I love finding small scenes like this one. Thinking about the odds that these two leaves would land perfectly together is mind-bending. It is the sort of thing that keeps me looking down at the ground while hiking. This little display is even more special because it was found on a hike I had not planned to take. While researching a local hike in the area, I dismissed this hike at Grim Glenn because it was so short. It was only a mile out and back, and while it did have a river and a waterfall, I was worried that I would not find many images on such a short trail. So, I opted for a longer trail in the Urbana State Forest in Upstate New York.
After completing the longer hike, I loaded up the rental car and began the drive home. I did not have any GPS signal once I had set off on my return trip, so I navigated by memory. Luckily for me, this did not work out well. After being sure I was no longer heading in the right direction, I decided to pull over and check the map. I realized I was about ¼ of a mile from the short hike at Grim Glenn, and since the hike was so short anyway, I decided why not hike it as well?
I am so glad that I did! While this second hike was only one-quarter the distance of the first hike, it yielded just as many images. And this one, in particular, is my favorite from the entire day. Two perfectly placed leaves plastered to the wet rocks at the foot of the falls. Small wonders like this one are a nice reminder that anything can happen and that the little things are often the best. This image also serves as an excellent reminder not to judge a book by its cover. Or a hike by its length.