors talking in that hushed, reverent tone people use in cathedrals and on mountaintops.
Leaves tumble across the path, catching the wind, spinning toward the edge. I linger for a while, watching the clouds herd shadows across the town, thinking how lucky we are to live in a place that still blushes this beautifully before it sleeps.
#MillMountain #Roanokeva #Autumn #BlueRidge
