"Autumn is Winter's Spring".

I once read that quote and it has stayed with me ever since. Last weekend we took the train down to Ticino to hike in the Valle Bavona area and it was clear that Autumn had arrived. While it was still sunny and warm in Locarno, the sun had that distinct fall tinge to it and there was the feeling that Summer was coming to an end.

I find the valleys in Ticino spectacular. There are clear, freezing rivers, both wild and soft, with lots of boulders and shallow parts. Every turn in the river is different. There are beautiful stone houses, churches and bridges, every one of them worthy of a picture.

While driving to Foroglio, I spotted a small hamlet called Sabbione I wanted to photograph. Most of the houses are summer weekend homes were already closed for the winter. One home had smoke coming out of the chimney, the gardens showed signs of harvest having begun.

From Foroglio we hiked up to the top of the waterfall into the Val Calnegia. We were virtually alone and the birches were already loosing their colored leaves.

Past the quiet Gerra to Calnegia, both used only in Summer for the grazing animals. In Calnegia we saw a few people in their weekend "cabins", probably for the last time this year.

San Carlo at the end of the valley road had a few gems of it's own.

A pretty church in Bolla.

Morning dew after a night filled with thundering rain and lightning.

Ticino still has many undiscovered corners and we will return.