On these beautiful December days in the ATX, whenever I can, I get myself out of the house, make my way through holiday traffic, and set out on the Hike and Bike Trail’s 3-mile loop. If my timing is good, there’s nothing better than seeing the buildings downtown and orange-needled bald cypresses along Lady Bird Lake glowing at golden hour. This is the view from the Pfluger Pedestrian Bridge.

Fall color peaks in Central Texas after holiday decorations go up, but I’ll take it whenever it comes. The burnt orange foliage looks so pretty against our blue-green skyline.

A glorious red oak too

The Lamar Boulevard Bridge makes an oval frame around downtown, and I find it hard to resist pulling out my camera again.

A cold front was blowing in as the sun was going down, and downtown took on a pastel glow.

As I crossed the lake under MoPac, the glass skyscrapers to the east caught the last flash of sunset. Kayakers were fighting a stiff headwind but still making good time.

One last look, a little farther along the bridge

Looking west, toward the fading light. As I drove away a few minutes later, the sky went mango and violet. I wish I’d gotten a photo, but it’s held in my memory. Did you see it too, Austin readers?

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Digging Deeper

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