October 12, 2025

A morning at a birch grove after rain

The alarm went off before dawn, and by six I was already at a birch grove after rain. I sat on a bench for almost an hour, just watching fog change as the clouds moved.

The path was muddy and longer than the map suggested, but the view at the end made up for it. There is something calming about returning to the same spot and noticing small changes since the last visit.

Working with a pocket camera forces you to slow down. You think twice before pressing the shutter, and that changes the pictures. An elderly couple asked me to take their picture. I used their phone, then made one frame of them on mine.

If you go, bring warm socks and a thermos — the café closes early.